The J.D. degree, the equivalent of LL.B in the U.K., includes basic courses in contracts, property, criminal law, constitutional law, civil procedure, and torts. It is usually required for students to be allowed to take the bar examination which makes them qualified to get a license for practicing the law. The law practice is usually in areas such as corporate law, copyright law, family law, legal history, international law, evidence, and criminal procedure. The J.D. degree usually takes not less than four years for long-distance learners.
The Master of Law, or LL.M., is a postgraduate degree, which is usually undertaken by students who have already successfully completed the J.D. degree, taken the bar examination and have been licensed as lawyers. Long-distance programs have become the option, recognizing the fact that many lawyers have busy work schedules and may not return to a law school for advanced legal studies as regular students. Regular students usually take a year to complete the master's degree but long-distance students can take up to 2 years, depending on their work-life commitments.
S.J.D. is the degree at the highest level of legal studies, aimed at making law scientists and professors. It is commonly referred to as a research doctorate which comes after years of study in J.D. and LL.M. The degree is conveniently offered by law schools through an online channel for long-distance learners who are finally supposed to submit thesis or dissertations upon completion of their studies.
Demands for interdisciplinary studies have increased, and many students without a first law degree have been able to pursue long-distance LL.M. postgraduate degrees. This is usually in pursuit of more competence for jobs since many other disciplines relate to legal issues. LL.M. has been allowed for concentrations in international law as well economics for graduates of business administration or even social sciences. However, academic qualification with certain legal background knowledge is given preference.