Anonymous wrote:All I know is that, when I graduated with a J.D., I was given a doctoral hood. That is what I wear on the few occasions I have been asked to participate in academic processions (investiture of a new dean of the university, etc.). On those occasions my hood has "ranked," for purposes of the procession, as a doctoral hood.

I don't know anyone whose Ph.D. took 6 to ten years, unless they were doing it very part time while raising kids. Most people I know finished both their masters and their Ph.D.s within three to four years of graduating with a bachelors. There are a lot of one year masters programs out there, especially if you went to the same school as an undergrad.

I don't know any phd, in the sciences or humanities, who finished in three to four years. The median degree time, according to the Natl. Science Foundation, is 7.5 years. I do know a number of biotech patent attorneys, who hold bio or chem phds as well as jds, and everyone of them talks about what a breeze the jd was in comparison to earning their doctorate.

All I know is that, when I graduated with a J.D., I was given a doctoral hood. That is what I wear on the few occasions I have been asked to participate in academic processions (investiture of a new dean of the university, etc.). On those occasions my hood has "ranked," for purposes of the procession, as a doctoral hood.

I don't know anyone whose Ph.D. took 6 to ten years, unless they were doing it very part time while raising kids. Most people I know finished both their masters and their Ph.D.s within three to four years of graduating with a bachelors. There are a lot of one year masters programs out there, especially if you went to the same school as an undergrad.

Anonymous wrote:This is such a goofy thread. There are two different types of doctorates in the U.S.: academic and professional. A J.D. is a professional doctorate. Simple as that.

Uh, no. You are completely wrong. A JD is the equivalent to a master's degree.

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.

*\APPLAUSE/*

This is such a goofy thread. There are two different types of doctorates in the U.S.: academic and professional. A J.D. is a professional doctorate. Simple as that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

A "single year?" Seriously? Say what you will about the differences between a JD and a PhD, but it's my understanding that master's degrees generally require 30 or so credits (max), while a law degree requires about 85 to 90 credits. Then of course one needs to get licensed to actually use their degree.

Probably more like 45.

"And you are definitely as bad as Old Flame. Pathetic."

Oh, come off it. The "then call me Esquire" quip was obviously a jest.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

A "single year?" Seriously? Say what you will about the differences between a JD and a PhD, but it's my understanding that master's degrees generally require 30 or so credits (max), while a law degree requires about 85 to 90 credits. Then of course one needs to get licensed to actually use their degree.

A Juris Doctor is not a doctor of law, it is a bachelor's degree. The degree name was changed years ago from L.LB. to JD so that lawyers would have a degree with a similar name to people who went to medical shool - just look at the resume of some old guys who went to Harvard in the 60s. Someone with a law degree from a foreign country, like Canada for example, can sit for the bar in at least 3 states (NY, Mass and California) right out of law school. Canadian law schools do not require an initial bachelor's degree before you start law school, and in Quebec you can go straight to law school. Plus i'm pretty sure that if a U.S. law school wanted to admit someone without an initial bachelor's degree they could. The U.S. is the only country that I'm aware that requires an initial bachelor's degree before you go to law school. And anyone who thinks a U.S. law degree is something special compared to the legal education in other countries has never been a 3L.

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, I have a J.D. and a Masters (MPP). Law school was a lot harder than my master's program.

I don't think comparisons are so valid because the relative "difficulty" of any master's program probably depends very much on the university and the discipline.

FWIW, I have a J.D. and a Masters (MPP). Law school was a lot harder than my master's program.

OP - Given that it's for a job app, I'd check Master's. The application is only for legal purposes. They'll get the info they really want about your background from your resume.

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.

OP here. It's application form for a job, so I care. I want to answer it correctly.

Virginia still lets people read law. According to Wiki, CA, VT and WA also allow people to read law. NY allows one to do so after a year of law school.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admission_to_the_bar_in_the_United_States

Anonymous wrote: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.

No accrediated law school in the US would admit you without a bachelor's degree. Although some states like NY used to let you "read law" - i.e., apprentice/self study - for admission to the bar instead of goig to law school, the law that permitted that in NY was changed some years ago. You cannot practice law in the US without at least getting a US LL.M. following a foreign law degree. It is not a bachelors degree. JD stands for Juris Doctor - or doctor of laws. An LL.B., which is not the degree issued by US law schools, is a bachelor of laws.