LLB vs JD

Two different starting points

In many Commonwealth and civil-law-influenced systems the first law degree (an LLB or a locally named equivalent) is taken as an undergraduate degree, although some systems offer it as a graduate-entry degree. In the United States the Juris Doctor (JD) is a graduate-level professional degree taken after a first degree. The names do not carry the same academic level everywhere, so always read the school's own description.

What each is for

An LLB or JD is typically the academic and professional-education core of becoming a lawyer in its home system. It is not the whole route: regulators commonly add examinations, practical training or supervised practice.

Common misreadings

• An LLB does not automatically qualify its holder to practise.
• A JD does not guarantee eligibility to sit the bar examination in every US jurisdiction; each jurisdiction sets its own rules.
• Holding one of these degrees from a foreign school usually triggers a separate assessment by the regulator.

How to choose

Choose the degree that the regulator of the jurisdiction you want to practise in recognises for its pathway, then choose a school. See professional pathways where regulator-sourced records exist, and LLB programs and JD programs in the directory. Professional eligibility must be confirmed with the relevant regulator.