JD Doctor of Jurisprudence 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary distinction between a JD and an LLM degree?
- JD is an undergraduate degree; LLM is a graduate degree
- JD is the foundational professional law degree; LLM is an advanced specialized degree typically requiring a prior law degree (Correct answer)
- JD requires a thesis; LLM does not
- LLM is only awarded in the UK; JD only in the US
Correct answer: JD is the foundational professional law degree; LLM is an advanced specialized degree typically requiring a prior law degree
The JD is the entry-level professional degree for law practice in the US, while the LLM is a postgraduate degree pursued for specialization or academic purposes.
Question 2: Under ABA Standard 311, to earn a JD, students must complete at least how many credit hours?
- 60 credit hours
- 83 credit hours (Correct answer)
- 90 credit hours
- 120 credit hours
Correct answer: 83 credit hours
ABA Standard 311 requires JD programs to consist of at least 83 semester credit hours of coursework.
Question 3: Which of the following courses is typically required in the first year of a JD program (1L)?
- Securities Regulation
- Constitutional Law (Correct answer)
- Bankruptcy Law
- Immigration Law
Correct answer: Constitutional Law
Constitutional Law is a standard 1L required course alongside Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, and Property.
Question 4: The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) tests knowledge in how many subject areas as of recent years?
- 5
- 7 (Correct answer)
- 10
- 12
Correct answer: 7
The MBE covers 7 subjects: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law/Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.
Question 5: Clinical legal education in a JD program primarily serves to:
- Replace the bar exam requirement
- Provide students with supervised real-world legal practice experience (Correct answer)
- Satisfy the law review writing requirement
- Fulfill the professional responsibility credit requirement
Correct answer: Provide students with supervised real-world legal practice experience
Clinical programs allow JD students to represent actual clients under faculty supervision, bridging theory and practice.
Question 6: Which of the following is a common requirement for maintaining bar admission after earning a JD and passing the bar exam?
- Re-taking the LSAT every five years
- Completing Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits (Correct answer)
- Submitting a new law school transcript annually
- Filing annual moot court participation records
Correct answer: Completing Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits
All US states require licensed attorneys to complete CLE credits periodically (typically annually or biennially) to maintain bar admission.
Question 7: The concept of 'pro bono' work, which many JD programs encourage, refers to:
- Paid legal work for corporate clients
- Legal services provided free or at reduced cost to those who cannot afford them (Correct answer)
- Mandatory externship placements
- Billing clients on a contingency fee basis
Correct answer: Legal services provided free or at reduced cost to those who cannot afford them
Pro bono (from Latin 'pro bono publico') means legal work done without charge for the public good, particularly for underserved populations.
JD Doctor of Jurisprudence 3
What is the primary distinction between a JD and an LLM degree?