Doctor of Law or Doctor of Law is a law degree. The use of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D.), Doctor juris (Dr. iur. or Dr. jur.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Legum Doctor (LL.D.). Some universities and colleges have been accused of awarding honorary degrees in exchange for large gifts. Honorary doctorates, especially those without prior academic qualifications, have sometimes been criticized for insisting on being called “doctors” because of their distinction, as honor can mislead the public about their qualifications. It can be just as misleading when respected people are called “professors,” especially in an academic or government context. [27] In 2005, at the University of Western Ontario, Dr.
Henry Morgentaler, a gynecologist involved in a court case to decriminalize abortion in Canada (R. v. Morgentaler), received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. More than 12,000 signatures were collected calling on UWO to reverse its decision to honor Dr. Morgentaler. [35] Several protest rallies were held, including one on the day of the honorary doctorate (a counter-petition in support of Morgentaler`s graduation received 10,000 signatures). [36] Thomas Jefferson agreed. When the University of Virginia was founded, Jefferson banned the institution from awarding honorary degrees — though the founding father did not say no to Harvard when he was offered an honorary law degree. About ten percent of German law graduates have a doctorate. However, the doctorate in law is still only the first step towards employment in German law schools. Despite the initiative to create a junior professor position with the option of tenure after five to seven years, and teaching professorships, habilitation (de jure not a university degree) is still mandatory in most German law faculties to become a university law professor. In Sweden, the Doctor of Laws (LLD) is the highest university degree in law.
This is a research degree that combines 240 credit hours (or the equivalent of four years of full-time work). Candidates have the opportunity to complete a thesis or monograph in a series of published articles. Although it is not necessary to practice law, the LLD is a prerequisite for an academic career. In 1996, Southampton College at Long Island University (now a campus of Stony Brook University) awarded Muppet Kermit the Frog an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Although some students objected to awarding a degree to a muppet, Kermit gave a pleasant keynote address and the small college received considerable media coverage. [30] The diploma was awarded in recognition of efforts in the field of environmental protection. The university said: “His theme song `It`s Not Easy Bein` Green` has become a rallying cry for the environmental movement. Kermit has used its notoriety to spread positive messages in public announcements for the National Wildlife Federation, the National Park Service, the Better World Society and others. [31] From 2014, changes in law studies resulted from the implementation of the Bologna Process, whereby the title of Doctor of Law (LLD) was abolished and replaced by a second cycle, Master of Advocacy (M.Adv). This sparked a debate over whether newly qualified lawyers would be called “doctors,” as was the norm. After representing law student organizations, the Bar Association agreed that a new lawyer who was supposed to style himself as a “doctor” would be supported by convention. [20] [21] In the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, the degree is an advanced doctorate, usually awarded on the basis of exceptionally insightful and distinctive publications containing significant and original contributions to the study of law.
Some universities, such as the University of Oxford, award a doctorate in civil law instead. In South Africa, the LL.D. is awarded on the basis of research and completion of a thesis; the Doctor of Laws may also be awarded as an honorary doctorate on the basis of contributions to society; see below. Today, colleges and universities usually award honorary degrees at their graduation ceremonies. Graduating speakers may, for example, wear school insignia and receive honorary doctorates in their speeches. Some universities and colleges are accustomed to awarding a master`s degree to any scientist appointed as a full professor who has never graduated from the professorship. At the universities of Oxford, Dublin, and Cambridge, many senior managers received the Master of Arts degree after three years of service,[14][15] and at Amherst College, all tenured professors received a Master of Arts at a convocation in the fall, although the school offered only a merited Bachelor of Arts degree (Amherst awarded honorary doctorates in early spring to renowned scholars and other Guests). Schools such as Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University also reward tenured faculty who do not have degrees from their respective schools, the AM ad eundem.
The National Association of Legal Professionals states that the S.J.D./D.J.S. “is the most advanced or definitive legal degree that would follow the acquisition of the LL.M. and JD. Degrees. [48] This usually takes three to five years and requires an advanced study of law as a scientific discipline and a thesis that serves as an original contribution to the scientific field of law. [39] [49] [50] JUDr (Juris Utriusque Doctor – Doctor of both laws, i.e. civil and ecclesiastical) is a diploma with a tradition of several centuries, originally the highest possible degree. Nowadays, its scientific significance is quite limited, but it serves as a traditional and popular badge diploma, especially useful for lawyers. In ancient times without mastery, JUDr. served as the only law degree (and roughly equivalent to today`s master`s plus a special examination). The prerequisites for obtaining a JUDr degree are a highly rated Master of Laws (Mgr.) in law, writing a thesis (including successful defense), and passing an oral exam called Rigorosum. The thesis itself is sometimes called rigorosum.
Lots of JUDr. Theses build on students` previous master`s theses; Nowadays, however, universities require that the thesis work be completely original. Here is a typical example of university regulations: “Honorary graduates may use approved post-nominal letters.