Law School:  LLB vs. JD

The Juris Doctor designation is common in the United States, where students must complete an undergraduate degree before attending law school. Meanwhile, the LLB designation reigned supreme in Canada and other Commonwealth countries such as Britain. The difference is that in Canada—like in the States—most students have already completed an undergrad degree before entering law school; across the pond, students can attend law school straight out of high school. 

The University of Toronto became the first law school to make the switch in 2001 because it was concerned that the LLB “understated the level of education our students had,” dean Mayo Moran noted.  Since then, most Canadian law schools have transitioned from the LLB to the JD.

Law schools in Australia offer the LLB, graduate entry program for students who have achieved an undergraduate degree, as well as the Juris Doctor which is popular at Bond University. 

Which Bond law school program is for you?

Bond University’s law programs are designed to equip you for a career in the legal profession, business, industry or government. The combination of excellent teaching, small classes, international perspective and extensive legal skills program provides an exciting learning experience that both challenges you academically and prepares you practically for a legal career.

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and the Juris Doctor (JD) are both professionally recognised degrees.

Entry to the JD is restricted to graduate students while the LLB is only available to students who have not yet completed a Bachelors degree.  While the LLB is a recognised law degree, the JD is the preferred legal qualification with which to enter the legal profession in Canada. Canadians who possess a prior degree in any discipline can only enrol in the JD.

The compulsory law units for the two Bond degrees are the same.

• The LLB comprises 32 subjects in total, including 19 compulsory law units and 4 compulsory non-law units.
• The JD comprises 24 subjects in total, all being law units, with 19 of the units being compulsory.

Bond University Law School will be touring Canada in June 2013.  Check out the KOM Canadian Events page for more details and contact KOM to RSVP. 

 For more information on Bond Law School or to study at any Australian Law Schools in Australia or the UK, contact KOM Consultants.