Online Juris Doctor Degree Programs for 2022

If you are looking for a flexible online law degree that enables you to sit for the bar exam, you might want to consider an online or hybrid program. Online Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree programs are a combination of online courses and on-campus instruction ideal for working professionals through an online hybrid or a weekend-based format. Read on to learn about the online J.D. programs approved by ABA and common admissions requirements, and compare different types of online formats to find the J.D. program best for you. 

What Is a Juris Doctor?

Juris doctor is Latin for Doctor of Law. A Juris Doctor, J.D. for short, is a professional law degree and academic credential conferred by law schools upon graduation. This graduate degree enables you to sit for the bar exam and earn a license to practice law. It typically consists of 85 to 90 credits and takes three years of full-time study. It is considered “the first degree in law” by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Online and Hybrid J.D. Programs

Aspiring attorneys can earn their Juris Doctor degree through any of the 199 schools and programs accredited by ABA. Among these schools, only a few offer hybrid online J.D. programs that combine online courses with on-campus components. There are also law schools that offer fully online J.D. degrees, but none are approved by the ABA.

To determine which one is the best fit for you, consider your career goals, learning style and financial budget. Here are some ABA-approved law schools offering online and hybrid J.D. programs:

Loyola University

School of Law

Weekend Hybrid J.D.

Chicago, Illinois

Name of Degree: Weekend Hybrid J.D.

Enrollment Type: Part-Time

Length of Program: 4 years

Credits: 88

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Official transcripts
  • CAS report
  • Resume/CV
  • LSAT scores
  • LSAT writing sample
  • Personal statement
  • One letter of recommendation
  • Character and fitness questions
  • Qualifications for admissions to the BAR
Learn more about the Weekend Hybrid J.D. from Loyola University

Mitchell Hamline School of Law

School of Law

Online Hybrid J.D.

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Name of Degree: Online Hybrid J.D.

Enrollment Type: Part-Time

Length of Program: 3+ years

Credits: 84

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Official transcripts
  • Resume/CV
  • LSAT scores
  • Personal statement
  • Values statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
Learn more about the Online Hybrid J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Seton Hall University

School of Law

Weekend Online J.D.

Newark, New Jersey

Name of Degree: Weekend Online J.D.

Enrollment Type: Part-Time

Length of Program: 4 years

Credits: 88

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Official transcripts
  • Resume/CV
  • LSAT scores
  • LSAT writing sample
  • Personal statement
  • One letter of recommendation
Learn more about the Weekend Online J.D. from Seton Hall University

Southwestern Law School

School of Law

Part-Time Evening J.D.

Los Angeles, California

Name of Degree: Part-Time Evening J.D.

Enrollment Type: Part-Time

Length of Program: 4 years

Credits: 87

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Official transcripts
  • CAS report
  • Resume/CV
  • LSAT scores
  • LSAT writing sample
  • Personal statement
  • 1-3 letters of recommendation
Learn more about the Part-Time Evening J.D. from Southwestern Law School

Syracuse University

College of Law

Interactive Online J.D.

Syracuse, New York

Name of Degree: Interactive Online J.D.

Enrollment Type: Part-Time

Length of Program: 3+ years

Credits: 87

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Official transcripts
  • Resume/CV
  • LSAT scores
  • Personal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
Learn more about the Interactive Online J.D. from Syracuse University

Touro College

Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

FlexTime Hybrid J.D.

Central Islip, New York

Name of Degree: FlexTime Hybrid J.D.

Enrollment Type: Part-Time

Length of Program: 4 years

Credits: 88

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Official transcripts
  • CAS report
  • Resume/CV
  • LSAT/GRE scores
  • LSAT writing sample
  • Personal statement
  • 1-3 letters of recommendation
Learn more about the FlexTime Hybrid J.D. from Touro College

University of Denver

Sturm College of Law

Hybrid J.D.

Denver, Colorado

Name of Degree: Hybrid J.D.

Enrollment Type: Part-Time

Length of Program: 4 years

Credits: 90

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Official transcripts
  • Resume/CV
  • Personal statement
  • LSAT scores
  • LSAT writing sample
  • Two letters of recommendation
Learn more about the Hybrid J.D. from University of Denver

University of New Hampshire

Franklin Pierce School of Law

Hybrid J.D.

Concord, New Hampshire

Name of Degree: Hybrid J.D.

Enrollment Type: Part-Time

Length of Program: 3.5 years

Credits: 85+

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Official transcripts
  • CAS report
  • Resume/CV
  • LSAT scores
  • LSAT writing sample
  • Personal statement
  • 1-3 letters of recommendation
Learn more about the Hybrid J.D. from University of New Hampshire

Why are There Only ABA-Approved Hybrid Online J.D. Degrees?

Attending a law school accredited by the ABA allows you to take the bar exam in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). The ABA seal of approval means your school meets the association’s quality standards for legal education.

The ABA has yet to accredit any law school with courses offered entirely online. But as law schools increasingly expand into online instruction, the ABA has begun to issue waivers to hybrid programs–those that mix traditional campus learning with online courses–so they can apply for accreditation. With trained faculty and significant technological investment, distance learning proponents even argue that law degree programs can be completed exclusively online.

Attending an ABA-accredited school isn’t the only way to become a lawyer. In New York, California, 29 other states and the District of Columbia, you can sit for the bar exam with a law degree from a non-ABA accredited school. But it’ll likely be more complicated to enter law practice that way, as some employers look for candidates who have graduated from accredited institutions.

