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Full-Time U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Fits in Part-Time Study of Law Through JDi Program

Joseph Creager sits at a laptop and smiles

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Joseph Creager L’26 has been interested in the law since taking courses in criminal and constitutional law in high school. But after graduating, he decided to major in graphic design in a traditional college program. It wasn’t for him, so, after working as a freelancer and at a few other jobs, he joined the Army in 2013, serving as an infantryman for his first five years of service.

It was when Creager joined the Army that he started seriously considering his future and what he might like to do after he left the military. In 2018, he reclassed to be an Army paralegal and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from an online program through Colorado Technical University in 2020. Shortly after, he started studying to take the LSATs and apply to law schools. By that time, Creager had moved into a role as a senior paralegal. He knew that his full-time commitment to the Army, along with his responsibilities to his wife and two children would make adding law school a challenge, but he was eager to try. Knowing that his experience with his online bachelor’s degree had been successful, he chose to enroll in the JDinteractive (JDi) program at Syracuse University College of Law.

Creager chatting with a classmate during the January 2024 residency

“The JDi program is flexible. If an active-duty soldier can make it work, I think anyone can,” says Creager, who credits two JAG officers, Maj. Jonathan Womack and Maj. Alexander Hernandez, with encouraging him to pursue his legal ambitions.

He started the program in 2022 while preparing to transfer from Ft. Liberty in North Carolina to Ft. Drum in Upstate New York. In fact, he made the move just 48 hours after his first final exams. “I will say that without this online program, it would be impossible. But, anytime I talk to someone about it, I make a point to emphasize that ‘online’ and ‘flexible’ does not mean ‘easy.’ The JDi program is challenging. You must put in the work if you expect to succeed,” he says.

“It is amazing how many professionals out there are looking to expand their knowledge with a legal education or change careers altogether. I’m glad to be a part of it. Syracuse Law’s JDi program has set the bar high for the future of online legal education.”

Joseph Creager L’26

Creager is completing his course work on a part-time basis, as the JDi program allows students to take as many as seven years to complete their law degrees. At present, Creager is on course to graduate in 2026. And, while he enjoys his classes, he has also attended a number of required in-person residency programs on legal topics at the Syracuse University campus. His favorite has been a residency on trial advocacy presented by Professor of Law Todd Berger, and he also credits Lou Lou Delmarsh, previously the program advisor for JDi (currently the interim director of student experience), and Stephanie Rinko, coordinator for the JDi program, for “making the residencies a great experience.”

Creager listens in the classroom to Professor Berger lecture during the January 2023 residency
Creager (far left) listens intently to College of Law Professor Todd Berger, teaching trial advocacy during the January 2024 professional skills residency in Syracuse.

He has received final approval to participate in an externship with the Army’s Office of the Special Trial Counsel at Ft. Drum this summer. His hard work has also earned him a place as a member of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society’s Virtual Advocacy Division.

“I have made some good friends with a variety of experiences throughout this program,” says Creager, who intends to be a practicing attorney one day. “It is amazing how many professionals out there are looking to expand their knowledge with a legal education or change careers altogether. I’m glad to be a part of it. Syracuse Law’s JDi program has set the bar high for the future of online legal education.”

University Professor David Driesen Pens Opinion Article: The Supreme Court granted Trump amnesty it has no power to give

University Professor David Driesen recently wrote the opinion article “The Supreme Court granted Trump amnesty it has no power to give” in The Hill in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v Anderson.

Driesen writes: The Supreme Court’s opinion contradicts the 14th Amendment and the clear intent of its drafters. The court expressed concern that allowing states to enforce Section 3 could result in differing views on whether a particular person engaged in insurrection. But that is a less serious constitutional concern than subjecting the Constitution to the dangers that come with the court’s amnesty. The court could have solved that issue by simply ordering Trump off the ballot in all 50 states.

“Quite Strange” – Professor Gregory Germain on Trump Hush Money Trial

Professor Gregory Germain recently spoke with Salon on Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial.

In the article, Germain says it is “quite strange” that Trump is being charged with a cover-up but not the crime itself.

“The D.A. has very strong evidence that Trump was trying to cover up the payment,” he said. “Whether his reason for the cover up was to hide a campaign finance crime, or to avoid personal or political embarrassment rather than to cover up a crime, is the main weakness in the case” that prosecutors will have to address at trial.

As to Trump employing the advice-of-counsel defense, “whether lawyer advice is an excuse depends on what the defendant knew and intended,” says Germain.

College of Law’s JDinteractive Program Recognized by The Princeton Review as One of the Best Online J.D. Programs

A JDinteractive student studies at a computer in a large conference room.

The Princeton Review (TPR) has recognized Syracuse University College of Law’s JDinteractive (JDi) hybrid online J.D. program as one of the seven best Online J.D. programs in their 2024 rankings. Of the seven schools ranked, five are ABA-approved (including Syracuse University College of Law) meaning graduates are eligible for the bar exam in most jurisdictions.

The JDi program is celebrating its fifth anniversary this spring.  With 110 graduates and approximately 250 current students in the program, it is one of the original and most well-established online programs in the country.

