Juris Doctor
The Juris Doctor degree is the degree earned by graduating from an ABA-accredited law school. There are 200 accredited law schools to choose from around the world. For most law students, earning a JD degree takes 3-years of full time study. Most schools with part-time law programs require 4-years of study to earn the Juris Doctor degree.
Most law schools train and educate their students similarly. Courses, curriculum, legal internships, clinical programs, independent study and governmental affairs are all handled differently due to subjects and teaching methods, however, there is a common approach to training lawyers.
Let’s break down a law student’s road to earning a Juris Doctor degree.
The First Year of Law School
The first year of law school can be a serious wake-up call for student’s not anticipating a tough schedule. Some new students believe the competition is over now that they’ve been accepted into law school, when in fact the opposite is true. Law school, especially the first year can be extremely intense. There is a lot happening every day, with every class and every subject. Most students do not have time for other activities or interests. Even the ABA limits the amount of time a law student can work in an outside job (20 hours per week). Most law schools encourage their students to get fully involved in the study of law, reading and discussing and thinking about law at all times.
First year law students need to be prepared at the beginning of each class, as professors expect nothing less. Grades are usually determined by examinations at the end of the semester or end of the year (depends on the law school). Unfortunately, it’s been said that many professors hold off on feedback to students until the final examination. Law professors also expect students to take part in classroom discussions. These discussions can become intense, heated, demanding and exciting. Using the “Case Method”, students focus on the underlying principles that shape the law’s approach to different situations during their first year of law school.
There are many benefits to using the case method. Students learn to:
- Distinguish the differences among subtle legal results
- Identify the critical factors that determine a particular outcome
- Apply critical analysis to legislative materials and scholarly articles
- Reach a decision using legal principles
- Analyze the method of reasoning used to reach a decision
- Defend your reasoning
While earning your Juris Doctor degree, it’s important to keep in mind that professors purposely try to provoke you and stimulate you. Doing this helps students learn to ‘think like a lawyer’, which is a critical component to becoming a successful lawyer.
First Year Curriculum
Most law schools have a program set up for first year law students. Courses and subjects that you may cover during your first year include:
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Legal Method
- Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
- Legal Writing
- Trots
- Property Law
- Moot Court Exercises
Second and Third Years of Law School
After the first year, many law students are able to select from a wide range of courses. There are some courses however, that all students must complete before they are eligible to receive their Juris Doctor. The courses include:
- Commercial Law
- Corporations
- Evidence
- Family Law
- Wills and Trusts
- Taxation
- Professional Responsibility
- Civil Litigation
- Administrative Law
All of these courses are considered basic to legal education. These basic courses, along with additional courses such as international law, labor law, criminal procedure, and jurisprudence may or may not be required during the remaining years of law school. During the last years of law school, some students are also required to participate in clinical programs that are designed to offer students direct experience in legal practice.
Generally, these programs are reserved for second and third year law students. Law schools vary when it comes to offering curriculum and clinical programs, however these programs allow students to render counseling, undertake legislative drafting, participate in court trials and appeals, and do other legal work for academic credit.
Finally, if a student completes all requirements set forth by their law school and shows knowledge, skills and passion for the law, a Juris Doctor is awarded.
