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Revision as of 06:10, 17 November 2003 by Andrew Yong (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The degree of Bachelor of Laws is the principal academic degree in law in most common law countries. It is abbreviated LL.B. - LL. is abbreviation for the plural legum(of laws); thus LL.B. stands for Legum Baccalaurreus in Latin. In the United States it is sometimes called "Bachelor of Legal Letters" to account for the double L.
After completion of this degree, its holder is generally qualified to apply for membership to the bar or law society (a test is often required and maybe an apprenticeship). See also Admission to the bar.
In the United States the LL.B. and J.D., are three year graduate degrees taken after completion of a four year undergraduate degree. Foreign law graduate must often study to receive an LL.M., the masters degree equivalent, before qualifying for bar admission procedures.
In the United States the LL.B. has mostly been replaced by the J.D. degree, although the form and structure of the degree is little changed. In much of the rest of the world, especially commonwealth countries, the LL.B. remains the dominant degree for attorneys though some universities award the B.C.L. degree. In the universities of Oxfordand Cambridge the principal law degree is a B.A. in law, the B.C.L. and LL.B. (recently renamed LL.M.) being postgraduate degrees.