UNISA LLB: Any good advice?

Isn't a Lawyer someone with a law degree and an Atorney someone with a license to practice law? I am confused, please clarify.

 

When my wife graduated from Georgetown Law Center, that's what THEY said; a "lawyer" is a person with a J.D. but an "attorney" is a member of the Bar.

This is an interesting question.

My law license says, "Attorney and Counsellor of the Court". The word "lawyer" doesn't appear anywhere on it.

A classmate of mine from Alberta, Canada, told me that his certificate said, "Barrister and Solicitor" which I understand is also the way they say it in Australia.

In English usage, IIUC, the term "lawyer" encompasses barristers, solicitors, and their respective articled clerks and pupils.

If you asked me whether a degreed person without a law license could offer paralegal services independently and call himself a "lawyer", I'd say "Yes" to the first and "No" to the second, at least here in New Mexico. In Arizona, the law is the same but much clearer. Using the term "lawyer" implies to the public that one is admitted to the Bar. Therefore, using the term without being licensed is probably unauthorized practice of law.

But that's just MY opinion.

 

However, aren't law professors ad writers often referred as lawyers even if they have not taken a bar exam? For example Hindi Greenberg refers to herself as a lawyer even if her licenses are currently on hold. Furthermore, I was taught in law school by at least five lawyers that did not take the bar exam.

 

Well, no, actually.

A member of the Bar whose license is "on hold" is probably "inactive" and may not practice law. She is, nevertheless, a member of the Bar and therefore a "lawyer", and, incidently, subject to professional discipline. She must also continue to pay (greatly reduced) annual Bar fees.

People go inactive in one form or another for various reasons; retirement, relocation to another state, disability, and, in some jurisdictions, professional discipline.

(The last is not how we do it in New Mexico. We "suspend" or "disbar" in disciplinary actions.)

I also had a couple of non-attorney law professors but they were referred to as "professor" not "lawyer".

You are correct that a J.D. without Bar admission will suffice to work as a law professor in the academic areas. Obviously, however, clinical supervision requires some sort of Bar admission or other, limited authorization to practice law.

 

Unisa Llb

I currently live in Botswana but I did the external LLB from London. I have also been finding out the very hard way what certain countries will and will not accept in relation to a LLB. Our friend is right, you should have a fair idea why you want the degree.

If your wife wants to practice law she should first enquire from the relevent law association as to what requirements she has to fulfill. Unfortunately, with law you kind of need to know where you want to settle if you wish to practice since the right to practice from country to country will vary.

In this part of the world the law is based on the civil system whereas in London, the US, Canada and the Caribbean it is mostly a common law system that is used.

This may matter if/when your wife wishes to be admitted to the bar in her country.

If she does not wish to practice law but just to work in the legal field it may not matter much what degree she pursues.

As for the US, many states prefer the JD over the LLB even though the content of the degrees is the same. Once again she should enquire with the relevant state bar.

In defence of the london degree, it is a do or die exam but I can tell you from experience, that the university gives you all the info you need to pass this exam the very first time. It only takes discipline. But with that said - if she is not comfortable then she shouldn't do it.

Hope this helps

 

Southern Cross University

Southern Cross University has a distance law degree. They are a state run university in rural New south Walkes which is a state of Australia.After you finish the degree to practice you will have undertake training as a solicitor or barrister via a diploma course. Articles are almost a thing of the past here now.

http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/law/index.php/5/

For practice details try

http://www.lawsociety.com.au/page.asp?partID=749

If you are looking at an Australian site you probably won't find a separate site for distance learning, as it is considered mainstream here. Look at for law degree, for example, and the site will usually say how many modes the degree can earned through. It is the same degree no matter how the delivery and the same faculty as a rule.

You can also do a Diploma in law course which can be done instead of a degree to practice law in NSW. This can be done by correspondence I think. I don't know too much about it but it is worth a look. Here is the website for that as well:

http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/lpab/ll_lpab.nsf/pages/lpab_prospective_students_page

Hope this helps.

 

Surely you realize that this thread is more than three years old?

 

Thank for that. I actually didn't read the dates. It may be true that men can't multitask or, at least, one male can't.

 

University of the Free State Information You Require

Hi Steve

Don't deal with anyone but the university itself. Speak with Louise Steyn in Bloemfontein at the International Office of the University of the Free State:

Louise Steyn
Administration Officer
International Office
University of The Free State
P.O. Box 339
9300 BLOEMFONTEIN
South Africa

Tel: +27 51 401 2501
Fax: +27 51 401 9185
[email protected]

I have only good things to say about her and the work of the office there since I registered last year for the PhD (Theology) degree. They forwarded a list of items I needed including letters, student card with photo, small booklets etc. Very helpful with organizing even things not really in her department.

For the financial office you should speak with Olga Olendaal:
[email protected]
She handles all the financial matters for me.

Olga Odendaal
Position Sr Assistant Officer:Finance
Department Finance
Address FINANCES TUITION FEESOST GRADUATES
Email [email protected]
Telephone +27-(0)51 4019537/

As for Unisa, I had no problems during the 4 years I worked on my DEd with Unisa. I registered and paid through their office in Vancouver. Just contact them for all information and payment methods and registration:

http://www.iaci-canada.com/

and speak with Dr Michael Esselen who heads the organization. if he does not immediately answer it could be he is away. It is a small operation and he often has to go to Pretoria to keep the contact lines open.

Brad