Top 10 Best Part-Time Online Juris Doctor (JD) Programs 2025

A legal education can open many career opportunities, but earning a Juris Doctorate (JD) can be difficult. If you want to make a career change and become a lawyer, consider enrolling in a part-time law school online to have the chance to attend classes at your own pace.

There are several law schools fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), which offer convenient online degree programs for working professionals.

Can You Go to Law School Part-Time Online?

Yes, there are several part-time law school programs that offer online or hybrid enrollment options. While traditional on-campus programs may take about three years, part-time law students can complete courses one at a time through synchronous or asynchronous class schedules.

How Long Does It Take to Finish a Part-Time JD?

A part-time law school program can take as long as you need, provided you fulfill the degree requirements. Since some programs have shorter academic sessions, you could take one or two classes at a time, while working another position, and graduate within about four or five years. Check with your intended program to see if there are any deadlines for degree completion.

Best Part-Time Law Schools

Here is a list of part-time online JD programs from ABA-accredited universities. These offer online coursework, taught by the same faculty who instruct in-person classes, and permit a flexible learning format.

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University (ASU) has a part-time and online JD degree program you can complete anywhere at any time without campus visitation requirements. U.S. News & World Report ranks ASU as the 45th best law school in the country. It also has plenty of financial aid options, boasting that 100% of its students receive scholarships for legal studies.

• Estimated tuition cost: $14,080 per semester
• Program length: Four years
• Accreditation: ABA

2. Sturm College of Law

Sturm College of Law claims to have one of the first part-time law degree programs. This is a hybrid curriculum with about one-third of its courses online each fall and spring semester. Part-time students have access to the same law school experiential learning activities, such as moot court, legal journal publications, externships, and special lectures.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,887 per credit hour
• Program length: Four to five years
• Accreditation: ABA

3. Wilmington University

Wilmington University has a hybrid program for part-time students, with most elective courses on campus and larger core courses available through online delivery. First-year students focus on subjects like legal writing, civil procedure, torts, and contract law, whereas later courses involve topics like constitutional law, family law, property law, and criminal law.

• Estimated tuition cost: $838 per credit hour
• Program length: Four years
• Accreditation: ABA

4. St. Mary's School of Law

St. Mary's School of Law has a flexible, part-time, online JD program consisting of 11 academic sessions of two or three courses at a time. Prospective applicants must submit their applications, transcripts, and Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores by the application deadline for the fall semester.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,469 per credit hour
• Program length: Four years
• Accreditation: ABA

5. Rutgers University

Rutgers University offers a part-time JD program, which prepares students to enter the legal profession while specializing in important areas like international law, family law, and criminal law. Part-time students typically enroll in 10.5 credit hours each semester. Rutgers also offers plenty of ways to participate in moot court, write for law journals, and engage in other co-curricular activities.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,291 per credit hour
• Program length: About 3.5 to 4.5 years
• Accreditation: ABA

6. George Mason University

George Mason University offers a flexible, part-time law degree program with a hybrid delivery format. For the first two years, law students only have to attend in-person courses during two evenings each week. George Mason's elective courses are available during daytime and evening hours.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,200 per credit hour
• Program length: Four years
• Accreditation: ABA

7. Southwestern Law School

Southwestern Law School's ABA-accredited law degree program features 100% online course content and asynchronous classes. Graduates find employment at prestigious law firms, public interest organizations, and other legal advocacy groups. The program strongly emphasizes making law students ''profession ready'' from day one of law school.

• Estimated tuition cost: $42,124 per year
• Program length: Four years
• Accreditation: ABA

8. Ohio Northern University

Ohio Northern University's online law degree is available for part-time enrollment, with the same opportunities for financial aid as full-time students. This law program includes mandatory courses to prepare for the bar exam and other important subjects. The online delivery format is a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous courses.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,415 per credit hour
• Program length: Four years
• Accreditation: ABA

9. South Texas College of Law

The part-time law degree program at South Texas College of Law is mostly online except for one on-campus course at the beginning of each academic year. Online students have access to faculty members either in person or online. This program also includes bar exam preparation support and help with employment interviews after graduation.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,384 per credit hour
• Program length: Four years
• Accreditation:ABA

10. Vermont Law and Graduate School

Vermont Law and Graduate School offers a part-time JD program, which permits an extra semester of study. This hybrid degree program has more online offerings than on-campus courses while allowing law students to select from five legal specializations. Program admissions depend mostly on earning a high LSAT score and submitting a strong cumulative GPA.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,872 per credit hour
• Program length: About 3.5 years
• Accreditation: ABA

How We Chose the Best Part-Time JD Programs

This is how we selected the schools on our list of part-time JD programs online. Each institution must hold an academic accreditation, offer part-time enrollment, and have a strong reputation in the legal community and academia.

• Accreditation: These law schools receive accreditation from the ABA.
• Program flexibility: JD students have the option of attending part-time and receive the same quality instruction as students in full-time programs.
• Program reputation: These part-time programs have a strong reputation and provide all the necessary training in important subjects like civil procedure, legal writing, and criminal law.

FAQs About Part-Time Law School Programs

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the best part time JD programs. These five questions can help you understand getting into law school, evening program opportunities, and implications for taking the bar exam.

Do Law Schools Offer Evening Programs?

Yes, many law schools and graduate programs have most of their classes in the evening. You may also find a school of law that allows online students to take asynchronous courses, meaning they do not have to attend class at a set time.

Is 40 Too Old for Law School?

There are no age restrictions on attending law school. Part-time JD degree programs are ideal for career changers who have experience in other industries or businesses relevant to their law school interests. Many law students did not discover their interest in legal education until they reached their 30s or 40s.

Is It Harder to Get Into Part-Time Law School?

The admission requirements depend on which program you select. Law schools rarely offer different admissions criteria for part-time versus full-time students (some explicitly state they're the same). Both should expect to submit high academic grades and LSAT scores to gain acceptance at most competitive law schools.

Are Part-Time JD Programs Cheaper?

These programs are not necessarily cheaper than full-time Juris Doctor degrees. Each university charges a different tuition rate, normally on a per-credit-hour basis, which is often the same for part-time and full-time students. Some law schools charge slightly more to attend part-time, though.

Can I Sit for the Bar With an Online or Hybrid JD?

Yes, you can sit for the bar exam if you earn your online or hybrid JD from an ABA-accredited university, as the ABA governs the exam process. Once you finish your degree program, prepare to study hard and take the bar exam as soon as possible after graduating.

Discover Online Law Programs

If you found this helpful, review other articles on Learn.org to discover more about online law programs. Our website can help you learn the steps to attend law school at a reputable university at your own pace.