The USA law degree

For American law school has set up 3 degrees, i.e. LLM, JD, JSD or SJD

Master LLM, law, mainly on the legal theories of learning and research. The school system for one year. LLM is divided into general program and special program, where general program is the main study of American basic law, including the constitution, law, family law, tort law, legal writing. Special program is to study specific direction, such as the international law project, tax items. But in recent years, the two has a tendency to downplay the trend. For LLM students, only part of the ABA association can test Bar, basically is the New York, California area.

JD, Bachelor of law, focusing on the America legal practice skill learning. The school system for three years. For JD students, can be any one American state Bar, become a lawyer in the state.

JSD or SJD, doctor of law, focusing on the study of a particular area of law deeper. The school system for three years. Usually after getting an LLM can continue to apply for JSD or SJD degree. International students often can not apply directly. So here is not to do this.

The related conditions of admission

The application of LLM

Academic requirements: Applicants must have earned a law degree or graduate degree.

Language requirements: only need to provide TOEFL results. Due to only provide an examination results, so the TOEFL fraction is very important, many schools require to oral English are particularly high, if you want to apply to good schools, oral English has reached 20 points, is the basic requirement.

For the crowd: because the LLM is the emphasis on academic learning, schooling time is shorter, basically is to have certain academic background and work experience are set. Due to its short educational system, the application is relatively easy for JD, so a lot of legal professional graduates can apply for this degree.

The application of JD

Academic requirements: bachelor's degree or above, major is not required, for students of non legal.

Examination requirements: TOEFL score, LSAT law school admission test. The LSAT score of 180 points, an examination is relatively difficult, if you want to apply to better schools, better to get 160 points. For the crowd: the main is to in the legal profession in America crowd, JD is on the legal practice ability of learning, those interested in law, determined to engage in legal industry people can apply for this degree. If you want to test America bar, JD has enough. This is also the reason why JD is called the high gold content degree.

The relevant application materials

Application materials with the JD LLM application materials are the same, but in the prepared materials with different emphasis.

The main school transcripts, resume, letters of recommendation, PS, TOEFL scores (JD words, but also to provide LSAT score).

For TOEFL and LSAT earlier test out, give yourself enough time for school choice and preparation of instruments, as soon as possible to complete the application.

To apply the difficulty analysis

From the above can be seen, the application of LLM is relatively easy, without LSAT examination, LSAT for international students, is an examination is very difficult. Many international students want to read the JD, is the first application of LLM, then transfer to the JD, so no need to participate in the LSAT exam, can the Bar exam in advance, without the need to provide three years of financial proof and application. Many schools have LLM-JD train.

The employment situation

   LLM initially set the theme is international students through a year America law school after returning home have a better development, so the LLM students are returning after studying development, or to read JD, JD have a very good employment prospects in the USA legal market. So JD students basically do America states of Bar, become a lawyer, Bar has regional, each state can only be in the state approval, can only work for 10 consecutive years or more to get federal approval.