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Online J.D. Program

Welcome to St. Mary’s Law, where we lead with tradition and innovation.

 

This is a limited enrollment, part-time program.

We understand that not all students have the time to enroll in law school full-time or the ability to attend classes on campus. For students with considerably more outside responsibilities,  the St. Mary’s University School of Law is proud to offer the first fully online J.D. program accredited by the American Bar Association in the nation.

Our renowned faculty, which consists of legal experts in specialties from business law to international law, receives extensive training in online education and pedagogy, and all professors are fully certified to teach online.

As an online student at St. Mary’s Law, you will have access to the same opportunities and resources as a full-time student, including career counseling and advice through the Office of Career Strategy, academic advising from the Office of Law Success, and student services from the Office of Law Student Affairs.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (click to expand)

Where can I view tuition information about the online J.D. program?

Online J.D. students will pay the current part-time tuition rate, which can be viewed in the Tuition and Fees webpage.  St. Mary’s is proud to offer an online J.D. that provides the same quality teaching, student services and community that are hallmarks of our in-person degree.  As such, online J.D. students should expect an engaging and informative classroom experience and an open “virtual” door to our online-certified faculty.  Additionally, online students will have the opportunity to take advantage of our career and academic counseling, pro bono opportunities, networking events and more.  And, the online degree comes with a significant cost savings in living expenses, board and transportation.

Curriculum for Online Students

As an online student, you will take a planned curriculum designed to teach you the foundations of substantive law and the applications of legal writing and analysis. You will always have the option of taking an in-person course, but it is not required for completion of the degree. To ensure that our online students receive a quality educational experience, our online cohort will be capped at 25 students.

View the Course Schedule for more information on the courses.

Law student in classroom
First Term
  • Contracts I (2 hours)
  • Civ. Pro. (4 hours)
  • Legal Communication, Analysis & Professionalism (LCAP) (3 hours)
Second Term
  • Contracts II (2 hours)
  • Property (4 hours)
  • LCAP II (3 hours)
Third Term
  • Criminal Law (2 or 3 hours)
  • Professional Responsibility (3 hours)
Fourth Term
  • Torts (4 hours)
  • Constitutional Law (4 hours)
Fifth Term (Start of Second-Year Curriculum)
  • Business Associations (3 hours)
  • Family Law (3 hours)
  • Elective
Sixth Term
  • Evidence (3 or 4 hours)
  • Elective
Seventh Term
  • Con Crim Pro. (3 hours)
  • Wills, Estates & Trusts (4 hours)
  • Elective
Eighth Term
  • Conflicts of Law (3 hours)
  • Sales (2 hours)
  • Elective
Ninth Term (Start of Third-Year Curriculum)
  • Secured Transactions (3 hours)
  • Electives
Tenth Term
  • Mortgages (3 hours)
  • Electives
Eleventh Term
  • Electives

Accreditation

The St. Mary’s Law online J.D. program is approved by the American Bar Association. Applicants should confirm the legal education requirements for the jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission to the bar, and can find information for each jurisdiction through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

St. Mary’s Law is accredited by the ABA, but jurisdictions may have restrictions regarding online degree programs. Graduates of the St. Mary’s Law online J.D. program are eligible to sit for the Texas Bar Exam, which includes the Uniform Bar Exam, according to the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Board of Law Examiners.

Academic Requirements

Applicants may apply to either the full-time day program or the part-time online program, but not to both. Admission and graduation standards are the same for both J.D. programs.

A candidate for the J.D. program must earn a minimum of 90 credit hours in order to graduate.  Additionally, J.D. students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher to graduate.   Other curricular and academic requirements will apply. Requirements are set forth in the St. Mary’s School of Law Student Handbook.

Considering the online program?

We want to support you in your journey to find out which law school is right for you and your schedule. You may wish to: