Editing Master of Laws (section)

==Definition==
To become a [[lawyer]] and practice law in most jurisdictions, a person must first obtain a law degree. In most [[common law]] countries, a [[Bachelor of Laws]] (LL.B.) is required.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.law.utoronto.ca/admissions/youth-outreach/so-you-want-become-lawyer |title=So, You Want to Become a Lawyer – University of Toronto Faculty of Law |website=law.utoronto.ca}}</ref><ref name="unimelb2008">{{cite web |last=University of Melbourne |title=About Us – The Melbourne JD |url=http://jd.law.unimelb.edu.au/go/about-us/melbourne-jd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071217124015/http://jd.law.unimelb.edu.au/go/about-us/melbourne-jd |archive-date=17 December 2007 |access-date=2008-05-26}}</ref> In the United States, a [[bachelor's degree]] followed by the [[Juris Doctor]] (J.D.), a [[Postgraduate education|graduate school degree]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Law School Admissions |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/law-admissions-lowdown/articles/how-to-explain-your-college-major-when-applying-to-law-school |website=U.S. News and World Report |access-date=4 March 2025 |quote=Few colleges or universities even offer a pre-law undergraduate major.}}</ref> and passing an additional set of examinations (the [[Bar exam]]) is typically required to practice law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official page of New York State Bar Examination |url=https://www.nybarexam.org/Default.html |website=www.nybarexam.org |access-date=4 March 2025 |date=January 2025}}</ref>

The LL.M. program is an advanced postgraduate law program. In Canada, an LL.B is required to enter an LL.M program; in the United States and Australia, a J.D. is required.<ref name="lsacLLM">{{cite web |title=Information on LLM Eligibility |url=https://www.lsac.org/llm-other-law-program-applicants/application-process-llm-other-law-programs/information-llm |website=www.lsac.org |publisher=The Law School Admission Council |access-date=4 March 2025 |date=2025}}</ref><ref name="usdoe2008">{{cite web |last=U.S. Department of Education |year=2008 |title=USNEI-Structure of U.S. Education - Graduate/Post Education Levels |url=http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-professional-studies.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214142648/http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-professional-studies.html |archive-date=2007-12-14 |access-date=2008-05-25}}</ref> Specialized LL.M. programs have been introduced in many European countries. An LL.M. degree is typically a requirement for entry into research doctoral programs in law.

The most advanced degree programs in the law are the [[Doctor of Juridical Science]] (S.J.D or J.S.D.),<ref name="cornellJSD">{{cite web |title=J.S.D. Field Handbook – Program and Duration |url=https://community.lawschool.cornell.edu/academics/j-s-d-field-handbook-program-duration/ |website=community.lawschool.cornell.edu |publisher=Cornell Law School |access-date=4 March 2025 |location=Ithaca, NY |date=2025}}</ref><ref name="SJDUMich">{{cite web |title=SJD Program |url=https://michigan.law.umich.edu/academics/programs-study/sjd-program |website=michigan.law.umich.edu |publisher=University of Michigan Law School |access-date=4 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref> the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D. or DPhil) or [[Doctorate#France|doctorat en droit]] (in France), [[Doctorate#Germany|Doktor der Rechtswissenschaften (Dr. iur.)]] (in Germany), the [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D.), and the Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.).<ref name="usdoe2008" />