Thursday, April 8, 2010

Online Degree Studies for Law

Everyone conjures up a picture in their mind when they hear the word lawyer. Television shows have made the typical depiction of a lawyer defending a client inside a courtroom popular. This picture is one aspect of the career but there are numerous duties and responsibilities that lawyers take on daily. Online degree studies in law provide a great education.


The image above needs to be combined with all the pre-trail responsibilities to gain an understanding of what a lawyer does. They counsel their clients in regards to their specific case after interviewing the client to gain thorough knowledge of the situation being dealt with. After this, a lawyer takes into consideration the knowledge about the case and advises the client on legal rights and possible outcomes. Lawyers then conduct as much research as needed to build their case and negotiate with other lawyers to gain a settlement.

If a settlement is not reached a lawyer then prepares for trial. Online degrees in this area are an in depth study that immerses students in procedures, principles, laws, and ethics.

To become a lawyer a student has three distinct degrees that can be obtained. These degrees include the Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and the Doctor of Juridical Science. To earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree students are required to have earned a bachelor's degree and have successfully passed the law school admissions test, which is commonly referred to as the LSAT. Online colleges combine a JD degree with a master's degree concentrated in a specific area of law, business, or policy and programs may take three to five years. In order to gain a JD alone, a three-year program is generally undertaken.

Study starts by focusing on international law, family law, tax law, and evidence. Specialized training to obtain a concentration is obtainable in civil litigation, corporate law, and more. Topics studied include parent law, comparative environmental law, and legal writing. Further education is specifically related to a student's concentration.

An online Master of Laws degree program takes approximately a little over a year to complete. With the program being geared towards one area of law students take courses specifically for their concentration. For example, students interested in tax law are taught all about tax law to gain a strong foundation. Students who graduate from a Master of Laws program in tax law will function in the profession as a tax lawyer. Courses vary significantly depending on what specialization is being taken but some topics of education can include online courses in accounting and corporate tax, white-collar crime, state tax, and bankruptcy. Students interested in becoming professors and law writers should continue on to earn a Doctor of Juridical Science.


Doctor of Juridical Science degree programs usually take around three years to complete. This degree is research intensive and requires students to complete an in depth dissertation paper. A degree requires students to complete some courses before starting the dissertation. These courses could include online studies in legal research, legal writing, and civil procedure. Graduates from this degree enter the academic field to teach and write about law procedures.


Entering law school requires students to be completely dedicated to the learning process. Students should consider what area of law they want to work in to make the decision and learning process more efficient. Online law degree programs prepare students to become a part of a high stakes career while helping individuals get the justice or legal rewards they deserve.