50 or 55 Points for a J.D. from USA?

mgoulet

Can't figure out if I get 55 points for my law degree, otherwise known as a "juris doctor." According to the "list of recognised qualifications" for the U.S., a masters, PhD or other doctorate earns 55 points as long as you gained it after completing a bachelor's degree (which I did). But I am concerned that I will only be credited 50 points, since I think in NZ a law degree is an undergraduate degree equivalent to a bachelor's. Anyone know the answer? Confused

Tash · Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2004 1:44 pm Post subject:

Hi there

That's a tricky one. If your qual. isn't listed on the form 1080 stating how many points it's worth, it might be best for you to email them with your query. For my quals. a Hons. degree still gets only 50 points, although elsewhere it says that Hons. degrees get 55 points.

I emailed them with regard to points for work expereince in NZ - wanting to know how many points for 1 yrs exp. in NZ. They answered very promptly that you get 5 points for 2 years - or 0 for anything less! Eek

Good luck.

michelle · Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2004 9:14 am Post subject:

Hi

Already sent you a pm in response to yours but reading your post here it sounds to me like you would get 55 if your qualification is the equivalent of a Phd. I wouldn't think it matters that the standard NZ law qualification is a Bachelors degree.

Richard

mgoulet · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 7:16 pm Post subject: Sad news

Well,

I got the news today that my qualification was assessed as a Level 7, meaning that I get only 50 points instead of 55. I cannot believe that this is all I get after getting a bachelor's degree and then a law degree-- seven years worth of study!! But thought I would put up this post in case someone else down the line has the same question that I did.

This means for us that we are down to 100 points, the bottom of the barrel, and that assumes that all of our other points are awarded. Needless to say, I am at a low point right now. Sad