Three Things You Need to Know about Studying the Law Online

Technology has changed everything-from the way we communicate to the way we learn. Now, thanks to William Mitchell, legal education has embraced networked learning. Here are three things to know about online (or hybrid, on-campus/online) enrollment options. (Photo: Business Wire)

Technology has changed everything-from the way we communicate to the way we learn. Now, thanks to William Mitchell, legal education has embraced networked learning. Here are three things to know about online (or hybrid, on-campus/online) enrollment options. (Photo: Business Wire)

ST. PAUL, Minn.--()--Technology has changed everything—from the way we communicate to the way we shop, travel, date, and learn.

And now, even the staid institution of legal education has embraced the interactivity, excitement and energy that technology brings to the classroom.

Last year, the American Bar Association approved a variance to allow William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn., to offer a new type of J.D. program—a hybrid enrollment option that’s part on-campus, part online.

Now that it’s possible to earn a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school through courses offered largely online, it’s likely that more people will consider the option.

Here are three things you need to know before you apply to an online (or hybrid) J.D. program:

ABA Accreditation Matters
Earning your J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school is important. It means that you are eligible to sit for the bar in nearly every jurisdiction in the U.S. It also assures that you’ll receive a sound program of legal education. Currently, William Mitchell College of Law is the only ABA-accredited law school in the country to offer a hybrid, on-campus/online J.D. program.

Experiential Learning is Important
Opportunities for hands-on learning enhance your law school experience and make you better prepared to hit the ground running once you graduate. The William Mitchell hybrid program, for example, allows you to complete the majority of your coursework online (which is largely self-scheduled) and then come to campus at least once a semester for intensive experiential learning.

Online Courses are Rigorous
Completing your courses online will offer you the flexibility to study the law from anywhere in the country—without relocating, quitting your job, or having to commute long distances—but that doesn’t mean they are any less rigorous than traditional courses. You’ll still have to keep up with your reading, participate in group projects, and interact with your professors regularly.

You can learn more about the new on-campus/online J.D. program at William Mitchell College of Law by visiting wmitchell.edu/practical-way.

About William Mitchell College of Law

  • Founded in 1900
  • Located in St. Paul, Minn.
  • More than 11,000 alumni across the country
  • The law school of Warren E. Burger, the 15th chief justice of the United States
  • Robust scholarship program
  • Committed to practical wisdom—teaching legal theory and skills

Contacts

William Mitchell College of Law
Steve Linders, 651-290-6360
Steve.Linders@wmitchell.edu

Contacts

William Mitchell College of Law
Steve Linders, 651-290-6360
Steve.Linders@wmitchell.edu