Wednesday, June 04, 2003 5:49 PM
I read with interest today an
MSNBC report that 6 of the first 10 graduates from Kaplan's
Concord Law School passed the California Bar. The article mentioned that the California pass rate is around 50%, so the school apparently did a little better than average.
What makes Concord noteworthy is that "Concord Law School is the first institution to offer a Juris Doctor (JD) degree earned wholly online via state-of-the-art technology." While not ABA-accredited, graduates can sit for the California Bar and at least one of the students (who attended school from his home in Vermont) is looking into the reciprocity agreements with other states.
Makes me wonder as to the future. Could an ABA-accredited law school eventually follow this web-only model? Not the Harvard's of the world, but maybe a small law school that is hurting financially? Also, isn't there a potential demand for online law school, especially if it could be offered at considerable savings over a traditional bricks-and-mortar law school education? Everyone seems to know a lawyer struggling under a huge debt load from law school loans. And, facing the reality that not all lawyers make great money -- especially public defenders and public sector attorneys -- wouldn't there be waiting group of talented, motivated people who would jump at the chance of attending law school without having to rack up big loans? I am only speaking to the cost factor, of course. There are many other items to consider, I am sure. Still, something to think about, indeed.
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