Advice on flexible JD programs for personal goals and disability

[Robson]

There are two authoritative lists of bar-qualifying online law degrees in the US:

• ABA-Approved Law Schools with Acquiescence for Distance Education J.D. Programs
  
• State Bar of California list of Law Schools – Several of the law schools approved by the State Bar's Committee of Bar Examiners teach online, though the list doesn't specify which. Additionally, several that are unaccredited but still registered to qualify graduates for the California bar exam are specifically listed as "correspondence" or "distance learning." Students at these registered unaccredited law schools have to take their JD in no less than four years, and pass the Baby Bar after year one.
  

Alternatively, some people have qualified for the American bar with British online law qualification (typically an LLB) plus a qualifying US LLM. Bar acceptability varies by state. That could be a good mix of prestige and affordability especially if your main interest is the degree with bar admission a secondary issue off in the future. This route is known for being academically tough, and there is some inherent overhead in learning in the British system then the American system.

Interesting! this is exactly what I’m looking into right now. Trying to figure out how to maximize speed and affordability for an online LL.M., and whether programs like USC Gould make sense compared to cheaper, fully online options.

Do you think an LLB from University of London plus a U.S. online LL.M. would carry more global prestige than a U.S. JD, say from NU.edu or NWCU? Curious how others have balanced time, cost, and bar eligibility.

Some thoughts.

• The University of London program isn't cheap. It requires, I think, either proctored or in-person exams at an exam center. It is by no means an easy degree, and many who start fail to complete it. The program is well regarded in parts of the former commonwealth like Pakistan, where the state of legal education hasn't really been so great. The grade you get will be listed on the degree scroll, because of how British degrees classify grades (the "honours" system instead of GPAs).
  
• The UoL program has produced many, many illustrious alumni and jurists, including Nelson Mandela and many Justices of countries like Malaysia, Pakistan, and India. Globally, the degree is one of the most famous law school programs in the world, and it allows for admission to the bar of multiple jurisdictions (though none of the US states from what I remember). If you want to practice law in a jurisdiction outside the US, many bars recognise only ABA-accredited law schools. 
  
• There are multiple highly prestigious US law schools that offer online LLM programs for foreign law graduates, including those from the UoL. However, you will need to get a decent grade to get into a highly-ranked program, and the LLM route will qualify you to take, I think, the New York State Bar and maybe the California Bar, but not the Bar of most states.