Online LLM, no JD required with experience

University of Missouri's online LLM admits applicants without a JD or LLB if they have an advanced degree and at least three years of experience related to dispute resolution.

https://online.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/mu/law/dispute-resolution/llm/admissions

 

It used to be that some states would allow the holder of any degree from an ABA accredited school to take the bar exam. The ABA itself discouraged this, stating that there should be no substitute for the JD. Interesting thought, though.

 

I've been married for 25 years. Does that count? Of course, I'm the Hamilton Burger of winning marital arguments, so perhaps not.

 

Two most important husbandly words: "Yes, dear."

 

Interesting program but what can you do with an LLM since you can't sit the bar exam? It seems useless unless you work for a dispute resolution company. Might just be to fill a check box?

 

Excellent question. Common wisdom is that there are just two LLM programs that might be worth the substantial investment in time and money. These are 1) the LLM in taxation if and only if the student wishes to pursue a career in tax law (which few lawyers do) and 2) the LLM in American law for foreign trained lawyers seeking to take the New York Bar exam. There is no justification for acquiring any other LLM since the degree is unnecessary for law teaching or practice. The programs are largely considered to be cash cows for expensive law schools. I'm not sure I agree entirely with these sentiments but the high cost of most LLM programs is usually pretty hard to justify.

 

The federal government treats the LLM as a doctoral degree. If you want to qualify for GS-11 without having the experience, a related LLM might work. Otherwise, if you have a related master's degree, you can just work a year at GS-9 and qualify for GS-11.

University of Iowa says that an LLM is required for most SJD programs. I don't know if there is an SJD program that will admit non-attorneys.

 

Hunh. Does the federal government recognize DEAC degrees?

As to the JSD. Oh, I imagine just about any of them other than maybe the Big Three will be happy to take a non attorney's tuition dollars. Usually you have to earn their LLM though in order to get into the JSD program. You'd have to show some potential for legal scholarship of course and there's likely not to be any academic funding.

 

They do? You're normally spot-on about this stuff, so I'm not questioning you. But I AM questioning the logic of that equivalency. Is it just for jobs for lawyers?

Generally speaking, yes. For employment purposes, a degree from a school accredited by a Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency will do.

Where one might get tripped up is for academic-related positions (at the War Colleges, for example). But I don't have any examples of that, so it's just conjecture.

 

Maybe they just count the nominal years to degree? A JD needs seven and an LLM needs eight? I gather they count an MD as a doctor?

 

On almost every GS-11 announcement, the LLM is listed as being the equivalent of a PhD. They usually notate that the degree has to be related to the job. So, if you work for the IRS or in any accounting or auditing position, I would suspect they would count an LLM in taxation. Their rationale is probably that the LLM comes after three to four years of law school, therefore, it meets the test of three years of progressively higher graduate education.

 

It betrays the linear thinking found in so many bureaucracies. In this case, counting years, as if time served was the true measure of what is equivalent to a PhD.

(This also trips up a lot of part-time PhD students. They take the first two years, or so, of classes just like they've always done and then BAM! They hit the dissertation and get blown away. I firmly believe this phenomenon is the source of Education Specialist" (EdS) designation. School districts want--and often reward--teachers and administrators who go for higher education, but the difference between an MEd and an EdD is just too huge. So the EdS recognizes education beyond the masters and avoids the negative ABD. But I digress....)

IMHO, the JD is a really hard master's degree and the LLM is another one. I've done neither, so perhaps someone else has a more informed opinion.