Syracuse University College of Law interim dean William Banks has unveiled early-stage plans to launch a 'hybrid' J.D. program at the university which can be completed almost entirely online. The laptop-based degree program will likely carry the same requirements, admission standards and price tag as the school's bricks-and-mortar offering. However, the online format combined with a longer duration of four years will offer greater flexibility to those students unable to commit to full-time study on campus, such as those already in the workforce, those with families, military personnel and students with disabilities.

Second of its kind

If approved by state regulators and the American Bar Association, Syracuse will be only the second ABA-accredited law school to launch this kind of hybrid degree program – Minnesota’s Mitchell Hamline School of Law was the first and kicked off its own hybrid program last year. Syracuse is aiming to get its own program off the ground in 2018.

Enrollment lifeline

Mr Banks believes that translating the J.D. degree program onto an online platform will help stopper and even reverse slipping enrollment rates at Syracuse Law. 'Our student body is down about 30 per cent compared to seven or eight years ago,' he said. 'We're smaller than we were, and we have the capacity to offer more. We think the online environment is compelling.' ABA data shows that nationwide enrollment at US law schools slumped 5 per cent in 2015 alone.

Sources: National Law Journal; Wall Street Journal