Law Degrees – LL.B. vs. J.D.

This information has been provided by the Richardson LSAT Preparation Centre in Toronto, Canada.

I have recently written an updated article discussing the conversion of Canadian LL.B. degrees to the J.D.

Please note that that more and more Canadian law schools are converting their LL.B. degrees to the J.D. See the following  post at the John Richardson Law School Bound blog:

http://www.lawschoolbound.ca/blog/_archives/2009/3/7/4115442.html

Because of the different designations of law degrees, it is important that you understand what these designations mean.

LL.B. = Bachelor Of Laws – although the degree takes three years and is overwhelmingly taken after a bachelors degree, the LL.B. is an undergraduate degree. You will find the LL.B. degree designation in many countries that are or were part of the British Commonwealth.

J.D. = Juris Doctor – this is a graduate degree and is primarily a U.S. law degree. Both Canadian (University of Toronto and Queen’s) and Australian law schools (Bond) offer a J.D. Make sure that you understand the difference between and ABA (American Bar Assocation) and non-ABA approved degree. The former will allow you to take the Bar exam in any U.S. state.

Here are some further sources of information:

For a dissussion of joint LL.B./J.D. degree options see:

http://www.prep.com/LW.pdf

For a fantastic discussion of the role of the LL.B. in the British Commonwealth and the evolution from the LL.B. to the J.D. see the following discussion by John Kelly (Canada Law From Abroad) at:

http://canadalawfromabroad.com/guide_new1.html

For the distinction between the LL.B. and J.D. degrees see:

http://www.lawschoolbound.ca/blog/_archives/2007/11/15/3356264.html

For the distinction between an ABA approved J.D. and a non-ABA approved J.D. see:

http://www.lawschoolbound.ca/blog/_archives/2007/11/20/3366492.html

Both the LL.B. (Bachelors of Laws) and the J.D. (Juris Doctor) take three years and provide the academic qualification to take the further step of becoming a licensed lawyer.

For an interesting article about the transition of Queen’s form the LL.B. to the J.D. see:

http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2007-11-29/news/law-degree-any-other-name/

For more information don’t forget to join us on Saturday June 6, 2009 for the annual Pre-Law Forum at Osgoode Hall Law School. Get your information direct from the law schools It’s free! Pre-Law Forum is organized and sponsored by the Richardson LSAT Prep Centre of Toronto, Canada. Pre-Law Forum is graciously hosted by the Osgoode Hall Law School of York University in Toronto, Canada.