A juris doctorate is a professional graduate degree in law obtained after a person graduates with a bachelor's degree and passes the LSAT exam. It is required for an individual to sit for the state bar exam. Passing the bar and earning a J.D. is needed to practice law.
Time Frame
Students who enroll in law school full time usually finish in 4 years, while part-time students take approximately 6 years to finish. To provide for adult learners, some schools offer weekend classes.
Grades
Some schools use a grade-point average process to assess student achievement, while others use other evaluation methods. Instead of a GPA tally, Yale Law School uses a pass/no pass system with honors distinction.
Early Years
The amount of classes needed to complete a J.D. varies by school. The first 2 years consist of legal foundation work, including civil procedure, criminal law, legal writing and research, and constitutional law.
Later Years
The junior and senior years consist of specialized courses such as taxation, public policy, wills and trusts, environmental law and torts. Tier-one law schools, such as Harvard and Duke, offer a wider range of classes.
Law Career Preview
Pro bono assignments are mandated in most law programs. Some schools require clinic experience. Howard University School of Law requires students to participate in a 3-part legal writing program during their junior year.
Tags: legal writing, Some schools, years consist