After an apparent lengthy consultation between students, alumni and faculty, the University of Alberta is changing the name of it's law degree from the LL.B. to the J.D.
There is a conversion process for those granted a LL.B.
In essence, the LL.B. has to be turned in. I've had mine now for over ten years and will be sending it in this week.
I'm not sure that the conversion is really of any significance to me. Some want the J.D. because they would like the recognition in the U.S. job market (given the present economic realities, probably unlikely). For others perhaps its rooted in some kind of Anglophilia. I believe that my educational credentials are more established by my LL.M. As I am a partner of my own firm, I doubt that I will ever need a certain nomenclature for my degree to get a job.
So why bother? I'm noticing an increasing trend of law graduates from other common law jurisdictions (like England, India, South Africa) coming and practicing here in Canada. The LL.B. from these countries is a true 'first degree'. Individuals can gain admission to law school straight from high school. Some don't require a LSAT (Law School Admission Test). Some schools are correspondence based. I believe that the LL.B. designation is being diluted. The J.D. is more in line with the Canadian law degree - that is, our schools typically require an undergraduate degree, require the LSAT, and admission is competitive and based on merit, not a bank account.
So, for those reasons, its adieu to this particular parchment that started me on this path.
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