An Online Law Degree Takes You from Classroom to Courtroom

If your idea of a dynamic career is standing in front of the halls of justice and making a stand for what's right, earning a law degree from an online university is the first step. The legal profession is a recession-proof industry that continues to remain hot. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of lawyers is projected to increase by 11 percent over the coming decade; that's about as fast as the national average for all occupations through 2016. Mid-career changers, stay-at-home parents, and other nontraditional students are choosing the distance education format to get in on the industry growth.

Course work for the legal degree includes such titles as history of law, criminal justice, communications and public speaking. Following your undergraduate education, you'll earn specific training in legal processes and the course of law. PayScale reports that the starting salary for lawyers fresh out of school is $57,488. That figure will vary widely by specialty, experience, and locale.