Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws (LLB)?

The College first conferred the Juris Doctor (J.D.) on its April 2008 graduates, after a change in degree title was approved by the U.P. administration the previous year. Like the majority of law schools in the country, U.P. used to provide the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), a standard four-year law program covering all subjects in the bar exams, until the change to J.D. was made in order to more accurately reflect the U.P. law program being a "professional as well as a post baccalaureate degree."

Juris Doctor  is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law. The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree (such as the Dottore in Giurisprudenza in Italy and the Juris Utriusque Doctor in Germany and Central Europe). Originating from the 19th century Harvard movement for the scientific study of law, it is a law degree that in some common law jurisdictions has a goal of being the primary professional preparation for lawyers. It is a three year program in most jurisdictions

In the Philippines, the J.D. exists alongside the more common LL.B. Like the standard LL.B, it requires four years of study, is considered as a graduate degree and requires prior undergraduate study as a prerequisite for admission, and covers the core subjects required for the bar examinations. However, the J.D. requires students to finish the core bar subjects in just 2½ years; take elective courses (such as legal theory, philosophy, and sometimes even theology); undergo an apprenticeship; and write and defend a thesis.Notwithstanding these differences, both the J.D. and the LL.B. are considered the equivalent of a master's degree by the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education.

The degree was first conferred in the Philippines by the Ateneo de Manila Law School, which first developed the model program later adopted by most schools now offering the J.D.. After the Ateneo, schools such as the University of Batangas College of Law began offering the J.D., with schools such as the Far Eastern University Institute of Law offering a joint degree program leading to a J.D. and an MBA.In 2008, the University of the Philippines College of Law began conferring the J.D. on its graduates, the school choosing rename its LL.B. program into a J.D. because to accurately reflect the nature of education the university provides as "nomenclature does not accurately reflect the fact that the LL.B. is a professional as well as a post baccalaureate degree.In 2009, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and the Silliman University College of Law also shifted their respective LL.B Programs to Juris Doctor -applying the change to incoming freshmen students for School Year 2009–2010. The newly established De La Salle University College of Law will likewise offer the J.D., although it will offer the program using a trimestral calendar, unlike the model curriculum that uses a semestral calendar.

In 1987, when the Ateneo Law School made its initial application with the DECS for the adoption of the J.D. curriculum, then Dean Eduardo de los Angeles described the program in the following language:

"The J.D. Curriculum is a rigid and enriched law curriculum which responds to the current needs of the legal profession and the changing conditions of our society. Presently, the study of law does not expose students to the practical aspects of law. It does not supplement Bar subjects with the study of related special laws or rules and regulations of administrative agencies. It does not compel students to undertake extensive research which is necessary in the handling of cases. It does not motivate students to reach out and help the less fortunate members of society.

The J.D. Curriculum addresses these problems. It compels the students to finish all the core or Bar subjects within 2-1/2 years. Thereafter, varied elective subjects are offered to complement the student’s knowledge of the law, and if he desires, to specialize in a certain field of law . . . The elective subjects will provide some degree of specialization and prepare a law student to actual practice. . . .
Through subjects like human rights, consumer protection and environmental law, the students are immersed in the problems of indigents, the oppressed and society. These subjects will enable the students to realize the gravity of the problems and make them commit to help the less fortunate in our society.

The J.D. Curriculum has 81 units of core subjects, 48 units of elective, 19 units of perspective subjects and 12 units of practicum and research. It is well- balanced and, as shown by the catalogue, meets the DECS requirement of at least 155 units. By sheer load, it is a difficult course, but the school is confident that it can produce more competent, committed and principled lawyers to better serve clients and the country."

Whatever they may call the degree bestowed upon the law graduate, the most important thing is if he be a GOOD LAWYER, borrowing from the words immortalized in the UP LAW lobby  "THE BUSINESS OF A LAW SCHOOL IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DESCRIBED WHEN YOU MERELY SAY THAT IT IS TO TEACH LAW OR TO MAKE LAWYERS IT IS TO TEACH LAW IN THE GRAND MANNER, AND TO MAKE GREAT LAWYERS. -HOLMES"