The John Marshall Law School is set to have one of the largest catalogs of online courses available upon ABA credit extension approval.
Students can already log on to learn entertainment law and the legal history of video games. Now, they will have a full 15 hours of online courses to choose from as the school leads the charge in JD distance education.
John Marshall is expanding its JD distance education offerings, and by the end of 2013, will have one of the largest catalogs of accredited online courses available. These new offerings were approved by the faculty.
“We have been offering graduate distance education courses for a number of years, and the JD faculty are excited to broaden our students’ choices even further,” Dean John E. Corkery said.
In anticipation of American Bar Association (ABA) changes allowing 15 credit hours to be taken simultaneously, John Marshall expects to offer seven courses totaling 15 hours for the Spring 2014 semester. Current ABA rules allow JD students to take up to 12 credit hours through online learning, and no more than 4 credits at a time.
John Marshall is accredited by both the ABA and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
John Marshall is investing in distance education in ways unseen at many other law schools. John Marshall’s online JD courses are produced in an in-house studio and in the field under the direction of media, instructional and resource specialists who, in concert with faculty, oversee both the production quality, as well as the course content.
“John Marshall’s expansion of online courses demonstrates the school’s commitment to improving student learning through the use of innovative technologies and teaching methods,” said Chief Information Officer June Liebert, who oversees the distance education program. “We are focusing on elective classes that can be enhanced through the use of online teaching methods and tools.”
Starting in Spring 2014, JD candidates in their second and third years – as well as visiting students from other schools – will have the option to take the following courses online:
· Constitutional and Military Law with Thomas White Jr., director of John Marshall’s Veterans Legal Support Clinic – 2 credit hours
· Video Game Law taught by Professor William Ford – 2 credit hours
· Entertainment Law with Adjunct Professor Jerry Glover – 2 credit hours
· Consumer Law with Professor David Sorkin – 3 credit hours
· International Business Transactions with Professor Karen Cross – 3 credit hours
· Elder Law: Financial Considerations with Barry Kozak, director of the Elder Law Program – 2 credit hours
· Introduction to Elder Law also taught by Kozak – 1 credit hour
Although JD students have limits on the number of graduate courses they can take, John Marshall already offers 44 courses online from which any JD student can choose.
“Our coursework online gives students, lawyers and other professionals new opportunities for learning that they otherwise may not have had,” Liebert said. “Students will have the flexibility to learn on their own schedule, and our online format can accommodate different student learning styles.”
John Marshall already provides practicing attorneys the options to earn LLM degrees in employee benefits, estate planning and intellectual property law online, and the law school offers online MS degrees in employee benefits and intellectual property law.