Do you really absorb and retain CLEP test material or just cram and pass?

[CaseyW]

If someone wants to study law but doesn't want to practice it, there are master's degrees in legal studies.
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I actually really want to practice, but I do realize the odds are not stacked in my favor, but we'll see. I've done pretty well in the past with jobs and getting hired, and I've managed to keep my own business going with for nearly a decade now, hopefully that will translate to success in law too.

[sanantone]

Sanantone,
The masters in law, the LLM, is also the terminal degree; the JD is a requirement for admission. I believe other masters programs are geared toward specific compliance-related fields, i.e. health law, or designed for paralegals.

I wasn't referring to the masters in law; I was referring to the masters in legal studies. It's for people who want to study law and use it in their jobs i.e. human resources, but don't want to practice as lawyers.

[dcan]

I wasn't referring to the masters in law; I was referring to the masters in legal studies. It's for people who want to study law and use it in their jobs i.e. human resources, but don't want to practice as lawyers.

How much does a masters in legal studies cost vs. a JD at Northwestern California for < $15K? (granted the JD is 4 years part time)

Edit Answered my own question. AMU/APU has one for $11,700. Very interesting. And regionally accredited.

[Kaz]

Sanantone,
The masters in law, the LLM, is also the terminal degree; the JD is a requirement for admission.

I believe Doctor of Juridical Science is the terminal degree in the US.

[dcan]

There's a lot of discussion I've read about a JD not being a "real" doctorate on par with a PhD (i.e. no research of any kind required), but that aside, the LLM (Master of Laws) is a post-doctoral degree, so I guess it depends on how you look at the term "terminal degree." For most people the JD is as far as they go, but they can certainly do much more by pursuing the LLM. In fact, the LLM generally calls for research and publication if I'm not mistaken, perhaps making it more closely related to a PhD.

But then we are talking lawyers, so Juris Doctor sounds much cooler.

[dewisant]

LAW SCHOOL BIBLE: How Anyone Can Become a Lawyer...Without Ever Setting Foot in a Law School! ...Unless You Really Want to. by Peter J. Loughlin, J.D., LL.M.. c 2004. I've read it twice and the book is very complete and seems to cover every avenue on how to become a lawyer the non-ABA way. I hope this helps. Yes, this is a passion of mine too!