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The chapter answers question such as, is a JD degree a Doctorate degree in the real sense, and how is the JD degree viewed by the legal community outside America?
Chapter Three examines post-JD qualifications in the US and the issue of their recognition. The chapter identifies the JD degree, instead, as the primary qualification to practice law and enter academia in the US. A question is then posed: what to do with the post-JD degrees from America? Disparities in academic standards on American LLM and SJD programmes are highlighted, raising serious concerns regarding the credibility of American LLM and SJD degrees.
Chapter Four examines the concept of accreditation of law schools and the accreditation of law degree programmes, highlighting, among other things, the issue of private and public universities and their accreditation. The chapter highlights also a notable shortcoming of the British PhD system, and proceeds to examine the concept of a PhD by submission of published work, the American PhD by coursework and dissertation and the concept of Higher Doctorates in the UK and the Commonwealth.
Chapter Five examines the role of university league tables, fleshing out pertinent issues that are often considered when formulating league tables. The chapter presents the Ivy League Universities and identifies some of the best ranked law schools in the US. Also, the Russell Group of Universities and some of the best ranked law schools in the UK are identified. Then, the chapter proceeds to discuss some financial dimensions of university league tables before culminating in a discussion of the ranking of universities in Commonwealth Africa. The chapter concludes with policy considerations surrounding the debate of whether or not to privatise university education in Africa.
Chapter Six is the concluding chapter. It sets out the main recommendations of the study to assist law schools in Commonwealth Africa in developing their law degree programmes.