Different Law Degrees
The basic law degree is the requirement for admission to the bar of most states. Lawyers who wish to further their legal educations beyond the three-year law degree can pursue advanced degrees that allow them to specialize in particular fields of law or that prepare them to become legal scholars.
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Identification
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The basic law degree is known as a Juris Doctor, or J.D. Students who wish to become lawyers must complete a bachelor's degree to be admitted to law school. Students undergo a three-year program of legal studies to receive a J.D. Some countries, such as Great Britain and Canada, refer to the basic law degree as a Bachelor of Laws, or LL.B. A handful of American law schools refer to their basic degree as an LL.B.
Types
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In addition to the J.D. or LL.B., many law schools offer a range of advanced degrees. The most common is the Master of Laws, or LL.M. A less common law degree is the Doctor Juridical Science or Doctor of the Science of Law, styled S.J.D. or J.S.D.
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Master of Laws (LL.M.)
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This degree is the legal field's equivalent of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other master's degree. Most LL.M. programs allow students to specialize in a particular area of the law, such as tax law or international law. In most cases, a year of full-time study is required for a student to receive an LL.M. Some programs are research-oriented and require completion of a thesis, while others require only that students complete a series of courses.
Although an LL.M. is not required in most cases for employment as a lawyer, the degree signifies that the holder has specialized training and expertise in a legal specialty.
Doctor of Laws (J.S.D./S.J.D.)
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The J.S.D. or S.J.D. is equivalent to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and is the most advanced law degree available. Like the Ph.D., the J.S.D. is a research doctorate. The degree emphasizes the scholarly, scientific study of the law. Not all law schools offer this degree, which can require 3 to 5 years of study to complete.
A J.S.D. program's requirements are similar to those for a Ph.D., including the required completion of a dissertation that contributes to the scholarly literature in the field of law. J.S.D. recipients often work in academic and research positions in academia or government.
Considerations
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Applicants for an LL.M. or J.S.D. program must have a J.D. or LL.B. Some J.S.D. programs may require an LL.M. for admission as well.
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