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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It's often said it takes "it takes 7 years of schooling be a lawyer" because people often count the required 4 year degree to enter law school.  But substantially, law is basically an undergraduate degree, the first degree in the subject (there are higher degrees that follow the JD, the LLM and the Doctor of Juridical Science).

The only reason JDs require that much university is because the US law profession gatekeeps (for no reason), not because you're getting 7 years of legal training or a more rigorous education than in other countries where law is a first undergraduate degree.

JDs are ultimately introductory courses, grounding prospective lawyers in the subject prior to taking whichever Bar course they need to qualify in their chosen jurisdiction(s).

The proof of this is the New York Bar Exam.  Since there are global firms with offices in both NYC and London, there are several people who seek qualifications in both jurisdictions.

English LLBs can write the New York Bar Exam and are not required to get another qualification.  They view the English LLB as "substantially and durationally equivalent" to the American JD, because both the American JD and the English LLB have three years of academic training and both the US and England are common law jurisdictions.  The 4 years of college isn't part of the legal education.[/quote]

I do not agree.  Undergrad can be a nothing but hopefully it teaches you how to look at thing critically.  Hopefully it grounds you in morals whatever you choose those to be.  I am a lawyer.  I do think major in undergrad matter to how well you will do in at least biglaw.  History and English being the best.

I am at a firm with lots of UK lawyers both in the UK and here.  I am amazed about their poor quality.  Also amazed by how unmature they are.  They cannot be in front of US clients.  They do not hold a candle to first year associates which is saying a lot.  It takes about five years before they are at the first year associate level.  Why?  The lack of undergrad before law school.

You may have a point if you will be a retail/streetfront lawyer.[/quote]

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