Wed May 22 2013   
J.D. with Advanced Standing
 

Two-Year J.D. with Advanced Standing Track


The two-year J.D. with Advanced Standing allows those with a non-U.S. law degree to earn a JD in only two years.


Three-Semester J.D. with Advanced Standing Track

For Foreign Lawyers With an LL.M. From a U.S. Law School


For foreign lawyers with both a non-U.S. law degree and a successfully completed LL.M. degree from an ABA accredited law school, up to 17 units may be credited from a U.S. LL.M. degree program--based on an individual evaluation of grades and courses--toward the J.D. degree at the Rogers College of Law, in addition to the units credited from the first law degree. 


In other words, a lawyer with both a first law degree and a U.S. LL.M. degree, who is accepted into the J.D. with Advanced Standing program, could complete the requirements for the J.D. degree at the Rogers College of Law in three semesters of full-time study.


Why a JD instead of an LLM?


A JD offers many advantages to an LLM including:


 

In addition to allowing access to the bar exam in all 50 states, a principal difference between a LL.M. program and the J.D. with Advanced Standing is that candidates in the JDAS program will be afforded the full range of first-year J.D. courses (civil procedure, torts, contracts, property, constitutional law, etc.). 


This means that such candidates, particularly those who have civil law degrees, will gain a far better grounding in American law than those in typical LL.M. programs who often take only a 2-3 unit introductory course in the American legal system, or abbreviated JD courses.  Similarly, the J.D. with Advanced Standing will allow opportunity for more extensive legal research and writing training than is possible in the typical one-year LL.M. program, providing the J.D. graduate with superior knowledge of legal English writing and research techniques.


Such American law coursework is likely to make the candidate a better lawyer if she decides to practice law in the United States. These “building block” courses also make it more likely that the graduate will pass the bar on her first attempt. 


For those who plan on practicing law in their home country but hope to represent U.S. investors or local businesses investing in the United States, the broader understanding of the U.S. legal system could be a significant advantage. Among the settings where this training could be particularly valuable is for those who hope to practice with foreign offices of U.S. or British law firms. 


The second year of the two-year J.D. with Advanced Standing consists primarily of electives that are relevant to the candidate’s particular practice interests, as determined in consultation with members of the faculty and administration.  Only three courses are required after the first year-- Evidence, the Legal Profession and a substantial paper.  Evidence and Legal Profession are mandatory for bar admission.  


J.D. with Advanced Standing candidates with both a foreign law degree and an LL.M. from the United States will enroll primarily in first year courses, plus Evidence and the Legal Profession.  These requirements can be completed in as few as three semesters, depending on how many units of the prior LL.M. program can be counted toward the JD curriculum.


Members of the faculty at the Rogers College of Law are available to consult with potential candidates for the JD degree with Advanced Standing.  They can provide advice on the relative merits of J.D. and LL.M. study as well as offer guidance on specific courses to be taken during the second year of the two-year program  They are available also to explain the particular benefits of studying law at a small, well-respected law school where all degree candidates receive a high level of personal attention from faculty and administrators.

 

 

Updated: 04/11/2013