“We are seeing our JDi graduates take on new challenges, change career paths, and contribute to their communities,” says Dean Craig M. Boise. “Our innovative hybrid program has provided them with the knowledge, tools, and experiences to succeed, however they use their law degree.”

Students sit around a large oval table at JetBlue
JDinteractive students went to JetBlue headquarters in New York City during a Residency in August 2023 to discuss asset finance.

JDi is an adaptable, year-round program that is ideal for students who are employed full-time, have parental commitments, are involved in their community, need to travel often or have other time obligations or geographic constraints.

Classes are taught by the same faculty as the on-campus J.D. program with equally rigorous academic standards through a combination of live and self-paced online class sessions. Six residencies held on the Syracuse University campus or sites worldwide provide an opportunity to connect with classmates, faculty, and alumni, and all students complete an externship in their local community. Students can also participate in law clinics, journals, advocacy competitions, and other activities.

“The JDinteractive program is breaking barriers by making a high-quality legal education more accessible,” says Professor Shannon Gardner, Associate Dean for Online Education. “Students who otherwise would not be able to pursue a legal education due to work, family, or other commitments can fulfill their goal of becoming a lawyer through this transformative program.”

Students take a selfie together in front of a JetBlue sign.
JDinteractive students take a selfie together at JetBlue headquarters during a residency.

According to TPR, the ranking is “based on feedback from real students, our lists and rankings help applicants find schools where they will be a fit academically, socially, and financially.”

Professor Nina Kohn on ProPublica’s Article on the Public Guardianship System: “There’s a profound lack of monitoring by the courts.”

Professor Nina Kohn provided perspective to MarketWatch on the public guardianship system covered in the recent ProPublica news story “Bedbugs, Rats and No Heat: How One Woman Endured a Decade of Neglect in New York’s Guardianship System”.

Speaking to MarketWatch about the story, Kohn said “We really have no idea how common [cases of abuse] are, because there is a woeful lack of data about what is going on. We have known for decades that vulnerable people are placed in guardianships and then courts fail to engage in any meaningful monitoring of those arrangements to make sure that they are actually protected.”

Kohn continues that the blame is “a profound lack of monitoring for much of the problem. And that’s on the courts.”

Kohn served as the Uniform Law Commission Reporter for the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act.

Youth Law Day Brings More Than 100 High School Students to the College of Law

The College of Law’s annual Youth Law Day event recently brought more than 100 high school students from five regional schools to Dineen Hall for an introduction to the legal profession, hearing about the role of attorneys in society, and how to chart a path to law school.

Participating schools were Binghamton High School, Geneva High School, Fowler High School, Jamesville-DeWitt High School, and the Syracuse Central Institute of Technology. This year’s program was coordinated by Professor Lauryn Gouldin, co-founder of the Syracuse Civics Initiative.

Students heard from a panel of College of Law alumni on strategies for effective advocacy that featured the Hon. Thérèse W. Dancks L’91, Hon. Ramón E. Rivera L’94, Marisol Estrada Cruz L’23, and Mazaher E.G.E. Kaila L’22. Kimberly Wolf Price L’03, Chief Strategy & Diversity Officer at Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC and Member, NYSBA Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, discussed how voting is a form of advocacy while Professor Katherine Macfarlane led the students through a mock law class.

The Keynote lecture was delivered by the Hon. Brenda K. Sannes, Chief United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York. Afterwards, the students broke into groups to tackle a mock argument activity led by 2L Noah Centore, 3L Evan Groder, 3L Omnia Shedid, 3L Mahogani Counts, 3L Zach Mazuzan, 3L Danny Peraza, 2L Sarah Simon-Patches, and 2L Suzan Elzawahry.

The visiting students were then able to ask a panel of current Syracuse Law students about their path to law school, how to prepare for the LSAT, good study and test-taking habits, and more. The panel was moderated by 3L Evan Groder and featured 3L Jennifer Arinze, 2L Jesse Elmer, 1L Jayda Howard, and 3L Nathanael Linton.

Suzette Meléndez, Faculty Fellow for the Office of Strategic Initiatives in Academic Affairs and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Teaching Professor at the College of Law, provided closing remarks.

More information about Youth Law Day can be found here.

Event sponsors were:

Syracuse University College of Law

Barclay Damon

Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC Law Firm

Bousquet Holstein

Federal Court Bar Association

The Hon. Robert A. Katzmann Justice for All: Courts and the Community Initiative

Lexis Nexis

New York State Bar Association

Porter Law Group

Syracuse Civics Initiative

Syracuse Student Bar Association

Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society

United States District Court for the Northern District of New York

Professor Lauryn Gouldin
3L Omnia Shedid
Mazaher E.G.E. Kaila L’22
the Hon. Thérèse W. Dancks L’91 and Marisol Estrada Cruz L’23
Mazaher E.G.E. Kaila L’22, Hon. Ramón E. Rivera L’94, Hon. Thérèse W. Dancks L’91, and Marisol Estrada Cruz L’23
KImberly Wolf Price L’03
Current Student Panel
Hon. Ramón E. Rivera L’94
Professor Suzette Meléndez

Professor Nina Kohn on the Wendy Williams Guardianship Case: “There is a profound lack of data on guardianship.”

