Cleveland State University

What you'll study

The programme covers the core subjects required for legal practice alongside practice-oriented skills and elective specialisms. In the first year you will typically study foundational courses such as Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Property, Constitutional Law and Legal Research & Writing. In later years the curriculum usually expands to Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Administrative Law, and more advanced doctrinal courses.

Students will also complete courses and experiences focused on practical skills: trial advocacy, negotiation, client interviewing, drafting and transactional skills. The online format commonly combines asynchronous lectures with scheduled synchronous seminars, small-group workshops and assessed skills sessions. Clinical and experiential components are integral: students can undertake law clinic placements, externships with courts or local law firms, and capstone projects or simulation courses that require supervised applied work.

• Core first-year doctrinal modules: Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Property, Constitutional Law, Legal Research & Writing
• Upper-year subjects: Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Administrative Law, Business Associations, Federal Courts, Intellectual Property, Family Law
• Skills and practice: Trial Advocacy, Negotiation, Transactional Drafting, Client Counselling
• Clinical/externship options: Legal clinics, judicial externships, practicum placements (subject to availability and local rules)
• Electives and capstone: Specialisation through electives and a practical capstone project or seminar

Entry requirements

Applicants normally need a recognised bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a competitive academic record. Admissions typically consider a combination of factors including undergraduate transcripts, a personal statement, résumé/CV, and letters of recommendation. Many US law schools accept either the LSAT or GRE; applicants should check current Cleveland–Marshall College of Law guidance for accepted tests and minimum expectations.

Applicants who completed their undergraduate study outside the primary jurisdiction or in a language other than English may be asked to demonstrate English language proficiency. Because eligibility to sit for the bar exam varies by state, applicants should review state bar admission rules if they intend to practise in a particular jurisdiction. Additional screening such as background checks may be required prior to clinical placements or licensure-related activities.

Career prospects

Graduates with a JD typically pursue careers as practicing attorneys in private practice, in-house counsel roles, public interest organisations, government agencies, prosecutors’ offices and public defender offices. The degree also opens pathways to judicial clerkships, compliance and regulatory roles, policy work, alternative legal careers such as legal technology and consulting, and positions in academia or public administration.

Completion of the JD is only one component of becoming a licensed attorney; graduates must also meet state bar admission requirements, which commonly include passing a bar examination and satisfying character and fitness evaluations. The programme’s clinical placements, externships and career services are aimed at helping students build practical experience and professional networks to support job placement after graduation.

Why study at Cleveland State University

Cleveland–Marshall College of Law benefits from its urban location and longstanding ties to the city’s courts, law firms and public-sector legal employers, providing ample opportunities for externships, clinics and local networking. The college emphasises experiential learning and offers a range of clinics and supervised placements that complement online coursework.

The online JD option is designed to combine the rigour of a traditional JD with scheduling flexibility and student support services, including academic advising, career counselling and bar-preparation resources. Faculty bring a mix of scholarly expertise and practical experience, and the university provides technological and library resources to support remote study. Prospective students should consult Cleveland–Marshall College of Law for the most current information on delivery format, state-by-state bar eligibility and admissions procedures.