Online law students are typically older – 42 on average at Concord – than those enrolled at traditional brick-and-mortar law schools, deans say. Many are pilots, doctors, corporate managers, police officers and even legislators seeking to enhance their careers or start new ones. At Concord Law School, 40 percent of incoming students already have graduate degrees.
For many of them, traditional law school is out of the question. They can't quit their jobs. They travel on business. They live too far from the nearest law school. They're caring for young children or elderly parents. Or they simply can't afford – or justify – a legal education that can cost more than $100,000.
"There are many, many jobs out there that do not justify the cost it takes to get a J.D. degree," said Barry Currier, dean of Concord Law School in Los Angeles. Concord's four-year, part-time program costs roughly $37,000.
Michael Clancey, dean of Northwestern California University School of Law, sees access to law school as a justice issue. "Law school education should be open to everybody," he said.
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