Before you decide to attend a school without ABA accreditation, be sure to research bar admission limitations and ensure that the school will provide you with adequate legal training to enter the field. You can also refer to the ABA’s Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements 2021 (PDF, 1.3 MB), for guidance.

Typical Online Juris Doctor Curriculum and Outcomes

An online law degree should teach you to think critically and creatively, educate you on a variety of legal doctrines, and expose you to subjects ranging from economics to sociology to help broaden your perspective. This holds true whether your program is offered on campus or in the hybrid online format.

But there are differences between online law degrees, such as the time to graduation, the level of flexibility in your school schedule, access to externships and other outside opportunities, and admissions requirements.

Admissions Requirements

Here are some common admissions requirements for J.D. programs:

  • A bachelor’s degree. Most schools don’t specify student’s disciplines in college, but strong reading comprehension and writing skills are normally preferred.
  • LSAT/GRE scores. Most traditional law schools accept only the LSAT; many hybrid and online programs accept either your LSAT or GRE score. In most cases, you must have taken the test within the past five years.
  • Transcripts.
  • Letters of recommendation (the number of letters varies but two is typically the minimum).
  • Personal essay.
  • Resume.

Program Courses and Areas of Focus

You can expect to take similar courses no matter the law school you attend. Some online and hybrid courses are taught by the professors who teach on-campus classes. Your J.D. curriculum may include:

  • Torts doctrine
  • Civil procedure
  • Contracts
  • Criminal law
  • Constitutional law
  • Intellectual property law
  • Trial practice
  • Family law
  • Legal analysis and professional skills
  • Legislation

Steps to Complete Your J.D. Degree

  • Meet GPA requirement: Graduation requirements typically include maintaining a minimum grade point average and completing the core curriculum.
  • Complete externships: Some schools may have a minimum number of credit hours for experiential learning, which may take the form of externships, clinics and simulated courses in which you will be required to solve a legal problem as if you were practicing in the real world.
  • Finish a capstone project: Another requirement is a capstone project on a legal topic to demonstrate your analytical, research and writing skills.

What Is a Juris Doctor Degree Equivalent to?

The answer to whether a juris doctor degree is equivalent to a Ph.D. is both complex and controversial. A Ph.D., called a doctorate, is the most advanced degree you can earn in many disciplines, typically taking five or more years to complete. You need a master’s degree before entering a Ph.D. program.

Many people view a J.D. degree as a functional, but not an absolute equivalent to a Ph.D. For one thing, a J.D. is not the highest law degree. You can earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) or Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) after your J.D. Also, law schools require only a bachelor’s degree, not a master’s, for admission into a J.D. program.

But on practical terms, a J.D. is often viewed as the highest academic distinction for lawyers. Most U.S. law professors, for example, do not have a Ph.D. (PDF, 610 KB).

Is a J.D. Worth it?

A J.D. degree is a portal to more than just joining a law firm. People with legal training play a role in virtually every sector of the economy. They work at Silicon Valley startups in courtrooms and halls of academia and government.

The rigorous, analytical thinking that is the foundational skill of legal training can be an asset in many professions. President Barack Obama graduated from Harvard Law. Dozens of CEOs for Fortune 500 companies hold J.D.s.

Law typically pays well, and it can pay extremely well at the highest levels of seniority and tenure. The top 10% of lawyers earn over $208,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The growing number of online or hybrid J.D. programs can make it possible for you to earn a law degree while you keep your current job. Distance learning opens up more schools to choose from.

The flip side is that the legal field can be grueling, intense and competitive. In 2021, there were 1.33 million actively practicing attorneys in the United States (PDF, 207 KB), according to the ABA National Lawyer Population Survey. Many large corporations are trying to economize by cutting back on outside counsel and reassigning tasks to paralegals and legal assistants.

To ensure your J.D. degree is a worthwhile investment of money and time, have a clear career goal and think through how your preferred degree program will help you meet that goal. Once enrolled, take full advantage of externships, networking opportunities, and your school’s career resources. Earning a J.D. is an important, but still just one, step toward your legal profession.

FAQs on Online Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degrees

Are there fully online J.D. programs accredited by the ABA?

No. While there is no fully online J.D. degree program accredited by ABA, there are hybrid online J.D. programs available that combine the flexibility of online learning and the engagement of on-campus programs.

Must I apply to a J.D. degree program accredited by the ABA?

It’s not mandatory. However, if you want to be qualified to sit for the bar exam and practice law in certain states, a law degree accredited by the ABA may be a better choice.

How long does it take to complete a J.D. degree online?

A traditional J.D. degree typically takes three years to complete, while an online J.D. degree takes about three to four years in full-time enrolment.

Can I sit for the bar exam if I graduate from an online J.D. program?

Yes, if your law school is approved by the ABA and you successfully meet your degree requirements upon graduation.

Are there any online J.D. programs that don’t require LSAT scores?

Yes, some online law schools accept LSAT or GRE scores taken in the last five years. Students can decide to either submit their LSAT or GRE scores.

Can I work full time while completing a J.D. degree?

Generally, schools allow students to work while studying. Some of them may also offer part-time enrollment to provide more flexibility for students. However, students should also take into consideration the workload of each term and make sure they can meet the graduation requirements.

How should I compare and choose the best online J.D. program for me?

Students may check the accreditation status of programs or schools, the bar exam pass rate, concentrations available, online student support options, curriculum and workload required.

What is the difference between a Juris Doctor and a Juris Master?

They are both postgraduate degrees. However, similar to Master of Legal Studies or other legal studies programs, Juris Master programs are designed for people who want to further their legal knowledge and may not want to become a lawyer or practice law.

Information on this page was last retrieved in November 2021.