What is a Juris Doctor Degree? An Overview of the J.D. Degree

The Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree is a graduate degree awarded by law schools in the United States. To become a licensed attorney in most states, you have to earn a JD from an accredited law school. There are non-accredited law schools that also confer a Juris Doctor degree. However, you may not be allowed to practice law with an unaccredited degree.

What is a juris doctorate? The Juris Doctor degree first appeared in the United States during the early 1900’s. During this time, universities such as Harvard began a movement to standardize education for lawyers in the United States. This movement led to the modern-day Juris Doctor degree.

The full name of the Juris Doctor is a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, just as an MD is a Doctor of Medicine or a PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy. There are currently almost 200 colleges or universities in the United States with an ABA-accredited J.D. program. There is an increasing number of Canadian colleges offering a J.D. program as well as some international universities that offer the degree.

How Long Does a Juris Doctor Take?

The American Bar Association which accredits most law schools in the United States and Canada requires a minimum of 83 hours to earn a J.D. degree. Earning a J.D. generally takes 3 years or 6 full-time semesters. Individual schools may require more hours to obtain a J.D. from their institution.

That’s a traditional J.D. program. But this is the 21st century, and there are a lot of other options:

• Part-time programs: These programs are designed for working professionals. A part-time program ay take four years or longer.
• Accelerated programs: Some law schools offer accelerated JD programs that can be completed in less than three years, often by attending classes year-round.
• Dual-degree programs: If you’re pursuing a JD along with another graduate degree (like an MBA or Master of Public Policy), the total time will be longer.

Law schools have learned to adapt to the needs of students. So if you’re coming to law school later in life, as a second career, or as a busy working adult, you have options!

Can I Earn a Juris Doctor Online?

The American Bar Association is beginning to open its accreditation to online or distance education. For example, the University of Syracuse College of Law has a highly respected, accredited Juris Doctor program that combines distance and in-person instruction.

There are a lot of reasons to consider an online law degree, especially if you’re coming to law from another career:

• Work/Life Balance: Online programs offer flexible schedules and the ability to study at your own pace.
• Study Anywhere: No need to relocate for school. Study from anywhere with a stable internet connection.
• Break Down Barriers: Online programs can make legal education accessible for people whose geographical or financial barriers keep them from attending a traditional law school.
• Cost Savings: Online programs may have lower tuition. You also save on expenses like housing and transportation.

There are also non-ABA accredited law schools that offer a Juris Doctor degree. Those can get you practicing law in some states.

What Can I Do with a J.D. Degree?

Most students earning a J.D. become practicing attorneys. To practice law in the United States, a law school graduate must be admitted to the Bar in the jurisdiction where they intend to practice.

Currently, you can sit for the Bar exam without a J.D. in four states:

• California
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington

However, many graduates of law school opt not to get their license, or they use their degree in other professions, like business or education. The education required to earn a J.D. emphasizes applying logical solutions to complex problems. Therefore, J.D. graduates often turn to other fields such as finance, regulatory compliance, education, counseling, public relations or politics.

What are Joint and Dual Degrees?

Many law schools now allow you to earn a J.D. in conjunction with a another, complementary degree. The most common joint programs couple a J.D. with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Other joint degree programs combine a Masters of Public Health (MPH) or a Masters of Public Policy (MPP) with the J.D. The degrees fit together well as they often combine heavily regulated industries such as healthcare. Joint Degrees also allow law school graduates to specialize in a particular field and increase their future job opportunities.

You should know, there is a subtle difference in a joint program vs a dual degree. A joint degree formally joins two degrees together, and your credits apply to both degrees. In a dual degree program, you have to enroll in each degree separately and earn two full degrees. Enrolling in a joint degree program lets you earn two degrees in less time than applying separately.

Is a J.D. Worth It?

Earning a J.D. requires an investment of both time and money. On average, law school graduates incur a little over $100,000 in debt to earn a Juris Doctor degree. However, the average attorney earns $145,000, and the salary for lawyers tends to increase with experience. So your student loan debt will be easier to pay off than most people’s!

More importantly, there are many public law schools which offer a J.D. at a much lower rate than private institutions. Graduates of the Nebraska College of Law, for example, have the lowest median debt of all law schools in the United States (at just under $60,000).

Are There Other Law Degrees Besides a J.D.?

Before the Juris Doctor degree was created, there were two undergraduate degrees the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and the Bachelor of Civil Laws (LL.L.). Many international schools still use these.

In some countries (most notably in England), there is a Doctor of Laws degree (the LL.D.) which is a more extensive academic study of law more akin to a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The American equivalent is the Doctor of Juridical Science. That’s a fairly rare degree that is generally for people who want to teach in law school.

In the United States, many law schools offer a Master of Law degree (the LL.M.) which allows for a law school graduate to focus on a specific field of law. For example, you might specialize in a field like banking, international law, or tax law.

If you’re not interested in practicing law, the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) gives you a grounding in law that you can connect to another career.

But it’s important to remember, in most states, you only practice law with a J.D.

Additional Resources

10 Best Degrees for Getting into Law School