Law Degree William Blackstone Harvard Law School Socratic Case Method Juris doctor

Before the education system had taken its full form, a man who wanted to pursue a career in law had to be an apprentice with a member of the bar. After having worked for a considerable amount of time, he would be admitted as a member of the bar, and would eventually turn into an attorney.

The concept of educating oneself in law had been advocated by England’s Sir William Blackstone. This had an impact on US and subsequently the tradition of receiving a formal Law Degree started in US too. The quality of the education of Law had deteriorated considerably in the 19th Century. The Dean of Harvard Law School had shouldered the responsibility of bringing a sea-change in the education of law in the universities. The Socratic and the Case method were introduced as a part of the intensive training.

Now, The Teacher of Law or Juris Doctor (J.D.) is a doctorate Law Degree that is available in numerous countries. This was devised by the Harvard University and is essential to enter into the legal community or bar in almost all the states of the US. The Yale Law School would provide the L.L.B. undergraduate degree till 1971 and then switched over to the J.D.

This degree is vital for all those who wish to take Law as a professional career. It requires three years of rigorous training for those attending the regular course. Although admission for the J.D. does not require a graduate or and undergraduate degree in Law, many students follow that route to acquire maximum knowledge in Law.

The pre-requisite for admission to J.D. in most schools is the score of the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). Some colleges prefer students with work experience, writing skills or involvement in extracurricular activities at the undergraduate level, while The American Bar Association affiliated Law Schools ask for an undergraduate Law Degree.

Some Law Schools have the provision for pursuing the J.D. simultaneously with the bachelor’s degree. This combined course calls for a time period of six years. The other Law schools have clubbed the J.D. with various graduate courses like M.A., M.B.A., M.S. or B.C.L.

According to The American Bar Of Association, a student of J.D. has to attend 83 semester hours. For people who have a full-time career to look after and want to obtain a J.D. Law Degree can opt for the Night Schools. The duration is more and the fee is less for such part time courses. Some states also have online Law schools that require registration through State bars. Law Degree