Advice on flexible JD programs for personal goals and disability

[wow]

Not to derail this thread, but would love to hear more about your LLB journey once you decide to pursue it. I didn't even know there were online LLB programs. Or would you be doing a top-off?

Please do start a dedicated thread at some point. I, for one, would gobble it up. (Unless you already have one and I missed it?)

[PearsonOTHMQualifi7654]

Not to derail this thread, but would love to hear more about your LLB journey once you decide to pursue it. I didn't even know there were online LLB programs. Or would you be doing a top-off?

Please do start a dedicated thread at some point. I, for one, would gobble it up. (Unless you already have one and I missed it?)

With pleasure

Currently, I am enrolled in a bunch of programs and want to finish those off in the coming months before embarking on another learning journey. 
Would be happy to start a new thread when the next chapter begins.

Please feel free to PM me and stay in contact that way as well!

[Stonybeach]

My humble advice is to take the LSAT and apply to an ABA-approved campus program. "Non-traditional" pathways to practice law have historically shown poor outcomes in passing the state bar exams overall. One will spend 3 to 4 years going to law school and tens of thousands of dollars, and you really need to go with full intent on becoming a lawyer by passing the bar, or don't go at all!

My next statement is not written in stone, but I also recommend getting accepted into the best law school possible! Opportunities will be greater upon graduating from a top-notch law school. It's like buying a cheap piece of furniture that looks great but falls apart in a couple of years or buying a handmade oak furnishing that lasts generations.

Good luck!

[PearsonOTHMQualifi7654]

My humble advice is to take the LSAT and apply to an ABA-approved campus program. "Non-traditional" pathways to practice law have historically shown poor outcomes in passing the state bar exams overall. One will spend 3 to 4 years going to law school and tens of thousands of dollars, and you really need to go with full intent on becoming a lawyer by passing the bar, or don't go at all!

My next statement is not written in stone, but I also recommend getting accepted into the best law school possible! Opportunities will be greater upon graduating from a top-notch law school. It's like buying a cheap piece of furniture that looks great but falls apart in a couple of years or buying an Amish handmade oak furnishing that lasts generations.

100% Appreciated and agree that for those who want to be a lawyer, to go all in.

[PearsonOTHMQualifi7654]

If you’re going for a US state or another jurisdiction that will take your UK LLB as a qualifying law degree in the absence of a UK law license, this might not be an issue. But the routes you describe in New York seem to require not only the law degree but also the law license.

Great news, I now understand that the foreign law license is not required for NY. The qualifying Foreign Law Degree is the key to being able to sit for the NY Bar Exam.
The bigger issue becomes if it was earned in a common law country or not, and the more important and decisive factor is if the degree was earned online or in-person. 

Having earned an LLB in person from a common law country can be enough.
NYBOLE will require an in-person ABA-approved LLM to cure the deficiency if the degree was earned online.  
UK Distance LLB will almost certainly require an in-person ABA-approved LLM for NY.

For California, a law degree is not even required; if one can work 4 years as an apprentice to a licensed CA judge or lawyer and work a minimum of 18 hours a week during the apprenticeship, that is enough to qualify to practice law as long as the apprentice passes the 1st year law student exam and the CalBar thereafter. 

The other option for CA residents is to get a law degree from any school that is registered with the California Bar, if one can pass the baby bar and CalBar. There have been some pretty inexpensive CalBar-registered, unaccredited non-ABA law schools in the past and I know they exist. 

A UK LLB most certainly is good enough for the CA Bar.
I know maybe wording from the California Bar might make a person wonder, but if the California Bar is willing to take students without a degree, or unaccredited online degrees from Law Schools registered with the CalBar, they will certainly take a UK LLB from a quality school.

Personally, to me, the State of California is the most welcoming U.S. State for anyone aspiring to become a lawyer.

[SteveFoerster]

If you’re going for a US state or another jurisdiction that will take your UK LLB as a qualifying law degree in the absence of a UK law license, this might not be an issue. But the routes you describe in New York seem to require not only the law degree but also the law license.

Great news, I now understand that the foreign law license is not required for NY. The qualifying Foreign Law Degree is the key to being able to sit for the NY Bar Exam.
The bigger issue becomes if it was earned in a common law country or not, and the more important and decisive factor is if the degree was earned online or in-person. 

Having earned an LLB in person from a common law country can be enough.
NYBOLE will require an in-person ABA-approved LLM to cure the deficiency if the degree was earned online.  
UK Distance LLB will almost certainly require an in-person ABA-approved LLM for NY.

For California, a law degree is not even required; if one can work 4 years as an apprentice to a licensed CA judge or lawyer and work a minimum of 18 hours a week during the apprenticeship, that is enough to qualify to practice law as long as the apprentice passes the 1st year law student exam and the CalBar thereafter. 

The other option for CA residents is to get a law degree from any school that is registered with the California Bar, if one can pass the baby bar and CalBar. There have been some pretty inexpensive CalBar-registered, unaccredited non-ABA law schools in the past and I know they exist. 

