Law Mom Abroad

Did you know that you can get your JD online? Many prospective students with families and outside commitments aren’t aware of the opportunities available to attend law school in a flexible, remote format. These programs are designed for non-traditional students with family lives, jobs, and other commitments that make it impossible for them to attend law school in a more traditional JD program.

I am a stay at home mom currently attending U.S. law school from home in Paraguay. This was made possible due to the great online and flexible program options available to current law students.

Read more for a list of the current ABA approved online, flexible programs available to prospective law students. However, there may be new programs emerging, so this list might not be completely exhaustive.

I have categorized the programs into three sections. Fully Online – programs that are completely online and require no in-person visits to campus. Mostly Online – programs that require anywhere from one in person visit a year to five in person visits a year. Mixed In-Person and Online Programs – these are programs that require more than 6 or more in-person visits a year.

Case Western Reserve University School of Law

Fully Online JD Programs

1. Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
   • Time commitment: 3.5 to 4 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: Most classes asynchronously with some offered synchronously.
   • In Person Campus Visits: None
   • Perks: 100 percent of students receive a scholarship.
2. Case Western Reserve University School of Law
   • Time commitment: 4.5 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: Synchronous and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: None
   • Perks: Small Cohort size
3. University of Detroit Mercy, School of Law
   • Time commitment: 4 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: Synchronous and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: None
   • Perks: Brand new program approved Spring of 2025.
4. University of Hawai’i, William S. Richardson School of Law
   • Time commitment: 4 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: Synchronous and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: None
   • Perks: Low student to faculty ratio.
5. Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law
   • Time commitment: 11 semesters.
   • Mode of Teaching: Synchronous and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: None
   • Perks: Majority of students receive scholarship.
6. St. Mary’s University School of Law
   • Time commitment: 3-4 years, depending on if student is part or full time.
   • Mode of Teaching: 50/50 Synchronous and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: None, but optional in person orientation.
   • Perks: Full time or part time options.
7. Southwestern Law School
   • Time commitment: 3-4 years, depending on if student is part or full time.
   • Mode of Teaching: Asynchronous with optional synchronous zoom.
   • In Person Campus Visits: None.
   • Perks: Full time or part time options.

Albany Law School

Mostly Online JD Programs

1. Albany Law School
   • Time commitment: 3 years 3 months.
   • Mode of Teaching: Asynchronous and synchronous. Classes 4 nights a week.
   • In Person Campus Visits: Once a year on campus visit.
   • Perks: Offers Business Law, Environmental Law, Government Law and Public Service, Social Justice and Public Interest Law.
2. Cleveland State University College of Law
   • Time commitment: 3 years 1 semester.
   • Mode of Teaching: Asynchronous and synchronous. Classes 4 nights a week.
   • In Person Campus Visits: Six total required in person campus weekends (Thursday – Sunday).
   • Perks: Networking and training opportunities.
3. University of Dayton, School of Law 
   • Time commitment: 11 semesters.
   • Mode of Teaching: Asynchronous and synchronous. Classes 3 nights a week.
   • In Person Campus Visits: Once a year (choice between October or March).
   • Perks: Small cohort size.
4. Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law
   • Time commitment: 4 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: Asynchronous and synchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: Two weekend visits in the fall and spring semesters. One weekend in the summer. 5 total weekends a year.
   • Perks: Forth year is completely online.
5. Northeastern University School of Law
   • Time commitment: 4 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: Asynchronous and synchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: Six total on campus visits of 4 days.
   • Perks: Two nights a week classes.
6. South Texas College of Law-Houston
   • Time commitment: 4 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: Asynchronous and synchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: One in-person visit a year.
   • Perks: Access to all student support and campus communities.
7. Syracuse University College of Law
   • Time commitment: 3 years, 3 months. (10 semesters).
   • Mode of Teaching: Asynchronous and synchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: Six on campus visits.
   • Perks: Established track record. (6 years).
8. Vermont Law School 
   • Time commitment: 3 years, 3 months. (10 semesters).
   • Mode of Teaching: Asynchronous and synchronous. Classes Monday – Thursday 6pm-9:30pm.
   • In Person Campus Visits: Three in person campus visits (Thursday-Sunday).
   • Perks: Classes in environmental law, food and agriculture law, general practice, energy law, animal law, and restorative justice.

Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Mixed Online and In-Person JD Programs

1. Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
   • Time commitment: 4 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: In-person, synchronous, and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: First two weeks of each semester are in person. The remaining 11 weeks can be online, but students are only allowed to zoom in 5-6 times per semester. Exams are in person.
   • Perks: Offers an option for students who are interested in flexibility, but also some online options.
2. Mitchell Hamline School of Law
   • Time commitment: 4 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: In-person, synchronous, and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: First two years are 1/3 online and 2/3 in person. Last two years, student can select online, hybrid, or on campus.
   • Perks: Offers an option for students who are interested in flexibility, but also some online options.
3. New Hampshire, University of, School of Law
   • Time commitment: As little as 3 years, but more if schedule requires.
   • Mode of Teaching: In-person, synchronous, and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: Two fall visits of 3-5 days. One spring and one summer visit. (4 times a year).
   • Perks: Students will choose from one (or both) of two concentrations: Intellectual Property, Technology, and Information Law; or Health and Life Sciences Law.
4. Seattle University School of Law 
   • Time commitment: 3.5 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: In-person, synchronous, and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: 5 weekends per year.
   • Perks: Synchronous classes are only one hour per week per class.
5. Suffolk University Law School
   • Time commitment: Full time 3 years, part time 4 years.
   • Mode of Teaching: In-person, synchronous, and asynchronous.
   • In Person Campus Visits: First year is in person. After that online if student has over a 3.0 GPA.
   • Perks: Full time and part time options.

Bottom line: law school is possible to do in a flexible, online way. Whether you are a stay at home parent, working full-time, or have other commitments preventing you from attending a traditional program, there are options for you.

ABA Approved programs.