Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University welcomed its inaugural cohort of students for its new online and part-time J.D. program that was announced last year.
Students in the inaugural cohort hail from nearly 20 states, including Arizona, California, Texas, Colorado and Georgia, underscoring the national demand for a flexible, high-quality legal education. Many are balancing careers, family responsibilities, active military service or public service roles alongside their legal studies.
Their professional backgrounds are wide-ranging. Members of the class include military leaders, engineers, first responders, nonprofit executives, educators, health care professionals, small business owners and professionals working in local, state and federal government. Others arrive with experience in law-adjacent roles such as paralegal work, immigration services and criminal justice, while some are pursuing law as a second or third career.
Academically, the cohort arrives with strong credentials and a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including master’s and doctoral programs in business, education, public health and public administration. Their interests span critical areas of need such as public service, criminal law, family law, immigration, health law, environmental law and rural practice — areas where communities across the country face persistent legal shortages.
The cohort also reflects ASU Law’s focus on access and inclusion with many students being first-generation law students.
Dean Stacy Leeds said legal education must evolve alongside the profession.
“This model allows us to innovate while maintaining the academic excellence ASU Law is known for,” Leeds said. “By expanding how and where students can earn a J.D., we are strengthening the legal profession and helping address critical gaps in legal services nationwide.”
To support students balancing their commitments, ASU Law has built a comprehensive student support model designed specifically for the online, part-time J.D. program.
Students have access to around-the-clock academic advising and technical support, ensuring help is available whenever and wherever it’s needed.
The program is led by Jennifer Albright, the inaugural director of student success for part-time, online J.D. students, who works closely with students to provide personalized guidance, proactive outreach and seamless coordination of resources.
In addition to its flexible format, the program is designed to be future facing. ASU Law is intentionally integrating artificial intelligence and legal technology into the student experience to ensure graduates are prepared for a rapidly evolving legal landscape. Students will engage with emerging tools and methodologies that support learning, efficiency and ethical legal practice.
As part of this focus, students will have opportunities to participate in ASU Law’s AI and Legal Tech Studio led by Sean Harrington, where they will explore how technology is reshaping legal services, access to justice and the role of lawyers.
The studio connects students with hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world problem solving at the intersection of law and technology, turning students into future-ready professionals equipped to serve their communities wherever they live and work.
