There are many factors that must be weighed when considering an online legal education—chief among the “negative” weights are lack of ABA accreditation and the potentiality of only being able to practice law in California sans reciprocity or significant practice experience.
I certainly would not have chosen this route to obtaining a JD as a primary career path; however, as a segue to a second career and as an augmentation to the primary career it may be the way of the future…
My law school calculus was very simple:
- no LSAT requirement—after a BS, MS, MD, board certification and recertification—absolutely no desire to be culled by anymore hoop jumping
- no commute (means more at home, which means wife is very happy)
- minimal effect on my ability to work full time—which by choice is about 50% night shifts
- no classrooms, I have way too many social interactions with my real job
- California license eligible
Of course I was somewhat naïve about the FYLSX (California’s “Baby Bar”) requirement at the completion of 1L. Suffice it to say, I passed on the first attempt—but it was truly the most intense examination I have ever taken (I’ll take my oral boards any day of the week before I would take the FYLSX again). I’ve never typed for so long—”laptopped” for 4 hours straight with about thirty seconds to spare. Presently on track for the CalBar in February 2007—Concord is four years (which is fine when you work full time).
Now for the border collie, well with an online education there must be a place where you do the “online part”—I suspect with most Concord students it is in some form of home office. My home office is shared with my wife, three teenage sons (the other computer), and a border collie. It is impossible to suppress herding behavior— whether its boys in the hall, cats on the street, or ants on the kitchen floor—they all must be herded. What is most distressing is when I’m taking a timed online quiz, essay, mid–term exam, or final is the propensity for the border collie to want to herd my computer mouse (he’ll even try to herd trackballs).
Just a well placed nudge of a wet nose between the thenar and hypothenar eminences and that essay is history…
The other major trial and travail of on online education is dealing with ambient noises in the home…alas another tale, but good headphones and lots of white noise CDs are my prescription (esp. the electric fan and air purifier CDs).
Pepper, the Mouse Herder
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Yes, that First Year Law Student Exam is a bit of a “hoop jump” I’ve heard!
After getting hooked into 1L, I find out from upperclassmen that it really isn’t the hardest year after all! 2L is supposedly more difficult than 1L. 3L is supposedly more difficult than 2L!
Do you suppose no one shares this in the beginning because misery loves company?! (All kidding aside…the positives greatly outweigh any negatives.)
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