LLB JD

By   Published on: Monday January 12, 2009

From February 2 - 4 Dalhousie Law Students will have the opportunity to vote in an LSS initiated plebiscite on whether to change the school’s degree designation from LL.B to J.D.

The question to be asked in the upcoming degree designation plebisicte is as follows:

1. I would prefer the degree designation of LLB (Bachelor of Laws)

or

2. I would prefer the degree designation of JD (Juris Doctorate)

or

3. I do not have a preference with respect to the degree designation

The LL.B., or Bachelor of Laws, has been conferred on Dalhousie graduates since the school’s inception. Dalhousie developed this degree designation, however as other jurisdictions have adopted the designation the substance of it may no longer reflect the attributes accorded to one graduating with a law degree from Dalhousie. For instance, the Canadian LL.B. and the British LL.B. are identical in name only. The Canadian LL.B. is a second-entry degree, requiring applicants to have at least two years of post-secondary education. In contrast, the British LL.B. is a first-entry degree, direct admission to which is granted from secondary school.

The J.D., or Juris Doctor, originated in the United States and was intended to be a means of distinguishing its graduates, who had completed a period of post-secondary studies prior to attending law school. In that sense, the J.D. is recognized as a professional degree.

With this distinction in mind, students will vote as to whether they prefer a change in Dal Law’s degree designation. To aid students in making an informed decision, the LSS has compiled resources detailing both sides of the issue. By taking a few moments to review this information, and making an informed vote between February 2 - 4, students will help in the information gathering process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the LSS.

Regards,

Dalhousie Law Students’ Society

FAQ – This information was borrowed from the University of Western Ontario Law Student Society website

What is a Juris Doctor (J.D.)?

The Juris Doctor (J.D.) is a law degree recognized internationally as a professional degree in law. The J.D. originated in the United States. It was intended to distinguish those who completed a period of post-secondary studies from those who, like in England, enter a law program directly out of high school.

Is the J.D. a Graduate Degree?

No, the J.D. is considered a professional degree program which prepares graduates for a particular career or profession. Examples of other professional degree programs include: medicine, education, engineering, and pharmacy.

Why Should We Keep the L.L.B.?

1. The J.D. Will Not Increase Graduate Employment in the US

Research conducted by U of T Law and Queen’s Law suggests that an alteration from LL.B. to J.D. would not increase or decrease graduate employment in the United States. Thus, changing our degree designation is unnecessary if the justification for such a change is based upon a hopeful increase in graduate employment in the United States.

2. “It’s Only Semantics…”

Adopting the J.D. will not affect the substance of our program whatsoever. The course selection will remain the same and no substantive changes will occur in the curriculum. It is important to remember the program will not become an ABA approved.

3. “If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It”

The LL.B. has not shown any deficiency that would warrant a change to the J.D. The only deficiency is that at a first glace some may perceive the LLB as an entry-level, and not a secondary degree.

4. Tradition

Dal Law has conferred the LL.B. on its graduates since its conception. Dalhousie Law School is fortunate to enjoy a strong and proud tradition. We should not take action to divert from our tradition unless there is a compelling reason to do so.

5. Recruitment

Any legal recruiter who regularly retains lawyers from Canada will know the substantive value of the LLB.

6. Following not Leading

By changing our degree designation at this point in time we would be merely following other schools in Canada. By maintaining our current designation we would be showing leadership amongst those schools who may wish to not change the designation.

Why Should We Adopt the J.D.?

1. We Already Graduate with a J.D., but CALL it an L.L.B.

Refer to the above definition of J.D. If you were to explain the process necessary to gain an L.L.B. from Dalhousie, you would, in fact, be describing the J.D. process. A majority of Canadian law schools, including Dalhousie, were modeled after Harvard Law School. In the Harvard model, law graduates are granted a J.D. It would, therefore, have made sense for Canadian law schools, in seeking to follow that model, to use Harvard’s designation.

2. To Improve International Recognition

The J.D. is internationally regarded as indicating a second-entry professional degree program. In contrast, the LL.B., in most common law countries, indicates a first-entry degree program with no post-secondary entrance requirements. In short, many international employers regard the J.D. as evidence of a more sophisticated legal education.

3. To Facilitate International Employment

The international legal community does not initially distinguish between a Canadian L.L.B. and an L.L.B from another country. Graduates from Canadian law schools with an L.L.B. have historically been successful in gaining positions in prestigious international institutions, including the United Nations. However, before securing those positions, graduates must explain the differences between their degrees and those of other LL.B.-conferring jurisdictions. A J.D., therefore, would reduce the need for Dalhousie Law graduates to explain the value of their law degree to international employers. It would indicate not only a legal education, but also some measure of additional post-secondary studies.

4. To Assert Leadership among Canadian Law Schools

The University of Toronto adopted the J.D. in 2001. In February of 2007, the University of British Columbia passed a motion to adopt the J.D. In October of 2007, Queen’s University also passed a motion to adopt the J.D. The University of Western Ontario in 2008 voted to change adopt the JD. Finally, Windsor, Ottawa, and Osgoode are all currently looking into the implications of changing their degree designations. It is expected that several other Canadian law schools will make the change within the next few years. Upon making the decision to adopt the J.D., Queen’s emphasized that in “taking the initiative amongst Ontario law schools in the adoption of a J.D., Queen’s Law has demonstrated that it is at the forefront of current trends in Canadian legal education.” If Dal Law desires to be a leader in Canadian legal education, it is important to consider adopting the J.D.

Additional Resources

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20071114.LAW14%2FTPStory%2FBusiness&ord=20647726&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

http://law.queensu.ca/students/lss/jdProposal/jdReport.html

http://www.lawyersweekly.ca/index.php?section=article&articleid=635

http://osgoode.yorku.ca/media2.nsf/58912001c091cdc8852569300055bbf9/6fb85805a130278385257401006bbab2!OpenDocument

http://74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:NEFvfUQTANgJ:www.ucalgary.ca/law/files/law/JD-LLB%2520Information%2520Report_2008-1.doc+JD+LLB+degree+designation&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=ca

http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2007-11-29/news/law-degree-any-other-name/

http://lawiscool.com/2007/11/13/to-jd-or-not-to-jd/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_Doctor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LL.B