A UK LLB most certainly is good enough for the CA Bar.
I know maybe wording from the California Bar might make a person wonder, but if the California Bar is willing to take students without a degree, or unaccredited online degrees from Law Schools registered with the CalBar, they will certainly take a UK LLB from a quality school.

Personally, to me, the State of California is the most welcoming U.S. State for anyone aspiring to become a lawyer.

From the National Conference of Bar Examiners guide:

"California Foreign law school graduates must request individual evaluation to determine legal education equivalency. Graduates from foreign law schools may qualify to take the California bar exam if they obtain an LLM degree or complete an additional 1 year of law study at an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school which includes a certain number of credits in bar examination subject matter. Foreign-educated law students who did not graduate are not eligible to take the exam and are required to either graduate with a JD degree at an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school or complete 4 years of law study at a law school registered in California and pass the First-Year Law Students’ Exam. Foreign law school graduates who are admitted to the active practice of law in good standing in their countries do not have to complete any additional law study to qualify to take the bar exam."

And: 

"California Applicant must have graduated and be eligible to take the admission exam in his/her foreign country and obtain an additional year of law study in certain courses at an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school in order to qualify to take the California Bar Exam.

It's nowhere near as simple as "New York does it, so California must do it too."

[PearsonOTHMQualifi7654]

From the National Conference of Bar Examiners guide:

"California Foreign law school graduates must request individual evaluation to determine legal education equivalency. Graduates from foreign law schools may qualify to take the California bar exam if they obtain an LLM degree or complete an additional 1 year of law study at an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school which includes a certain number of credits in bar examination subject matter. Foreign-educated law students who did not graduate are not eligible to take the exam and are required to either graduate with a JD degree at an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school or complete 4 years of law study at a law school registered in California and pass the First-Year Law Students’ Exam. Foreign law school graduates who are admitted to the active practice of law in good standing in their countries do not have to complete any additional law study to qualify to take the bar exam."

And: 

"California Applicant must have graduated and be eligible to take the admission exam in his/her foreign country and obtain an additional year of law study in certain courses at an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school in order to qualify to take the California Bar Exam.

It's nowhere near as simple as "New York does it, so California must do it too."

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply "NY Does it so California must do it too."

I was pointing out:

1. A US person in California can qualify to sit for the baby bar and CalBar, through the Law Office Study Program (LOSP) without a law degree, as long as they meet its requirements.

2. It is possible for a foreign-educated law graduate to sit for the California Bar

A foreign qualified lawyer can sit for the California Bar without having to do any further education.
A person with a foreign Law degree, who is not qualified to practice abroad, can submit their education qualifications and potentially qualify to sit for the bar. 

My main point was that California accepts law graduates from unaccredited law schools; thus, a UK LLB from a highly recognizable school, should be given consideration, and is given consideration.

"Law students completing their first year of study in a juris doctor degree program at a State Bar-unaccredited registered law school.... must take the First-Year Law Students' Examination..."

Here are examples of unaccredited law schools in California that allow students to sit for the California Baby Bar and Bar:

Taft Law School
Abraham Lincoln University
Empire College School of Law
Glendale University College of Law
Lincoln Law School of Sacramento

[Duneranger]

No offense, but UK schools are unforgiving, expensive and old school in their approach.They wouldn’t play soft ball with you at all with a law degree.

I went to grad school in the UK (very well known school) they didn’t play around.

[PearsonOTHMQualifi7654]

No offense, but UK schools are unforgiving, expensive and old school in their approach.They wouldn’t play soft ball with you at all with a law degree.

I went to grad school in the UK (very well known school) they didn’t play around.

Thanks for the reminder. A significant portion of my education is from institutions in the UK: (2 graduate school programmes, 1 bachelor's degree programme, 3 UK Gov OfQual regulated diploma programmes, as well as 1 Executive Certificate programme from one of the most well-known UK Institutions).

I know firsthand the rigor you describe  ; however I very much like the learning style and curriculum of UK institutions. I also lilke the overall framework of qualifications in the UK, with multiple law regulators. 

I already work in a quasi-law compliance-related role (For a very well-known UK-based multinational company), and I talk through contractual language and speak with external lawyers frequently about the contract language and how we as a firm interpret (our own Policies), as well as what laws and regulations in various jurisdictions are consistent with the contractual stance (although our contracts fall under English common law).

I enjoy doing research and articulating arguments as well as advocating on behalf of interested parties (in this case, that would be my employer). Law education is right up my alley, even if I don't become an actual Lawyer. More interested in qualifying in England and Wales than NY actually. Besides, I have other plans for a whole different career altogether, so an LLB would be more for personal satisfaction and knowledge.

[SophiaPrincess]

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but California has, by far, the lowest Bar exam pass rate. Before one proceeds on the long, expensive road to a JD, I strongly suggest examining the employment rate for new lawyers in your area holding a job that requires a JD. Many graduates of ABA approved JD programs can't find a job. I suspect job applicants with less traditional credentials will face greater challenges.