Many students aspire to become lawyers but can’t find the time to attend regular classes. While it is natural for there to be extenuating circumstances or other responsibilities, it is important for an individual not to miss out on their classes. Luckily, several law schools have taken this into consideration and created hybrid Juris Doctor degree programs. These are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), which makes a hybrid online program an ideal choice.

What is a Juris Doctor degree?
The title is Latin for Doctor of Law, which is a professional law degree and academic credential. The credential is awarded by law schools to law students upon graduation. Furthermore, by graduating, one can appear for the bar exam and earn a license to practice law. Graduation is also considered “the first law degree” by the ABA. To become a lawyer, one needs to acquire at least 85 to 90 credits over three years.

ABA accreditation
When an individual attends a law school accredited by the ABA, they are eligible to take the bar exam across all 50 states. They can also appear for the exam in the District of Columbia. The seal signifies that the school legally meets the association’s educational standards.

ABA-accredited hybrid law schools
The approval for law schools to offer solely online courses is yet to be accredited. The good news is that the ABA has started to issue waivers to hybrid programs. These programs combine traditional campus learning with online courses, which makes them eligible for accreditation. Therefore, aspiring lawyers looking for alternatives can look for hybrid online J.D. degrees.

Non-ABA accredited online law schools
Apart from ABA-accredited schools, there are some states where the student can appear for a bar exam with a law degree from a non-ABA-accredited school. However, the process might be slightly more complex. Furthermore, employers often look for applicants who have graduated from accredited schools. One must research any bar admission limitations before joining an educational institution without an ABA accreditation. They must also check if the institution will offer the required legal training to enter the field of law.

Curriculum expectations
An online hybrid law degree should typically teach a student how to think creatively and critically. The course will also impart knowledge on legal doctrines. One will also learn more about subjects, including sociology and economics. The hybrid online law courses may differ when it comes to time taken for graduation, schedule flexibility, externship access, and other external admission requirements or opportunities.

Admission requirements
As for admission, common requirements for hybrid J.D. programs include transcripts, personal essays, resume, and letter of recommendation. A bachelor’s degree is also required to qualify for an online J.D. program. The major one chooses does not affect the application, as law schools accept students who study different subjects. But, certain undergraduate majors may help one prepare for law school. These include economics, political science, and English and communications. Most traditional law schools accept only the LSAT scores. However, with the introduction of the hybrid module, a person may also qualify based on their GRE scores. To qualify, the student must have taken this test within the past five years.

Program courses
The courses in a hybrid structure are similar irrespective of what law school a person attends. The J.D. curriculum should include programs like contracts, criminal law, torts doctrine, civil procedure, and trial practice. Other programs include legislation, legal analysis, professional skills, constitutional law, intellectual property law, and family law. During the second and third years of law school, the student will take upper-level coursework to advance their understanding of certain industries and practices. These courses include art law, animal law and policy, sports law, corporate crime, antitrust law and policy, international taxation, and international arbitration.

Completion steps
One must maintain a minimum grade point average and complete the core curriculum to become a lawyer. They should also have participated in experiential learning in the form of externships, clinics, and simulated courses where they solve a legal problem similar to that of a real-world scenario. Experiential learning is important as some institutions require a certain number of credit hours in order for them to consider a student’s application.

Average salary
The salary of a JD graduate who pursues a career in law will depend on the area of law they practice. Other determining factors include their experience in law, geographical location, and the size of the law firm. The average annual salary of a lawyer in the country is about $126,000.

Online and hybrid J.D. programs
There are several hybrid J.D. programs approved by the ABA. Aspiring lawyers should pick one based on their career goals, financial budget, and learning style. A few schools to consider include:

• Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Saint Paul, MN.
• Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, CA.
• Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey.
• University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, Concord, NH.