I was interested in finding out if any other countries have a pure study route to practice law like the US JD. thanks
You mean, Bar admission without a period of articles? You know, I don't think I know of any. Interesting question.
Possibly ridiculous suggestion This is just a wild and uninformed guess by a non-lawyer...but how about the Philippines? Rationale: (1) close historical association with the US, and (2) supposedly the only other country that licenses engineers in the same manner as the US.
Possibly not ridiculous suggestion Here's some info regarding the Phillipines legal system, excerpted from here: "Admission to Law Practice and Legal Education: Under the Rules of Court promulgated by the Supreme Court, admission to the bar requires passing examinations administered by the Court. However, no applicant is allowed to take the bar examinations unless he has completed in a law school courses in civil law, commercial law, remedial law, criminal law, public and private international law, political law, labor and social legislation, medical jurisprudence, taxation, and legal ethics. A prerequisite to law studies is a preparatory baccalaureate degree in arts and sciences. Hence, admission to the practice of law normally entails a minimum of eight years in academic training: for a four-year preparatory bachelor’s degree (A.B. degree or a professional course with the required number of academic units in English, Spanish, History, and Economics) and a four-year Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B)." Sounds very similar to the US system, except that the US law degree is typically three years (not four), and is now typically called a JD (not LL.B). No indication that professional experience is required to qualify for bar exams. College degrees appear to be the only requirement, as in the US.
