Starting June this year, the Silliman University College of Law will offer the Juris Doctor degree to replace the Bachelor of Laws (Ll.B.).
The J.D. degree is a basic law degree program that may run through four or five years at the option of the college or university. Although the JD is classified as a ‘professional doctorate’ degree, it shall not, however, entitle the holder of the degree to be addressed as “Dr.” the latter being reserved for holders of academic or research doctorate degrees.
The J.D. curriculum prescribes a total of 168 units (compared with 152 units for the LlB.) including a practicum in the 3rd and 4th years, plus 120 hours of internship in the 3rd year, and a J.D. thesis in the 4th year.
Atty. Janette B. Laggui-Icao, executive director of Gender Watch against Violence & Exploitation will assist in the thesis program for J.D. degree.
The JD degree was first offered in the Philippines by the Ateneo de Manila Law School which developed the model program. Other schools like Far Eastern University Institute of Law, the University of the Philippines College of Law, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and the De La Salle University College of Law have since followed suit. (Frisian Gail Descallar & Eula Rae Liboon/SU Masscom)
