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Reasons to Study Postgraduate Law Online in the United States
The USA is a popular place for postgraduate study with numerous prestigious institutions and a wide variety of courses. However you no longer need to relocate to the United States in order to study a postgraduate law program at a US university, you can now cut the costs of attending university in the USA by studying online. Here is our guide to the groundbreaking reasons to studying a postgraduate law courses from a university in the United States.
Find an ONLINE POSTGRAD PROGRAM IN THE USAFlexibility is a key advantage
The flexibility to continue with your current job whilst studying makes distance learning online an attractive option for many students. You can improve your skills and career from anywhere in the world whilst still enjoying the support from academic staff and your fellow students via your university's online portals and platforms. Universities in the US are among some of the most prestigious law schools in the world, and a degree from one of these institutions can have a real impact on your opportunities in the future. However it’s important to be mindful of the fact that studying online is not for everyone as it requires a great deal of self-reliance and discipline to complete your studies.
Dive straight in
In many cases applying for an online postgraduate course can be less arduous than applying for an on-campus postgraduate course, and application deadlines and start dates can also be more flexible. So, if you are considering studying postgraduate law you may well be able to dive straight in and start a course at the soonest opportunity.
Different postgraduate law courses can be studied online
There are two types of postgraduate law qualifications that students can study online in the United States. A JD (Juris Doctor) law degree is required to pass the Bar exam in every state a lawyer wishes to work in. An LLM (Master of Laws) is aimed at those students and lawyers wishing to specialise further.
A variety of subject areas is available
The subject areas offered by institutions in the US via online study tend to the more traditional specialities. LLMs and JDs in taxation, international financial regulation, federal income taxation, state and local taxation are all very popular. Transportation and logistics law, commercial law or coastal and maritime law can all be studied online, and many institutions offer more general LLMs and JDs with the chance to specialise later. Subjects such as health law and financial estate planning are both popular career choices among students in the US as well.
Prestigious US universities & law schools offer online postgraduate opportunities
The availability of postgraduate courses via distance learning has a long history in the United States, and many institutions have a large selection of courses available for study online. Georgetown Law School in Washington DC has a selection of online courses in a range of subjects around taxation and financial regulation. Texas A&M Law School has an excellent reputation for offering courses via online learning and their prestigious law courses are a popular choice. The maritime law courses are a favourite with international students at the Florida Coastal School of Law, as are the University of Southern California's courses focusing on the workings of the US legal system. Atlanta's John Marshall Law School and the University of Pittsburgh both have a range of courses available for online study.
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Costs can be lower when studying postgrad law online
Costs of study in the US can have a large variation depending on the state and if the institution is a public or private one. For example, students studying online at Texas A&M Law School can expect full-time fees starting at $22,000 for Texas residents, with out-of-state students tuition fees costing a little more. The advantage of online study is the ability to break down the credits you study to as little as six hours per week per semester, which would cost around $5,900 per year. The Florida Coastal School of Law part-time online study cost is about $27,000 for 9 to 12 credits a semester for all students. The costs of tuition can often be helped with financial aid packages and loans offered by a selection of different organisations and the institutions themselves.
Qualifications needed to study don't necessarily include law
Generally, entry onto most US postgraduate law degrees requires a first degree in a relevant subject, but not always necessarily the law. Many of the online courses are aimed at professionals already working in the law and who are already specialise in or are planning on specialising in the US legal system. It is best to check with the institution you are applying to ensure that your first degree is recognised by the institution if it has been gained outside of the US. If your undergraduate degree is not in English, then you will also have to provide a TOEFL or IELTS score in addition to your application.
Further information
Applications to many law schools and universities in the USA are very competitive and planning your application is vital to its success. It is important to remember that law is different in each state in the US, so not all courses are necessarily transferable between states, and if a course is recognised by a local state Bar Association, then it doesn't mean it is recognised in every other state. Speak with the institution you are planning on applying to about your future plans to make sure you are certain that the course you are interested in is right for you.
Find an ONLINE POSTGRAD PROGRAM IN THE USA
