You know you want to become a lawyer. Now you have another decision to make.
There’s no single “right” way to earn a law degree. The best choice depends on your schedule, where you live, how you learn, your responsibilities outside of school, and what you want your law career to look like.
Use this page to think through which path might fit your life right now.
· You can attend classes in person on a regular schedule.
· You live within commuting distance of a law school or are willing to relocate.
· You want the structure and routine of a traditional law-school experience.
· You learn best through face-to-face interaction with professors and classmates.
· You want to complete your J.D. in approximately three years.
· You’re able to make school your primary focus while you’re enrolled.
· Cost matters. Depending on the school and your circumstances, a traditional three-year program may be the most affordable path to your J.D.
· You work full-time or have a demanding career.
· You live too far from a law school to commute regularly.
· You have children or other caregiving responsibilities.
· Relocating for law school isn't realistic.
· You need more flexibility in where and when you complete your coursework.
· You are comfortable managing your time independently and can attend online classes in the evening hours.
· You value the ability to continue working while earning your J.D.
· You have the technology, workspace, and self-discipline needed for online learning.
· You’re willing to take a longer or more flexible path if that's what your circumstances require.
That's okay. Every law student’s situation is different, and there’s no wrong answer here – we just want to point you toward the right information so you can make an informed decision.
- Maybe you're not sure whether you can commit to a traditional full-time schedule.
- Maybe you like the idea of online learning but aren't sure you're ready for the independence it requires.
Or maybe you're still asking a bigger question:
“Is law school actually right for me?”
Start with your circumstances—not the program label. Consider these questions:
If you're hours away from the nearest law school, an online option could dramatically change what's possible.
If you need to keep working full-time, consider whether a traditional daytime schedule is realistic.
Children, parents, partners, or other caregiving responsibilities may make flexibility especially important.
Do you thrive in a classroom with a professor and classmates around you? Or are you comfortable learning independently through an online environment?
A traditional full-time J.D. is generally structured around approximately three years. Our online J.D. program is part-time and takes four years to complete, and requires you to participate in evening classes.
Don't look only at tuition. Think about the total cost of attendance—including housing, commuting, childcare, lost income, technology, and the opportunity cost of stepping away from work.
The best program isn't necessarily the one that looks best on paper. It's the one you can realistically complete.
You can be there.
You can attend classes on campus, commit to a full-time schedule, and make law school your primary focus.
If you learn best in a classroom setting, face-to-face with faculty and other students.
Your priority is structure and speed.
You want the traditional law-school experience and a path designed to be completed in about three years.
The economics work for you.
An in-person program may be the most affordable option depending on the school, your financial situation, and the costs associated with other formats.
You need flexibility.
Your job, family, location, or other responsibilities make a traditional full-time, in-person schedule difficult.
You can't—or don't want to—relocate.
You may be able to pursue a J.D. without moving closer to a law school.
You are comfortable being an independent learner.
Online law school can provide flexibility, but that flexibility comes with responsibility. You need to be organized, disciplined, and proactive. It’s as rigorous as in-person.
