Law Schools Offer Accredited Master of Laws (LLM) Programs to Lawyers Online

With the advent of globalization, lawyers now need to know international and comparative laws. Generally, the legal profession has seen a rise in cross-border issues vis-à-vis international trade, intellectual property and technology, transnational workers and families, human rights, and socio-economic and environmental policies. While traditionally a Master of Laws (LL.M.) is a coveted degree for those in academia, in recent times, more and more practicing lawyers are enrolling in LL.M. programs to enhance their professional skills and gain specialized knowledge.

Many brick-and-mortar law schools (as opposed to wholly online universities) now offer lawyers the opportunity to earn an LL.M. degree online:

• University of Aberdeen located in Aberdeen, Scotland offers online LL.M. degree in International Business.

• Boston University School of Law located in Boston, United States offers online Executive LL.M. degree in International Business.

• Chapman University located in California, United States offers online LL.M. degree in Trial Advocacy/Prosecutorial Science.

• Dundee Law School located in Scotland, United Kingdom offers online LL.M. degree in International Dispute Resolution and Healthcare Law and Ethics.

• The University of Edinburgh School of Law located in Edinburgh, Scotland offers online LL.M. degree in Innovation and Technology, Intellectual Property Law, Medical Law and Ethics.

• New York University Law School located in New York, United States offers online Executive LL.M. degree in Taxation.

• Nottingham School of Law (University of Nottingham) located in Nottingham, United Kingdom offers online LL.M. in Public Procurement Law and Policy.

• Queen Mary, University of London located in London, United Kingdom offers online LL.M. degree in Computer and Communication Law.

A wide variety of online LL.M. programs are offered by two law schools located in England and Canada:

• University of London (External Systems) located in London, England offers online LL.M. degrees in General Master of Laws, as well as specializations in Banking and Finance Law, Financial Services, Commercial, Corporate and Securities Law, Economic Regulation, International Business Law, Common Law, Corporate and Foreign Law, Antitrust and Competition Law, Information Technology Law, Criminal Justice/Criminology, Sports Law, Tax Law, Public International Law, Health and Medical Law, International Justice, Legal Theory and Philosophy and Maritime Law.

• Osgood Hall Law School of York University located in Toronto, Canada offers online LL.M. degrees in Professional Development in Litigation/Arbitration/Mediation/Dispute Resolution, Banking, Finance and Securities, Constitutional Law, Criminal Justice/Criminal Law/Criminology, Family/Child Law, Health and Medical Laws, Intellectual Property, Employment and Labor Law, Municipal Law, Real Estate and Property Law, Securities Regulation, Tax and Trusts Law.

Online LL.M. programs offer greater flexibility to lawyers who are employed. Lawyers can learn at their own pace without having to take a break from work or physically relocate. Additionally, lawyers can choose from a greater number of LL.M. programs from anywhere in the world. Also, online LL.M. programs can be less expensive.

Prior to choosing an online LL.M. program, however, potential applicants should research and know the specifics. Among other things, consider the reputation of the program and the law school, teacher credentials and expertise, tuition fee and other costs, Internet connectivity, class size, school calendar, teaching methods and the availability supplemental help. Online learning maybe the best possible option for practicing lawyers to develop their skills professionally and keep pace with the emerging legal issues due to globalization.

Do Students Need To Jump At Non Federal Student Loans?

Non federal student loans have given college students extra choices in financing their college professions. While it was once that students have been left with no choice but to take advantage of financial assistance offered by the federal authorities, they now have more selections with the presence of private loan providers. The amount of such loans has been steadily rising, with its movement notably higher than the increase in volume of federal student loans. If this pattern continues, it is projected that private loan sources will surpass the student loan quantity supplied by the federal government by 2025.

Supposedly, general rules dictate that a student should only make non federal student loans an option once he or she has already maxed out his or her federal loan, usually the Stafford Loan. Before considering a private loan, they should also first submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which may make them qualified for various forms of student aid like grants and work-study programs.

Undergraduate students should also compare first resort to a Federal PLUS Loan, which is usually more affordable and has more flexible payment terms. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore as more and more students try to get non federal student loans to cover for miscellaneous expenses, while they use federal loans for tuition costs.
What students and potential borrowers need to be wary about non federal student loans, is of course, its fees. As private businesses, these loan companies' primary goal is to maximize profit, even at the expense of students. Cruel as it may look, that's how businesses are structured. Thus, it is inevitable that fees charged by a majority of lenders are higher than their federal counterparts, making repayments bigger. A loan with a low interest rate but riddled with high fees can certainly cost more than a loan with no extra fees but has a somewhat high interest rate (which is what federal student loans are supposed to be). When finding non federal student loans, one should remember that fees at the 3 to 4 percent level would be about the same as a 1 percent increase in interest rates.
Among non federal student loans that would be favorable to students would be those that have an interest rate of LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate) + 2 percent or PRIME RATE - 0.5 percent with no included fees. Although these loans may be available, they may only be offered to borrowers that have good credit standing, and only around 20 percent of borrowers qualify as such.
Moreover, students interested in private loans should make sure they are well-versed about the fine print of these loans. Most of them are advertised at a low rate for grace period and in-school periods, but once the loan is already repayment period, the rate changes.
However, there are indeed loans for students provided by private businesses that would be very beneficial since there aren't really federal equivalents for them. These include non federal student loans for law students in the process of taking their state bar exams and relocation and residency loans for students in the medical and dental field who are in the midst of preparing for their residencies and board exams.