There are those who go to law school – and many finally got their wish, finding employment in some capacity in the law. Many then find that there isn’t anything philosophically glamorous about legal affairs. In the real world, lawyers spend less time arguing over morality than determining legality. And because the rules can change, lawyers, like other professionals, will have to take online CPE courses to stay on top of them. This means, in effect, going to school for the rest of one’s life!

To be sure, life-long study (the “CPE” in “online CPE courses” stands for “continuing professional education”) is necessary for the vast majority of professions that require state licensing. Then there are those who work with them, so-called paraprofessionals who increasingly have continuing education to do as well.

Learning in this manner, as the label of “online CPE courses” would suggest, is typically done at the person’s own pace, usually at home through a website. Other than completing a small amount of coursework within a large amount of time, it’s a veritable free-for-all. A typical case would be for a professional or paraprofessional to earn three credits in two years’ time, oftentimes with no strict stipulation as to the subject areas that must be pursued. An attorney, for instance, can decide upon any number of topics to study, from changes in the law to professional ethics and best practices.

For those that aspire to the professions, continuing education will be just another fact of life, thanks to the ever increasing level of complexity that new developments bring to bear on the field. Thankfully, it’s all available online now, making for unprecedented convenience!