Legal Education

Legal education is the education of individuals who intend to become legal professionals or those who simply intend to use their law degree to some end, either related to law (such as politics or academic) or business. It includes:

* First degrees in law, which may be studied at either undergraduate or graduate level depending on the country.
* Vocational courses which prospective lawyers are required to pass in some countries before they may enter practice.
* Higher academic degrees.

Legal education (general)
In addition to the qualifications required to become a practicing lawyer, legal education also encompasses higher degrees such as doctorates, for more advanced academic study.

In many countries other than the United States, law is an undergraduate degree. Graduates of such a program are eligible to become lawyers by passing the country's equivalent of a bar exam. In such countries, graduate programs in law enable students to embark on academic careers or become specialized in a particular area of law.


Sri Lanka

In order to practice law in Sri Lanka a lawyer must be admitted and enrolled as an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. To receive Admission to the bar a law student must complete law exams held by the Sri Lanka Law College and undergo a period of apprenticeship under a practicing lawyer. There are two routes taken by students;

1. Those who have gained a law degree, an LL.B. (which is 3-4 years long in Sri Lankan State Universities of University of Colombo and the Open University of Sri Lanka) are given direct entry to under take law exams that the Sri Lanka Law College.
2. Those who don't hold a law degree, could gain entrance to the Sri Lanka Law College via a competitive entrance exam to study law and prepare for the law exams.

Both groups of students must undergo a period of apprenticeship under a practicing lawyer. To become a judge one must be admitted as an Attorney-at-Law.