by Ellie Norton

Created on: October 14, 2009

A Distance learning law school is one by which students take their classes online. Sometimes people refer to these schools as online law schools, though the state of California does distinguish between the two. The first thing that anyone thinking about attending a distance learning law school should ask themselves is, "Do I want to live/move/practice in California?" This is because this is the only state that recognizes these types of schools. That is because distance learning law schools are not ABA approved.

The ABA is the American Bar Association and they govern lawyers and ABA approved schools. I would be remiss in that saying that I strongly believe that no-one should attend a law school that is not ABA Approved. There are many reasons for this train of thought and they include:

1. Distance Learning Law schools are 4 years long instead of 3 years at a traditional school. You will therefore be spending more money and more time for the same, but less respected degree.

2. You can only take the California Bar exam if you attend a distance learning law school. This is the hardest bar exam in the United States and it is a proven statistic that less than 25% of students from distance learning and online law schools pass the bar exam on the first try.

3. Not only does California have the hardest bar exam, it also has one of the most depressed economies in the United States; with the State Government having to write IOU's to its employees and thousands of people unemployed and in foreclosure. This is not just a state problem, most private law firms have laid people off as well.

4. Distance learning law schools are not respected by the legal community and it can be hard to garner respect from your peers. There is a certain snobbery in law schools, it even exists for ABA approved schools. It goes, T14, Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4. Distance learning and online law schools fall below Tier 4 and are the bottom of the bottom. This is not said to disparage or discredit law students at distance learning law schools, it is just the way it is.

5. Even though you are less respected, you still have the same subjects study and have even more hurdles to jump through. The State of California requires students at online schools to take a baby bar before they can even be considered for the actual bar exam. Less than 30% of students pass the baby bar and so you could possibly go through 4 years of schooling and not even be able to take the bar exam.

If you are considering attending a distance learning law school or an online law school you need to seriously think about your decision and should review this checklist.

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