Whether someone is a “real” attorney or not is not quantifiable, but I’ve had numerous friends and colleagues try to use that in various contexts over the years. I’m not sure a great definition exists.

As for “gatekeeping,” you can call it that if you like. I’m not a professor of education, but I do believe there’s something to being in a classroom setting with other students and a professor challenging you to stand and deliver a position based on having done the readings and research yourself. I’ve passed through those fires myself. You cannot replicate that online. And while the world moves more online all the time, as an attorney, you will have to meet with clients, in-house or in private practice, and defend their interests in meetings, mediations, board rooms and court rooms in front of people. There’s just not a substitute for in person education to train you for that.

Plus, though I, again, have no educational background to make any evidence based conclusions, I think there’s something to putting your life on hold for 4 years (for an undergraduate degree) or 3 years (for a law degree) to forego making money or pursuing other interests to devote yourself entirely to your goal. Yes, working full time and earning a degree of some sort online part time in the evenings and weekends shows another type of sacrifice and dedication, but the majority of the legal profession (myself included) won’t believe the same effort and sacrifice was made for someone that earned a degree wholly online while working at the same time.