How many semesters is the Flex JD program?
A Flex JD student will earn a JD over the course of three and one-half years—an anticipated ten semesters. Semesters run year around in Fall, Spring, and Summer.
How many credits and courses will Flex JD students take each semester?
Semesters range from 2-4 courses, totaling 8-9 credits each semester.
What are the four Flex JD specialties?
Albany Law School’s Flex JD is unique in that it allows students to specialize their JD degree in one of our areas of expertise: Government Law & Public Service, Social Justice & Public Interest, Business Law, and Environmental Law.
What are the course requirements for the Flex JD?
Like the residential JD program, the Flex JD program requires 87 credits to graduate. The Flex JD curriculum sequences the core JD curriculum and Flex JD specialty courses. All specialties share core requirements with the residential JD program in that all students are required to complete 1L courses including Contracts, Property, Torts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law (I and II), Social Justice Seminar, and Introduction to Lawyering, as well as upper level requirements, including Evidence, Legal Profession, an Administrative Law course, an International Law course, and an experiential learning opportunity geared toward their specialty. Each specialty will have additional requirements related to that specialty. Students will be eligible to take electives and specialty electives that are presently available and become available in online formats.
Can you tell me more about the in-person once a year meeting?
As future lawyers, it is important to experience in-person interactions and conversations about the law. In addition, in-person meetings once a year allow you to meet and engage with your fellow students, faculty and other members of the Albany Law School community. The intensive, in-person meeting is once a year in the Fall, typically at the beginning of the semester. Meetings will usually begin in the evening on a Wednesday and conclude at about noon on Saturday. During these times, we will have a series of classes and events where you can meet your classmates, alumni, administrators, and professors. You will be given the schedule in advance of the meeting so that you can plan ahead and make accommodations. We will also have a hotel block where you can make a discounted reservation if you wish.
When will classes meet?
Albany Law School’s Flex JD program is designed for the working professional. While many jobs have different schedules, we try to provide as much flexibility as possible. In that vein, most courses will be a combination of asynchronous and synchronous classes. The synchronous classes are typically scheduled for the shoulder times of the workday, beginning around 6pm, while the asynchronous classes allow you to complete the schoolwork when you are able. Most courses will not have a class component on the weekends as we believe it is important to recharge and catch up if need be. Finally, course schedules are provided to the students in advance of the semester so that they can make work adjustments if needed.
What existing student services will Flex JD students receive?
The intent of Albany Law School’s Flex JD is to make sure Flex JD students can participate in as many of the programs that residential JD students can participate. For example, Flex JD students will be offered opportunities to participate in school governance, through the Student Bar Association, as a senator for each JD class. In addition, Flex JD students may qualify to be on journals, where they can subedit and write from remote locations. Further, most student organizations are looking forward to adding Flex JD members where possible. Of course, Flex JD students may be unable to attend some on-site student events. We expect to have Flex JD-only online events each semester.
Flex JD students may take advantage of our outstanding Career & Professional Development Center. Our career counselors provide significant guidance and outreach for our students seeking externships, city semester, and semester in practice as well as career positions. In addition, Flex JD students may take advantage of our mentorship program where we work to connect Flex JD students to alumni in the students’ locations. Finally, Flex JD students will have access to the same writing assistance, peer writing assistance, and other individualized academic support presently provided albeit online.
Will Flex JD students have access to library sources?
Yes, the Albany Law School library has print as well as digital content. Our Flex JD students will have online access with some in-person access either during required in-person sessions or because they choose to come to Albany. We strive to provide Flex JD students with reasonably comparable access to the library as our residential JD students have. One limitation may be where students use inter-library loan (ILL) services. Because the ILL service is licensed to a physical library, materials borrowed are sent to that library. Library reference assistance is provided Mondays through Thursdays 8:30 am – 7:00 pm (EST); Fridays 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (EST), and not on the weekends.
Will Flex JD students be eligible for Work Study?
Albany Law School’s Flex JD students, like residential JD students, are eligible for work study, although the available work may be limited to remote work, research assistance, or potentially an approved off-campus site.
Can graduates of Albany Law School’s Flex JD program sit for the bar exam?
Graduates of Albany Law School’s Flex JD earn a Juris Doctor. While the program is designed to fulfill the academic eligibility requirements to sit for a state bar examination, each state sets its own criteria for admission to the bar and to sit for its bar examination. Graduates of our Flex JD will satisfy most jurisdictions’ current legal education requirements. That said, students applying to the Flex JD program should check with the jurisdictions in which they may seek admission to the bar to ensure that graduation from this program will make them eligible for taking the bar exam and being admitted to the bar in those jurisdictions.
Because of the limits New York places on the use of distance education, see Section 520.3 of [QR1] the Rules of the New York Court of Appeals, Flex JD students cannot currently sit for the bar exam in New York without acquiring a waiver from the New York Court of Appeals. Albany Law School will assist a Flex JD student wishing to take the bar exam in New York with the application for a waiver from the Court.
Does Albany Law School award merit scholarships to Flex JD students?
Yes, we award merit scholarships at the time of acceptance to eligible students within the Flex JD program. To learn more about Albany Law School’s awarded merit scholarships and also to learn more about external scholarships opportunities available to prospective applicants/and entering 2024 cycle law students visit our web page at: https://www.albanylaw.edu/applications-admissions/financial-aid.
Are the admissions requirements for Flex JD applicants the same as for residential JD applicants?
Yes. Applications to the Flex JD program will be evaluated on the same set of criteria as students who apply for the residential JD program.
Are you accepting transfer students from other law schools into the Flex JD program?
At this time, we are not accepting transfer students into the Flex JD program.
Will my diploma say that I graduated from an online program?
Your diploma will not be different from those of students who graduate from our residential JD program.