A law degree USA are J.D. (Juries
Doctor), LL.M (Latin: Master of law) and S.J.D (Doctor of Judicial Science)
, in American, undergraduate is not legal, law school degree are mainly J.D, LL.M, J.S.D.In addition to J.D, USA law school education and a one-year master's degree program (Master
of Laws, referred to as LL.M) and doctoral degrees in two to four years (Doctor of Judicial
Science, referred to as JSD or SJD), usually for international students and master degree (LL.M) is a one-year courses, Xiuman 20 to 30 credits can graduate without writing a paper, it is mainly to help students have a basic understanding of the America legal system.
First of all, studying for an J.D degree must first through American nationwide "the law school admission test" (Law School Admission
Test, abbreviated LSAT).After obtaining a master's degree in law, such as the two professors recommendation can continue for a S.J.D or J.S.D degree.J.D. is the most valuable degree in American, widely recognized.If you want to gain a firm foothold in the America, best to read J.D..LL.M is a America legal courses a year, equivalent to a master's degree.The name is Master
of
Law.American national students basically to read J.D., can be said to a one-year programme LL.M is specifically for international students, strictly speaking is 9 months.J.D students are mainly engaged in the practice of law specific, while J.S.D students general legal research.Americans are pragmatists, in addition to real interest in the study of legal academic who read the master, doctor of law degree, the native students rarely read Master of law and doctor of the science of law, J.D education is the focus of excitement.It seems legal education is occupation education in American law, the purpose is not to get a higher degree, but to turn to be engaged in legal practice.In America, to lawyers and other legal affairs, only law school "undergraduate" J.D, and most state bar exam only to legal "undergraduate" (J.D) the degree of opening.The legal department of the government departments, law firms, enterprises pay more attention to in the recruitment of J.D education.As can be seen, legal education is a professional occupation education in basic education bachelor's degree in the America, while "J.D" education is the core and key. Those with bachelor degree or above can apply for American LL.M, but usually read LL.M are mainly two types of people.One is the experienced lawyer.Due to the foreign capital, no foreign lawyer's license, basically not possible from legal assistant up to associate.While the UK license with respect to America license to a lot of difficulties, need 2 years of InternPCLL exam, so many lawyers choose to American gold-plated, access to foreign law license with the most rapid, economical method.Two has just graduated from undergraduate students.
for international students, LL.M basically no scholarship, so every applicant must hold at their own expense.L.LM tuition for one year in 30000 53 million $9, plus all the living expenses ranging (with NY and LA is the most expensive).The total cost is estimated at 500000 yuan.LLM cost is increasing every year, basically the annual growth rate of 10%. LLM General program and specialized program two.Most schools offer only general
program, select general program undergraduate course can be arbitrary; a few schools, such as NYU corporate LL.M,
GTU Taxes program, international law program, the specialized
program has certain requirements of the course, such as full courses must choose how many points.I suggest that undergraduates choose general
program, because the undergraduate academic direction for the future is not clear positioning, general program can freely elective.Secondly, the application of general
program is relatively easy, many specialized
program related work background, undergraduate to apply for these program no advantage. Is also a law major, LL.M compared with J.D. differences are not small.The biggest difference is that the application of JD require LSAT scores, and LL.M for as long as TOEFL.From the student perspective, JD visa difficult, school fees, because the average is 3 years and the scholarship is not much, but LL.M is relatively better.But in terms of employment and academic point of view, the gold content of JD is much higher than LLM.JD degree in America valuable (whether from the academic angle of view or occupation), LLM is now increasingly worthless.For China applicants, if you intend to stay in the American a lifetime, then read JD sooner or later; only LLM could not stay long in USA.If you intend to return to China, then do not read JD, LLM is more substantial, more economical, and LLM knowledge learned in the Chinese absolutely sufficient. In general, only J.D. can do America Bar, but some states, also allows the ABA certification LLM examination of the state of the Bar, including CA and NY.Relatively speaking, NY
Bar than CA Bar more attractive to some, because the NY Bar examination as long as 2 days, while CA
Bar to test 3 days, and it is said that CA Bar needs a foreign lawyer's license.