Orlando Area or ABA Online Law Schools - Looking for Honest Opinions

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for thoughts on Orlando-area law schools or ABA-accredited online options.

Funding is NOT an issue - I’ll be using my GI Bill, so tuition will be fully covered. Because of that, I’m focused more on overall experience, academic quality, bar support, and school environment rather than cost or alleged “predatory behavior”

I strongly prefer to stay in the Orlando area because I receive a lot of my medical care there. Relocating isn’t off the table, but it’s definitely not ideal unless it’s for the better

Here’s where I’m at:

•	Barry and FAMU are the obvious local options. I’ve seen the lower bar pass rates, which honestly isn’t my biggest concern. What does concern me are comments/reviews suggesting that some schools may discourage or delay students from sitting for the bar to protect pass rates. I don’t know how accurate that is, so I’d love input from anyone with direct experience.

•	Stetson is an option, and I could relocate if needed.

•	UF is also on the table academically, though relocation would be required there as well.

•	I’ve also noticed newer ABA-accredited online/hybrid programs. Southwestern is fully online, and ASU just launched a part-time online program. As a disabled vet, the flexibility is appealing and I could still attend full-time. That said, they’re relatively new programs, so I’m unsure how they’re viewed long-term.

For context: I’ve been a paralegal for about five years and have strong professional connections across multiple bar associations. Networking through school isn’t a major concern for me. I care more about solid academics, strong support, and not being in an unnecessarily cutthroat or high-burnout environment. I also do not care to go to a big corporate firm, smaller boutique firms are my goal.

I don’t need the most elite experience; I just don’t want a chaotic or overly stressful one.

Would really appreciate:

•	Experiences at Barry, FAMU, Stetson, or UF

•	Thoughts on ABA online programs

•	Whether staying local is worth it vs. relocating

•	Any insight into how schools handle bar eligibility internally

Thanks in advance for any honest feedback.