Rutgers Law School Launches Online J.D. Program
Rutgers Law School is launching a new Online J.D. program, making its nationally respected legal education accessible to students who need the flexibility to pursue a law degree while continuing to work, support their families, serve their communities, or meet other professional and personal responsibilities. The new program places Rutgers Law among a select group of ABA-accredited law schools nationwide offering an online J.D. option.
The Rutgers Law Online J.D. is a part-time, mostly online program that combines live online evening classes with flexible asynchronous coursework and purposeful in-person learning experiences. Students will take live classes two to three evenings per week and travel to Rutgers Law’s Camden campus for eight required in-person experiences throughout the program. These four- to five-day experiences are designed to build practical lawyering skills, professional identity, relationships with faculty and classmates, and connections to the Rutgers Law community.
“Students can now pursue their law degree without putting their careers or personal commitments on hold,” said Rutgers Law Dean Johanna Bond. “This new Online J.D. program represents the next evolution of Rutgers Law School's commitment to access, affordability, and opportunity, core pillars of our Strategic Plan. Through a flexible but rigorous online format, complemented by periodic in-person intensives in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area, we are opening new doors for working professionals, caregivers, and other busy adults whose schedules may not accommodate a traditional law school experience. This is more than a new program. It is a new pathway to leadership.”
Students will earn the same Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers Law School as other full- and part-time students. The Online J.D. curriculum is designed to meet the same academic standards, learning outcomes, and professional preparation as Rutgers Law’s traditional J.D. programs, and diplomas will not indicate that the degree was earned through an online or part-time program.
The program is designed for a broad range of students whose circumstances may make a traditional law school experience difficult or impossible, including working professionals seeking career advancement or a career change; individuals with family or caregiving responsibilities; business professionals seeking legal expertise; public servants and nonprofit and community leaders; military-affiliated students and veterans; and students who cannot relocate or attend law school full time.
“Rutgers has a longstanding commitment to expanding educational opportunity and serving the public good,” said Rutgers University–Camden Interim Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “The Online J.D. program extends that mission, allowing more students to earn a rigorous Rutgers legal education and prepare for the next step in their professional journey.”
Students will have access to the same academic, professional, and community resources available to Rutgers Law students, including academic support, career services, student organizations, experiential learning opportunities, and the school’s extensive alumni network. Rutgers Law offers more than 50 student-run organizations, many of which provide opportunities for virtual participation.
The launch comes as legal education continues to evolve, with growing enrollment and an increasingly diverse student body pursuing J.D. degrees. In Fall 2025, 42,817 students began J.D. studies nationwide, while total J.D. enrollment reached 120,039 across 196 ABA-approved law schools.
As New Jersey’s public law school, Rutgers Law has a longstanding commitment to access and to preparing lawyers and leaders who serve their communities and the public. The Online J.D. builds on that mission by using technology and flexible course design to reach students who may not otherwise be able to pursue a legal education.
The program also reflects Rutgers University’s broader role as a premier public research university committed to innovation, opportunity and public service. By bringing together rigorous legal scholarship, skills-based education, experiential learning and a flexible delivery model, Rutgers Law is helping shape the next generation of legal education.
One of the goals of the Rutgers Law Strategic Plan is to expand our capacity as a national model for student access. Click here to learn more about our Strategic Plan.