Many Law Schools Are Going Completely Online In 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted legal education in an unprecedented manner, many law schools are trying to adapt as they strive to continue offering a rewarding, educational experience. While many traditional law schools are scrambling to implement online classes, services, and the like, the California Desert Trial Academy College of Law (CDTA) has implemented and utilized a state-of-the-art online learning platform since it first opened its doors in 2012.
Some law schools are planning to go completely online in 2021. These schools include Harvard Law School; the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law; the University of California, Irvine School of Law; and Vermont Law School.
Traditionally, one main component of legal education was participating in classroom discussions based on the Socratic method. Professors typically lead discussions that challenge students’ assumptions and understanding of legal concepts. Until now, these types of exercises have been challenging to reproduce online over the internet.
However, several schools, including the CDTA, have been working to implement technological-based solutions that allow for more discussion and interaction in real-time. This has given the ABA the impetus to begin granting waivers to law schools, allowing their programs to make online credits more available than in the past.
Many students in 2021, whether by choice or necessity, have preferred and sought an online law school to pursue their goal of becoming an attorney. Although online law programs are not entirely new in 2021, the American Bar Association (ABA) has declined to fully accredit any until recently in the last decade. In the past, graduates of online programs were not permitted to sit for the bar exam and become a practicing attorney.
However, times are changing. Rapidly.
As the ABA has recently started to allow law students to complete more credits online, law schools throughout the United States have embraced this, especially in light of the pandemic. Many schools have already created innovative hybrid programs that allow students to earn their Juris doctorate primarily from the comfort of home. And now others have exclusively gone online.
A dedicated online program allows students to complete all of their course requirements online. Unlike a hybrid program where students must complete a classroom component of their studies. This usually occurs during concentrated on-campus classes, seminars, and meetings that last several days. Once a hybrid or dedicated ABA-approved law program is completed, graduates will receive the same degree they would have earned at a traditional campus-based law program and are qualified to sit for the bar exam.
The California Desert Trial Academy has recently completed its application for state accreditation, while several schools with state accreditation have added flex programs that may be completed online. The CDTA’s mission since its inception in 2012 has always been to provide a high-quality, affordable legal education that is fully accessible online.
The California Desert Trial Academy focuses on providing an academic experience that emphasizes a practical approach to becoming a lawyer. We believe this is the most efficient and expedient pathway to a successful and rewarding legal career. At CDTA, we train, educate, and develop students to be exceptional attorneys and trial advocates. Call us today at (760) 342-0900 or find out more online here.