美国的法学教育
美国正规法学院数目并不多，全国截止于2008年7月有199所由全美律师协会承认的法学院。各个法学院也有不同特色：有的在知识产权方面比较强，有的在公司法方面比较强，有的又在国际法方面比较强。但是归根结底，它们都是要让学生理解法律的运作机制，而不一定是法律的具体条款。美国法律浩如烟海，任何人都不可能在法学院学习所有的法律。因此，法学院的目的并不是要学生知道某种法律，而主要是培养他们的分析能力，让他们懂得法律制度的运转方式。对具体法律的运用，很多要开始工作后才能逐渐学习。

申请法学院
申请美国的法学院和申请其它研究生院的手续差不多。申请进入法学院的人需要至少有大学本科学位及LSAT成绩。当然，国际学生还需要 TOEFL 成绩。法学院并不要求申请人具备工作经历。

JD 学位
Juris Doctor (see etymology and abbreviations below) is a first professional graduate degree and professional doctorate in law. The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century as a degree similar to the old European doctor of law degree (such as the Dottore in Giurisprudenza in Italy and the Juris Utriusque Doctor) and the legal studies counterpart to the M.D. degree in the United States.  Originating from the 19th century Harvard movement for the scientific study of law, it is the only law degree that has a goal of being the primary professional preparation for lawyers (and therefore a terminal professional degree). It is the only professional doctorate in law and is a three year program in most jurisdictions (other doctorates are four years or longer).  Like other professional doctorates in the United States (M.D., D.D.S., etc.), a research dissertation or thesis is not traditionally a part of the J.D. This degree primarily exists in the United States, but since about 1997 it has appeared in universities in other countries for the first time, although it has a unique form in each country.

LLM 学位
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, or research degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. (also LLM or LL.M or M.L., [in Tamil Nadu]) from its Latin name, Legum Magister. (For female students, the less common variant Legum Magistra may also be used.)

There is a wide range of LL.M. programs available worldwide, allowing students to focus on almost any area of the law. Most universities offer only a small number of LL.M. programs. One of the most popular LL.M. degrees in the United States is tax law, sometimes referred to as an MLT (Master of Laws in Taxation). Another developing area is bankruptcy law. In Europe LL.M. programs in European law are recently very popular, often referred to as LL.M. Eur (Master of European Law). Other common programs include environmental law, human rights law, commercial law, intellectual property law, information technology law, estate planning (as a sub-specialty of tax), international law, maritime law, trial advocacy and insurance law. Chapman University School of Law, in Orange, California, offers an innovative LL.M. in Prosecutorial Sciences. Open only to active prosecutors with at least five years experience, this first of its kind program was reviewed and received “acquiescence” from the ABA in 2007. The University of California, Davis School of Law offers a part-time Summer LL.M. Program in International Commercial Law taken over several 6-week summer sessions. Some LL.M. programs, particularly in the United States, focus on teaching foreign lawyers the basic legal principles of the host country (a “comparative law” degree). Moreover, some programs are conducted in more than one language (e.g. LLM in Europa-Institut in Saarbruecken, Germany, were students have the possibility of undertaking courses in German and/ or English). Most LL.M. programs require a thesis.