Law Degree

Lawyers are everywhere in modern society. They are used by businesses in even the most mundane of contract negotiations. They are the talent sector of the criminal justice field. They work in government as regulators and lawmakers. They work in firms or as individuals changing dangerous business practices through individual or class action lawsuits. Lawyers and the expert legal workers that support them have usually obtained law degrees before starting their careers.

There are four kinds of law degrees that are available in the United States. The most common is a J.D. (Juris Doctor), a post graduate degree program that usually takes three to four years and qualifies holders to practice law after having passed the bar exam. There are two further master's degrees that J.D. holders can take: the LL.M. (Master of Laws), and the LL.C.M. (Master of Comparative Laws), which must be taken in a unique legal discipline. Finally there is an S.J.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science), a doctoral degree for would-be professors. Programs provide a solid base of legal knowledge with classes in contracts, torts, and criminal law. J.D. programs allow elective classes in business law, international law, family law, and a variety of other disciplines. The higher degrees confer more specialized training in case law for professional lawyers seeking to influence the law as judges, professors, and lawmakers.

The job market for lawyers is extremely competitive because of the relatively high compensation offered for the extra education that a law degree requires. After passing the bar, lawyers are free to practice, representing individual clients, corporations, or working in-house for a business. Advancement in this field depends on a quality educational background in addition to experience and career training.

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