What is an LL in law?

Asked by: Bridget Romaguera  |  Last update: November 20, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (55 votes)

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is an undergraduate degree used in commonwealth countries like Great Britain. It differs significantly from the Juris Doctor (JD) degree used in the United States.

What does LL stand for in legal terms?

The reduplicated form of the abbreviation “L.” for “law,” used as a plural. It is generally used in citing old collections of statute law; as “LL.

What is LL in law school?

…the LL. B. "stands for 'Legum Baccalaureus,' the formal Latin designation for what was once almost universally the first professional law degree in the United States, the Bachelor of Laws.

Is an LLB the same as a JD?

Between 1964 and 1969, at the encouraging of the American Bar Association, most American law schools (including Marquette) upgraded their basic law degree from the traditional “LL. B.” to “J.D.,” to reflect the by then almost universal postgraduate status of the degree.

What is the equivalent of an LLB degree in the US?

While the LLB was conferred until 1971 at Yale University, since that time, all universities in the United States have awarded the professional doctorate JD, which then became the generally standardised degree in most states as the compulsory prerequisite to sit for the bar exam prior to practice of law.

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Is an LLB a qualifying law degree in the US?

An LLB degree is the first step to becoming a practicing solicitor or barrister, the titles for lawyers in the United Kingdom and several other countries. Upon completion of the LLB, a graduate can apply for a Master of Laws (LLM), the equivalent of the JD degree in the United States.

Can I practice law in the US with an LLB?

If your objective is to practice law in the United States—and you have no prior legal education—you must get a J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school. Very few states allow students to take a bar exam without this credential. International students who possess an LL. B.

Why don't we call lawyers Dr.?

The JD generally does not use the term “Dr” because historically lawyers were considered to have trained at the bachelors degrees level. You can see this in the old name for a law degree LLB. Some older people (eg Justice Kennedy of the US Supreme Court) earned their LLB when they went to law school.

How many years does it take to become an international lawyer?

How Long Does It Take to Become an International Lawyer? It will take at least seven years to join this profession: four years to obtain an undergrad and three years to obtain a JD degree. If you choose to pursue an LLM in International Law, it will add one more year to your timeline.

When did JD replace LLB?

The JD was reintroduced in 1962 and by 1971 had replaced the LLB, with many schools offering a JD as a replacement to their LLB alumni. Canadian and Australian universities have had graduate-entry law programs that are very similar to the JD programs in the United States, but typically called the LLB.

Can you be a lawyer with an LL?

A JD or an LLM can prepare you for a legal career, but you can't become a licensed lawyer without a JD degree. Also, a JD degree program takes longer and has a broader scope than an LLM program. What really determines if a JD or an LLM is the right one for you are your long-term career goals.

What is the highest level of lawyer?

The highest level in a law firm is typically the senior partner, who has significant control over the firm's operations, strategic direction, and client management.

Is there an LLB in the USA?

Study an LLB in the USA

Law programs at US universities provide a comprehensive and critical understanding of core legal principles and practical skills so that students learn legal analysis. An LLB program in the USA might also be referred to as a JD (Juris Doctor) program.

What does an LL mean?

(-əl ) -'ll is the usual spoken form of `will. ' It is added to the end of the pronoun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `you will' can be shortened to `you'll.

What is the degree for a lawyer called?

Juris Doctor (JD)

A JD degree includes preparation for passing a state bar exam, which allows attorney's to practice in their chosen state. Admission: Students pursuing a JD degree are required to have earned their bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and must submit LSAT or GRE test scores.

What does LLD mean in law?

Legum Doctor (LL. D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Patent Attorney Salary

Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.

Which is higher JD or LLM?

LawyerEDU defines the JD "as the initial, postsecondary law degree necessary to sit for the bar examination and practice as a lawyer in a US jurisdiction," and the LLM as "a secondary degree for lawyers who have achieved their JD and passed the bar exam, and who are interested in a focused, specialized course of study ...

Does international law pay well?

International Lawyer Salary. $79,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $131,000 is the 90th percentile.

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.

What is more prestigious doctor or lawyer?

In general, a doctor. This does not mean every doctor is more prestigious than every lawyer. One reason would be that there are significantly fewer doctors than there are lawyers. I hasten to add that the help a person could get from a practitioner of either profession is priceless.

Is a JD equivalent to a Masters?

A: No, J.D. is considered a professional doctorate. Interestingly, lawyers in America will first obtain a J.D. and then apply for a master's degree since it allows them to specialize in a certain area of the law.

Can you be a lawyer without a law degree in USA?

In four states—California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington—you can become a licensed attorney without attending law school at all. In three other states—Maine, New York, and Wyoming—one can substitute an apprenticeship for one or two years of law school.

What does llb mean?

LLB is an abbreviation of the Latin Legum Baccalaureus, which translates as Bachelor of Laws.