Feature

Studying Law in the United States

Dr. Uttam Kumar Das

I have just returned back to Dhaka after completing a year-long Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Programme in the United States. I was affiliated with the University of Minnesota Law School (UMNLS) and its Human Rights Center based in the city of Minneapolis across the Mississippi river.

The Fellowship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, gave me an opportunity to be part of a vibrant, active, innovative and productive community in a Law School for a year.

Frankly speaking, I had been a fan of the British legal education; however, during the year, I realised how innovative and effective the U.S. Legal Education is, which prompted me to write this piece.

Alongside my host institution, UMNLS, I have visited and talked to faculty, staff members and students in more than 10 Law Schools in various states. Those include the University of California, Berkeley, Emory University in Atlanta, New York University, State University of New York at Buffalo, Hamline University in Saint Paul, and St. Thomas University in Minneapolis.

While visiting those institutions, I was amazed learning about their innovative, up-to-date and action-oriented curriculum, teaching methodology and technique, research centers, publications, national and international affiliations and contributions of the faculties and students as well, resources available for faculties and students, vast of extra-curricular activities, and lists of the distinguished alumni among others.

The law programmes are of mainly two kinds: three year J.D. (Juris Doctor) and one year LL.M.

The J.D. is considered as a graduate programme after a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. I met J.D. students who come with a degree in Music, Theology, Computer Technology,

At the UMNLS, one could go for a dual degree as well. For example, one could be enrolled in the Law School and in the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Carlson Business School or at the School of Public Health for dual degrees in Law plus Public Administration, or Business Administration, or in Public Health. Dual programme takes four years.

J.D. Is a qualifying degree for sitting for the Bar Examination to get license as an Attorney (which is called Advocate in Bangladesh) or joining the judicial services as judges, prosecutors or public defenders, counsels in the federal or state agencies, or academic positions. There are also opportunity for other jobs in public and private sectors given the interest and specialisation of a graduate.

LL.M. or Master of Law programme is an advanced degree for lawyers having law degrees from other countries. Some Law Schools also allow J.D. holder to go for an LL.M and vise versa.

Again, some Law Schools like University of California, Berkeley have advanced degree programmes like J.S.D. and Ph.D.

During studying at the law school (either as a J.D. or LL.M. students) one could get opportunity to be specialised in a respective field of study, and accordingly decide whether would go for a judicial career, legal practice or pro bono work.

For example, the UMNLS, which is more than 100 years old, offers concentration in various areas of Laws including the International Human Rights Law, International Business Law, Employment Law, Indian American Law etc. This top Public Law School has 17 Law Clinics covering issues from bankruptcy to domestic assault.

The Dean of the UMNLS, Professor David Wippman said in the 122nd Commencement Exercise (Graduation Ceremony) on 15 May, 2010 that “the aim of a law school is not to teach students laws, rather to teach them techniques and enhanced their skills to find a legal solution of a given problem.”

Talking to faculty and staff members at various law schools, I have come to know that there are opportunities for international students as well to join both J.D. and LL.M. Programmes. At the UMNLS students are coming from China, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and some Caribbean countries. There are students of immigrant parents as well.

However, studying in the law schools is comparatively higher. At the UMNL, it was US$ 1,600 per credit in 2009. However, given the prospect as a profession and career (and also to earning more indeed from independent legal practice or related jobs) students come to the Law Schools. The legal profession is also considered a dignified and honoured one in the U.S.

I found a good number of students doing a good job in the U.S. that would facilitate the future naturalization for those who are interested. Lot of Chinese students are opting in this line. At the same time there are opportunities for scholarships; however those are very much competitive. the University of Michigan Law Scholl in 1968. However, he had to drop out and pursue his career in the education department with a Ph.D. degree. Now, retiring from his job he rejoined the Law School and planning to practice Mediation on employment issues.

I also found that legal practice is also very much specialized. The Attorney who practices employment-based immigration does not practice family immigration or asylum cases.

Interested students from Bangladesh to study law could explore the possiI am happened to be the first Bangladeshi Fellow-cum-Student at the UMNLS. Professor Hornsby said: “Students from Bangladesh are welcome. They could apply for scholarships as well. However, those are very much competitive.”Interested students could visb in the U.S. would facilitate the future naturalisation over there for those who are interested. Lot of Chinese students are opting out in this line.

At the same time there are opportunities for scholarships; however those are very competitive. Students are selected based on “variety of factors, such as work experience, career goals, extracurricular activities, ability in languages other than English, positions of leadership, community or public service, interest in interdisciplinary study, graduate school experience, racial and ethnic background, unusual life experiences, disability and economic disadvantage,” as the UMNLS website reads.

I had had a meeting with the Director of International Programmes at the UMNLS, Professor Khary D. Hornsby. I am happened to be the first Bangladeshi Fellow-cum-Student at the UMNLS.

Professor Hornsby said: “Students from Bangladesh are welcome. They could apply for scholarships as well. However, those are very competitive.”

Interested students could visit websites of different Law Schools or visit the American Center in Dhaka to know more about the degree programmes, area of study, and scholarship opportunities, and other details. The web-address of the UMNLS is: www.law.umn.edu.

(The writer is an Advocate in the Supreme Court)

News Snap

“Fun Under the Monsoon Sun”

THE 2nd “Fun under the Monsoon Sun” Summer Programme Graduation Ceremony of Scholastica was held in STM Hall at the Senior Uttara Campus, on Saturday July 31. Parents and School officials were invited to witness students receiving certificates of participation and displayed what they have learnt throughout the duration of the programme, which started from June 29 - July 29. Scholastica this year offered a summer programme for the students of classes III to XII. The programme ran for 5 weeks with 15 subjects under four different categories such as IT, Arts, Physical Education and Academics and Leadership. The students of grade III to XII are being exposed to special courses such as Photography, Spoken French, Magic and Card Tricks, Dance, Website and Graphic Designing, to name a few. The institution has decided that there will be more subjects, fun filled activities and field trips next year.