Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Off Topic Can I be called 'doctor?'

Recently, the university where I went to law school decided to change the title of their law degree from a Bachelor of Laws to a Juris Doctor. And although it will effect my life not at all, I now apparently have a Juris Doctor degree.

So... the only thing I want to know is if I can now be called Doctor Thompson.

ML

Huh, that's really strange. Of course, I've got no idea how things are done in Canada, but over here, the three levels of university degrees are distinct and separate and can't just be renamed like that.

Aside from that, any change to a degree program after you have received a degree doesn't affect you.

At least, that's how it's done over here

Michael

Actually, Michael, the LL.B. I got was not an undergraduate degree even when I got it. You had to have at least one Bachelor degree to get into the program.

As for it changing my degree... It does. I just got the paperwork in the mail this week.

As for me caring, either way... Not really. Like I said, it won't effect my...

Oh wait! Darn! It will effect my life. Now I have to buy new business cards. Well darn! Talk about a waste of money. I just bought a new box of business cards, too!

ML

Huh, fascinating. Say, is the degree in Canada a part of your name, too? Because in that case would have to get a new driver's license, passport, etc. Plus update your signature. Hmm... starts to sound like you went to the Griffin University.

Michael

How did you know? Oh, wait. No. I got my degree from one of those emails that says: Do you want a degree? Send money here.

ML

I don't want a degree from a university which would accept me as a student.

Sounds like you should go to G.U. -- Groucho University.

Joy,
Lynn

I think I finally figured out what's going on. Practicing where I do, it's hard to keep up with what's going on in the outside world. Anyway, finally found this article which seems to explain the change. Apparently, we want to be more like the Americans (but, hey, what's new about that? )

http://www.lawyersweekly.ca/index.php?section=article&articleid=952

ML

Fifteen years and one career change ago, my husband received his JD. While it probably will be fun to sign your name as ML Thompson, J.D., I believe that according to old British and American traditions (especially in the state of California), you may now also be known as ML Thompson, Esq. (for Esquire)

Go you!

Actually, I heard that while it's appropriate for other people to call you esquire, it's improper (manners wise) to use the term for yourself.

(from here )

Which I found totally bizarre, but hey. {shrug}

I personally am all for ditching esquire and putting a nice "Dr" in front of our names. :-)

Bethy (the almost-esquire/dr -- passed the bar!!! Just waiting for the swearing in for it to be official!)

Interesting--I don't think I even had heard of "Juris Doctor" before (I didn't know how law degrees were called). I feel more educated now.

And congratulations, Bethy!!!!

I guess, as with many good legal questions, the answer is, "it depends." In the Middle East, you absolutely would use "Dr." because here, you would want to distinguish between the undergraduate law degree (which is what is required to practice law) and a graduate law degree. In Germany, about ten percent of lawyers hold a Doctor of Laws degree (requiring a thesis and oral exam beyond the master's level work it takes to become a lawyer). They use the title Dr.

In the US, JDs don't use the title Dr., but SJDs (Doctors of Juridical Science, the terminal degree for the study of law, after the JD and the LLM) do.

Rac

If you call yourself Doctor down here in the States, people are only going to talk to you about their aches, pains, gastric problems and headaches instead of any legal issues. Normally, medical doctors are the only ones who use the title in daily life.
After reading the article, I see why the Canadian system was changed. LLB definitely sounds like a lower grade degree. My father had a Ph.D. in Education, but never used the term in his personal life, or much in his professional life because everyone around him had the same degree.
Anyway, congrats on your J.D.!
regards
Artemis