Anonymous wrote:Who really cares about the answer to this question? Certainly a J.D. is well beyond a bachelor's or even master's level. It's not necessarily equivalent to an M.D. or PhD because it's a different degree. I worked very hard in law school but all of my doctor friends worked hard too and for more years. What's the difference? I can't think of any form that the OP is referring to that would require this much precision in the answer--all I can think of are census forms, warranty cards, opinion surveys....your answer to this question is not going to make a difference.

Hmm. I don't see how a single year can be described as "well beyond", especially considering the potential disparity in intellectual depth between academic and professional education.

I'm the PP who said a JD is clearly a bachelor's degree. You can make any argument about how hard you worked or the fact that you need a bachelor's degree first (though that's actually not the case everywhere), but the cold hard fact is that it is technically a bachelor's degree. it still can help you make a lot of money of course.

Who really cares about the answer to this question? Certainly a J.D. is well beyond a bachelor's or even master's level. It's not necessarily equivalent to an M.D. or PhD because it's a different degree. I worked very hard in law school but all of my doctor friends worked hard too and for more years. What's the difference? I can't think of any form that the OP is referring to that would require this much precision in the answer--all I can think of are census forms, warranty cards, opinion surveys....your answer to this question is not going to make a difference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Esquire is a title used to address people, not to refer to oneself. IOW, you put it on correspondence addressed to someone, but do not sign anything as "Esq."

That would be huge news to 90% of the lawyers in DC, who do, in fact, sign with an Esq. after their own names.

90%??? Really? I don't think I've ever seen it --definitely not from someone who has been out of law school for more than five years.

I do litigation and come in contact with lots of different opposing counsel on a daily basis. Rarely does anyone refer to him/herself as esquire. Once in a blue moon it happens, and I hate it.

My PhD in Biochem was a hell of a lot more work and time then the JD.

JD was so easy in comparison and passed the bar first try with not much prep.

JD is in the category of "professional" degree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An LLM is not higher than a J.D., as it's typically one or two years of focused coursework versus the three years of coursework for the J.D. The "doctor" is not there for nothing: a J.D. is a non-research-based doctor degree (as is an M.D.). However, "a doctorate" typically refers to a research-based degree (Ph.D. equivalent), for which the legal version is an LLD (doctor of legal letters).

Wha??? Think an LLM is higher than a JD. JD (or Bachelor of Law in a foreign country) first then LLM. What's an LLD? Is that higher than an SJD?

Not the quoted PP, but I think that an LLD is the equivalent of a SJD (also called JSD) -- "LLD" seems to be a british varient.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_law

Anonymous wrote:An LLM is not higher than a J.D., as it's typically one or two years of focused coursework versus the three years of coursework for the J.D. The "doctor" is not there for nothing: a J.D. is a non-research-based doctor degree (as is an M.D.). However, "a doctorate" typically refers to a research-based degree (Ph.D. equivalent), for which the legal version is an LLD (doctor of legal letters).

Wha??? Think an LLM is higher than a JD. JD (or Bachelor of Law in a foreign country) first then LLM. What's an LLD? Is that higher than an SJD?

"He didn't spend any more years in school than I did, even if he does have a master's and a Ph.D. in - wait for it - Computer Science."

How sad that he wasted his time (and money and opportunity costs) getting a PhD when all that was needed as a BS. Sounds like he liked being in school and earning lots of alphabets to include after his name.

Anonymous wrote:It may be a professional degree, but it is a bachelor's level degree plain and simple. Anyone who considers a JD or and MD for that matter to be equivalent to a Phd or other doctorate level degree is wrong.

Er, no. A JD is three years IN ADDITION to a bachelors. Though it's no doctorate.

Anonymous wrote:I was out with an old friend who happens to be an Anesthesiologist who never tells anyone he is a doctor. We were introduced to someone who said "Hi, I'm Dr. Smith." My friend then couldn't help asking what kind of doctor he was, to which Dr. Smith responded, "I'm a Podiatrist."

Classic

? A podiatrist is a doctor. I guess you just think it isn't good enough? What do you do for a living?

To obtain the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree the individual has to undergo four years of undergraduate university training and subsequently complete four years of medical training in any podiatric medicine school. Hospital training is usually conducted from the 2nd to the 4th year. To obtain a state or provincial license the individual has to undergo additional residency training. The residency training program usually is between two to three years. Additional fellowship training in a subspecialty may be taken up by the individual.

For the PP who thinks her JD is the same as a PhD--maybe if you get 2 back to back....since that would be about the proper length of time.

I was out with an old friend who happens to be an Anesthesiologist who never tells anyone he is a doctor. We were introduced to someone who said "Hi, I'm Dr. Smith." My friend then couldn't help asking what kind of doctor he was, to which Dr. Smith responded, "I'm a Podiatrist."

Classic

It may be a professional degree, but it is a bachelor's level degree plain and simple. Anyone who considers a JD or and MD for that matter to be equivalent to a Phd or other doctorate level degree is wrong.

An LLM is not higher than a J.D., as it's typically one or two years of focused coursework versus the three years of coursework for the J.D. The "doctor" is not there for nothing: a J.D. is a non-research-based doctor degree (as is an M.D.). However, "a doctorate" typically refers to a research-based degree (Ph.D. equivalent), for which the legal version is an LLD (doctor of legal letters).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fortunately most lawyers in DC are sufficiently obnoxious that they don't need the esq. after their names for you to guess that they are lawyers.

This may be the best quip I've ever read on on DCUM - love it!

BEST EVER!!!

Plus, in my experience, JD means "I went to a shitty law school and now my parents paid for more schooling so I could get a job at a better firm."