Professor Nina Kohn spoke with Marketplace at length on the news of talk show host Wendy Williams being placed in guardianship. In the article “Wendy Williams’ guardianship case highlights the Need for Reforms”, Kohn speaks about:

  • the guardianship petition process
  • who can be appointed guardians (including professional guardians)
  • guardianship abuses (such as the Michael Oher case), and
  • ways to avoid guardianship problems, such as the recently released Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and Other Protective Arrangements Act, a statute drafted by a nonprofit that advocates for consistent laws across the country. Kohn was the reporter for the Act.

“This isn’t just a story about bad apples doing bad things when they’re appointed guardians. This is really a story about courts removing people’s rights without adequate justification, and then not monitoring the relationship to make sure that it’s actually protected for people,” she said. It’s difficult if not impossible to quantify how often this happens, because Kohn said “there is a profound lack of data on the guardianship.” 

“Law School Dad” Sets His Sights on Law Degree, Seat in Congress

John Dougall sits in a chair in Dineen Hall and smiles for the camera.

John Dougall L’26 is sometimes referred to as “Law School Dad” by others in his cohort, not only because he is one of the older students in the JDinteractive (JDi) program at the Syracuse University College of Law but also because he is so encouraging when others are struggling, congratulates them when they succeed and texts them on holidays. “While law school can be stressful, I recognize that the better my classmates do, the better educational experience I will have,” said Dougall.

It’s a nickname he doesn’t mind, but next year people might call him “Congressman.” He’s currently running for a seat in the U.S. Congress representing Utah’s 3rd Congressional District. Dougall is not new to politics. He served in the Utah House of Representatives for a decade, earning a reputation as a watchdog . He has been the Utah State auditor since 2013, establishing performance audits that drive greater accountability beyond just financial reporting. In 2020, he became the only statewide executive branch official to win an election by more than one million votes. He’s known statewide by his nickname—‘Frugal’ Dougall— a moniker that appears on the ballot and has been in his family his whole life.

John presenting in a class during the January residency in Syracuse.
John presenting in a class during the January residency in Syracuse.

Despite his current responsibilities, law school had been on Dougall’s bucket list for about 40 years, inspired by his grandfather who was a practicing attorney well into his 90s.

“My grandfather was the last cohort to pass the Utah State bar exam before the state required you to have a bachelor’s degree,” Dougall explains. “He always shared his ‘war stories’ about studying non-stop for the bar before the requirements changed because he couldn’t afford to go to college—but he also wasn’t about to delay his dream of being an attorney.” (His grandfather later earned that bachelor’s degree at age 81.)

John chats with fellow students and faculty during the Online MBA and JDinteractive mixer.
John chats with fellow students and faculty during the Online MBA and JDinteractive mixer.

Dougall decided not to delay his own dream any longer either and found the JDi program at Syracuse Law. A recommendation from a friend attending the JDi program only reinforced his decision.

“I needed a rigorous program that fit my schedule because I don’t have the opportunity to take three years off to go back to school full-time,” says Dougall, who also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering, as well as an MBA from Brigham Young University. “I’m a champion of educational innovation, so I love to support this hybrid option that is part asynchronous, part live and part self-study. I’d like to see greater diversity in law school offerings.”

John Dougall stands on the stairs in Dineen Hall and smiles at the camera.

It was actually Distinguished Lecturer and former Dean of Syracuse Law Daan Braveman who caused Dougall to consider running for Congress while he was taking his Constitutional Law class. For years, Dougall stood firm that he didn’t want to “waste his time” in Washington, DC. But, despite their different political leanings, Braveman told him that there were certain problems that could only be solved in Congress and “if you want to try to fix them, you have to be willing to go there.”

“It caused me to start thinking about my unique background in fiscal accountability and the concern I have about this country’s debt and reckless spending, as well as the future of our country,” Dougall explains. “I look at my 2-year-old grandson and wonder what kind of future he’s going to have. So, I jumped into the race to try to bring some fiscal sanity to D.C.”

“For me, law school is more for the educational opportunity and the challenge than plans to be a practicing attorney. My engineering background gave me one way to look at problems, my experience in business and state government gave me other perspectives, and now law school is giving me yet another approach,” Dougall explains. “Syracuse’s JDi program is a good fit for me. I like having classmates with a diversity of work experiences who are scattered across the nation and the world. I’m focused on learning. I never look at my grades. My classmates, and even some of my professors, can’t imagine that—but that’s not what I’m here for.”

Professor Roy Gutterman L’00 Discusses the Julian Assange Case with the Voice of America

Professor Roy Gutterman L’00, Director of the Tully Center for Free Speech, discussed aspects of the U.S. government’s case against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange with the Voice of America (VOA.)

In the video clip, Gutterman notes that “Certain elements of what Wikileaks and Julian Assange have done really do fit the mold of journalistic function but just dumping material out there without any context, analysis or any real vetting might not rise to the level we’d expect from someone we’d call a journalist.”

Gutterman’s comments are at :23 and 2:39 of the video.