Legal education

Legal education is the formal study of the principles, practices, and theories of law. This training serves several important purposes in society. Some people study law to gain the skills needed for admission to legal practice. Others study it to improve their work in politics or business. Current lawyers also use education to gain advanced specialization. They may also use it to stay updated on recent legal developments.

There are many different ways to receive this education. The most common path is through a primary law degree. In most Commonwealth of Nations countries, this is an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws, or LLB. In the United States and Canada, the primary degree is a graduate degree called a Juris Doctor, or JD. In the US, students must finish an undergraduate degree in another field before starting law school. These law schools may be part of a larger university or act as independent institutions.

Students can also pursue advanced academic degrees to deepen their knowledge. These include the Master of Laws, known as an LLM, which involves coursework or research. Higher research degrees include the PhD or the SJD. In many common law countries, these higher degrees are expected for people who want to teach in a university. While common in many places, these advanced degrees are less common in the United States, even within academic settings.

Beyond university degrees, there are other paths for professional training. Some countries require practice or training courses to qualify for work. In the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Canada, and Australia, these vocational stages happen outside the university system. There are also applied law programs that offer specialized accreditation. Finally, practicing lawyers often use continuing legal education. These are informal seminars or short courses used to update professional skills. In some places, this ongoing learning is mandatory every year.

Legal education has a very long history that began in Republican Rome. Originally, people who wanted to be advocates studied rhetoric, which is the art of public speaking. Around the third century BCE, Tiberius Coruncanius began teaching law as a separate discipline. His public instruction created a class of legal experts called jurisprudentes. These were skilled non-priests who acted as consultants. After his death, legal instruction became more formal with the use of written law books.

In medieval Europe, universities focused on canon and ecclesiastical law. In England, legal training emerged in the late thirteenth century through apprenticeships. The Inns of Court controlled who could practice and provided training. It was not until the 1800s that English universities offered formal degrees in native common law. The famous jurist William Blackstone believed in a broad academic foundation. He argued that students should study logic, mathematics, and classical writers first. He believed this helped them understand the "laws of nature" before studying practical systems.

Different nations have developed very specific systems for training. In Germany, students study for four and a half years before taking a First State Examination. This exam includes 30% specialized law and 70% obligatory law areas. After passing, students must complete a two-year traineeship called a Referendariat. In Australia, students often take combined degrees, such as a Bachelor of Science and an LLB. Some schools, like Bond University, offer accelerated paths. For example, they can offer an LLB in only two years by running three semesters each year.

In Canada, the system depends on the province. In Quebec, students can study civil law through undergraduate-entry programs. In common law areas of Canada, students typically earn a JD. In Hong Kong, students have several options. They can pursue a four-year LLB or a two-year JD. They may also take a conversion course if they did not study law as undergraduates. These diverse systems show how legal education adapts to the specific needs and histories of different societies.