Online Schools for Legal Studies: How to Choose

Legal studies programs differ in the course emphases they offer and by their scheduling and time requirements. Legal studies degrees are often favored by students who will go on to law school and careers as lawyers, but may be useful for those who are entering paralegal professions or other similar lines of work as well.

How to Choose an Online Legal Studies Program

Program Focus and Student Career

Many legal studies degree programs are designed to prepare students for law school. Some programs, however, are not specifically designed for this purpose. Paralegals, expert witnesses, crime investigators and those who are responsible for knowing how the law affects businesses can all benefit from a legal studies program, and some curricula are designed specifically to cater to these various needs. A student should be aware of the particular focus of the degree program under consideration before applying.

Course Scheduling and Time Requirements

Because legal studies courses may be designed either for part-time or full-time students, course scheduling varies. Some institutions require students to attend classes regularly via video or voice conferencing. Others allow asynchronous communication via forums and e-mail. Students might need to choose a school based on their time requirements and scheduling compatibilities.

Online Degree Options for Legal Studies

Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies

A bachelor's degree program in legal studies is designed to give students general knowledge of the law, including how the legal system in America works, how society changes in relation to the law and how citizens can interact with the legal system. A bachelor's degree program in legal studies is often designed to give students the foundation they need to perform well in law school. Students in an online legal studies program normally study via online education software that combines e-mail, forums and instant messaging and allows students to take tests online.

Master of Science in Legal Studies

A master's degree program in legal studies may provide students instruction on paralegal duties or focus on areas such as advocacy law, business law or health law. The schedule for master's programs in legal studies varies, with some flexible programs being more suitable for professionals who are taking classes in their spare time and others using a more structured delivery method that requires students to attend class at certain times for video or voice conferences with professors and other students.