The usual prerequisites for a licence in canon law are that a candidate must have the Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree (STB), Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.), Master of Arts (MA) degree in Roman Catholic theology, or Juris Doctor (JD) degree and a bachelor's degree in canon law (JCB) or its relative equivalent.
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The educational requirements for becoming a lawyer in the United States is 7 years. This is broken down into an undergraduate degree of four (4) years, and a Law School degree of three (3) years. In a more comprehensive manner, to become a lawyer in the USA, you must take this path:
What are the Professional Requirements for Becoming a Lawyer?
Lawyers are trained to advise people about how to exercise their rights and to fulfill their obligations in accord with law. Ideally, lawyers help people to avoid legal mistakes in their actions which could prevent them from accomplishing their goals.
The usual prerequisites for a licence in canon law are that a candidate must have the Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree (STB), Master of Divinity degree (M. Div.), Master of Arts (MA) degree in Roman Catholic theology, or Juris Doctor (JD) degree and a bachelor's degree in canon law (JCB) or its relative equivalent.
The job of a canon lawyer is to see that the carefully devised rules of Church order are properly understood and applied. Use a canonist, then, to understand better what your basic (and not so basic) ecclesial rights and obligations are in the first place.
The Catholic Church has the oldest continuously functioning legal system in the West, much later than Roman law but predating the evolution of modern European civil law traditions.
Doctor of Canon Law (Latin: Juris Canonici Doctor, JCD) is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church. It can also be an honorary degree awarded by Anglican colleges. It may also be abbreviated ICD or dr.
Licentiate of Canon Law (J.C.L.) is the title of a graduate degree with canonical effects in the Roman Church offered by pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law.
Canon law includes both divine law and ecclesiastical law. Divine law is unchangeable and is applicable to every human being — for example, the law against murder. Ecclesiastical law is rooted in Church law and is not infallible, although it is authoritative — for example, the laws regarding fast and abstinence.
The “Code of Canon Law” authorizes tribunals in certain instances and penalties that may be imposed. From a practical standpoint, canon law does not (and should not) pre-empt or override civil and criminal legal systems.
A lay person with at least a licentiate in canon law can be appointed as a judge in a collegiate tribunal (canon 1421, 2, 3). Lay persons can also serve as auditors (canon 1428, 1, 2), as ponens or relator (canon 1429), as promoter of justice (canon 1430) or defender of the bond (canon 1432).
The three ends of marriage, according to Canon law are: first, the procreation of offspring; second, mutual consortiun; third, a remedy for concupiscence. The first end is common to man and animal. But according to Catholic doctrine, the sacrament of matrimony gives an added strength to attain these ends.
The function of canon law in liturgy, preaching, and social activities involves the development and maintenance of those institutions that are considered to be most serviceable for the personal life and faith of members of the church and for their vocation in the world.
In the Catholic Church, canon law is the system of laws and legal principles made and enforced by the church's hierarchical authorities to regulate its external organization and government and to order and direct the activities of Catholics toward the mission of the church.
The study of canon law presupposes a theological foundation. For those who do not possess an advanced degree in theology or who have had no previous training in philosophy, 24 graduate credits in theology (8 courses or two semesters) are required, covering (in general) dogmatic theology, ecclesiology, sacramental theology, and moral theology.
Second Cycle refers to the six semesters in which students study the governing norms of the Catholic Church; upon successful completion of the requirements, the student earns the Licentiate in Canon Law.
Third Cycle refers to further juridical formation and the writing of the doctoral dissertation; upon successful completion of the requirements, the student earns the doctor of canon law degree.
I assist with the preparation of nullity petitions for your parishioners who approach you for help when seeking clarification of their matrimonial status, and/or other questions pertaining to the matrimonial nullity process (or other processes, such as Ligamen or Pauline Privilege).
I can assist you if you are just starting out, or if you have hit a difficult point in the matrimonial nullity ("annulment") process and do not know how to proceed; or if you have decided to appeal a tribunal's decision.
My answer is hardly based upon poor database, wild speculations and extrapolations. If you have access to any of the data I claim to have no access or any other useful data or suggestions for extrapolations, please write a comment.
I am not sure what kind of persons you mean when you say "canon lawyer". According to Wikipedia the word "lawyer" is inconsistently used in the English speaking world. As I am from Germany I have no idea in which way the term "canon lawyer" is used.
To find out how many canon lawyers exist means to find out how many people got a license in coanon law. The universities know how many graduate with this degree.
For the whole world the Congregation for Catholic Education (for Educational Institutions) says: No. In April 2018 the congregation released a new instruction "The Study of Canon Law in light of the Reform of the Matrimonial Process".
Based on public avavible internet sources it is very hard to find any exact number of canon lawyers or needs for them. The first may be easier with the printed yearbooks of the universities and the Vatican. The latter has to remain speculation (but maybe based on better database).