Published on 03/17/2016
Hello, I’m Vaughan de Kirby. Just a little bit ago, I had a client ask me about going to law school in the United States, so I thought it might be a good idea if maybe I answer some questions on that.
Law School in the United States is a little different than in many other countries. It is a graduate degree in the United States. In some countries, you can begin law school straight out of high school, and it is actually an undergraduate degree. Here you must complete your bachelor’s degree before you can be admitted to law school. The test you take is sort of like the graduate exam, but it’s called the law school admission test. It’s a special test that you’ll take before you can be admitted to law school.
The studies that you’ll have in law schools in the United States are quite different than other countries, because we adhere to the English Common Law, so that’s really what you’re going to be studying. The way law is taught in the United States is also different. We use what’s called the Socratic Method, where the professor basically questions the students on a particular issue, and then the student will learn through that process.
Law School is a great education. It’s about three years, and you receive your Juris Doctor degree after you graduate. It’s a great area to study because it really teaches you to think. It gives you an understanding of American culture, American business, and American law, so it is a great area of study.
You need to speak directly with the school that you may have selected, because the school may have special requirements for foreign students, and they may limit the number of foreign students they admit, but it is a great area of study, and I think it could be a great area of study for you, if that sounds like something that interests you. I hope that’s helpful to you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or call 415-221-2345.
