Alaw degree is anacademic degree conferred for studies in law.
Some law degrees areprofessional degrees that are prerequisites or serve as preparation for legal careers. These generally include theBachelor of Civil Law,Bachelor of Laws, andJuris Doctor. Law degrees that are not part of a professional pathway to legal practice include theMaster of Laws (LLM) andDoctor of Laws (LLD or JSD).
These degrees are usually obtained through a combination of coursework, research, and practical experiences, such as internships or clinical legal education. Law degrees are recognized as a necessary step towards becoming a licensed lawyer in many jurisdictions, and they also provide a foundation for various other career paths such as academia, policy, or consultancy.
The first academic degrees were law degrees, and the first law degrees weredoctorates. The foundations of the first universities in Europe were theglossators of the 11th century, which were schools of law.[1] The first European university,Bologna, was founded by four legal scholars in the 12th century. The first academic title of "doctor" applied to scholars of law. The degree and title were not applied to scholars of other disciplines until the 13th century.[2]
TheUniversity of Bologna served as the model for other law schools of themedieval age.[3] While it was common for students of law to visit and study at schools in other countries, that was not the case with England. This was because of the English rejection ofRoman law. Although theUniversity of Oxford andUniversity of Cambridge did teachcanon law up until theEnglish Reformation, its importance was always superior tocivil law in those institutions.[4]
The type of law degree conferred differs according to the jurisdiction.
Magister iuris (Mag. iur.) ("Master of Law") inAustria. It is a master's level degree and the first academic title within both systems. After three years of practice, students can take the "Anwaltsprüfung," an equivalent of the bar exam.
Bacharel em Direito (Bachelor of Laws) orBacharel em Ciências Jurídicas e Sociais (Bachelor of Laws and Social Sciences), inBrazil. It is an undergraduate degree. To be a lawyer and be admitted at theOrdem dos Advogados do Brasil (Brazilian Bar Association), the Bachelor must be approved at the Brazilian Bar Exam. If the Selection and Registration Committee accept the new member, they will be considered an Advogado (Attorney at Law/Advocate).
Canada's legal system is composed of both common law and civil law elements. As of 2019,[5] the professional degree required to become a common law lawyer is aJuris Doctor (J.D.). Formerly, this degree was called aBachelor of Laws (LL.B.,Legum Baccalaureatus in Latin), but the name was phased out. LL.B. holders were often given the chance to convert their degrees to the new designation. Despite having the word "Doctor" in the name, the J.D. remains a second-entry undergraduate programme, requiring some years of undergraduate study before applicants are eligible. ForQuebec, whereprovincial law is a hybrid of French-heritage civil law for civil matters and common law for public, criminal, and federal law matters, the professional degree is often called theBachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) in English, and has other designations at various institutions in Quebec. Prior to gettingcalled to the bar in one of Canada's provinces or territories, degree-holders must complete bar exams and articling terms (professional apprenticeships with practising lawyers) or the equivalent thereof.[6]
For graduate academic study in law, the master's level designation is theMaster of Laws (LL.M.,Legum Magister in Latin).Doctoral-level legal research degrees vary in title by institution, but the designations include theDoctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.,Scientiae Juridicae Doctor in Latin), Doctor of Philosophy in Law (Ph.D.,Philosophiae Doctor in Latin), or Doctor of Laws (LL.D.,Legum Doctor in Latin) for common law-based doctorates and the Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.) for civil law-based doctorates.
The degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.,Legum Doctor in Latin) is reserved at some universities for honorary use.
Magister iuris (Mag. iur.) ("Master of Law") inCroatia. It is a master's level degree and the first academic title within the system. After three years of practice, students can take the "Pravosudni ispit," an equivalent of the bar exam.
Having a Master's degree in law is the basic qualification for the legal profession.
Erstes JuristischesStaatsexamen is partially equivalent to the Bar exam, since the second part(Zweites Juristisches Staatsexamen), is the German equivalent to theBar exam in the U.S. At some universities you either become a "Lizentiat des Rechts (Licentiatus iuris)", aMagister iuris, or aDiplom-Jurist. It is a master's-level degree.[7]
Laurea di Dottore in Giurisprudenza for graduates before theBologna Process reforms, orLaurea Magistrale in Giurisprudenza after theBologna Process reforms ("Juris Doctor"), inItaly. It is a masters level degree,[8] however all graduates of Italian universities are authorized to use the title of "dottore" (Italian for doctor).[9]
Licenciatura en Derecho ("Bachelor in Law") inMexico.
In Russia, students attend university to earn aSpecialist degree in law. A Russian law degree is graduate-level degree, which allows for PhD research after admission to the PhD department (aspirantura), though formally it is not at the master's level.[10]
Spanish universities confer aBachelor's Degree in Law. At one time, students earned law degrees as a part of the five-yearBologna Process. The modern Spanish law program consists of four years, with internship and to specialize and it has a graduate level (it is necessary to study a master's degree).
Lizentiat der Rechtswissenschaften (German) /Licence en droit (French) until 2004 andMaster of Law (MLaw) since 2004 (as a result of theBologna Process) inSwitzerland. It is a masters level degree.
Since 2017, the main degree in law in Ukraine is aMaster of Laws degree (mahistr prava, 1.5 or 2 years of study after obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree).
It may be obtained only after obtaining aBachelor of Laws degree (bakalavr prava, 4 years of study after graduation from high school).
Until 2017 Ukrainian universities also conferred aSpecialist in Law degrees (spetsialist prava oriuryst). Until 2002 it required 5 years of study after graduation from high school (according to the system of education inherited from the Soviet era). In 2002–2017, a Specialist in Law degree existed alongside the Master of Laws; in these years Specialist in Law programs lasted 1 year after obtaining Bachelor of Laws degree). In 2016, students were enrolled on the specialist's programs for the last time.
Universities in the United Kingdom generally award aBachelor of Laws (LL.B.) for undergraduate legal studies, although some award aBachelor of Arts as their standard undergraduate law degree, as with the B.A. in jurisprudence at theUniversity of Oxford and the B.A. Tripos in Law at theUniversity of Cambridge. TheBachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) degree awarded by theUniversity of Oxford is in fact a postgraduate degree, similar to an LL.M. elsewhere.[11]
In the Republic of Ireland, undergraduate law degrees are offered in the same fashion as in the United Kingdom. While the constituent universities of theNational University of Ireland award aBachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) degree as their primary undergraduate law degree, it is in fact a common law degree that is directly equivalent to an LL.B. degree elsewhere. TheBachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree is the degree generally awarded by other universities and colleges in Ireland.
Many universities also offer aMaster of Laws. Also referred to as an LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. It is an advanced academic degree pursued by those holding a professional law degree or a degree in a relevant field.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) in theUnited States andJapan (also offered at some schools inCanada, theUnited Kingdom,Australia, andHong Kong). It is a professional degree.[12]
Legum Doctor (known as the LL.D., or in some jurisdictionsDoctor of Laws) is in some jurisdictions the highest academic degree in law and is equivalent to a Ph.D., and in others is an honorary degree only.
Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) is a research doctorate in law awarded mostly in the United States and Canada.
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