What is an sjd degree in law?

A Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD; Latin: Scientiae Juridicae Doctor),[1] or a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD; Latin: Juridicae Scientiae Doctor),[2] is a research doctorate in law equivalent to the more commonly awarded Doctor of Philosophy degree.[3][4][5]

The SJD is offered by the Australian National University,[6] Bond University,[7] La Trobe University,[8] the University of Canberra,[9] the University of New South Wales,[10] the University of Sydney,[11] the University of Technology Sydney,[12] and the University of Western Australia.[13] It was once offered by the Queensland University of Technology.[14]

In Canada, the JSD or SJD is only offered at the University of Toronto. The University of Toronto's Faculty of Law is the leading institution from which Canadian law professors may earn a Doctorate of Juridical Science. Other law schools in Canada still offer a PhD in law as the terminal degree.

The JSD, or SJD is a research doctorate, and as such, in contrast to the JD, it is equivalent to the more commonly awarded research doctorate, the PhD[15] It is considered the "most advanced law degree" by Georgetown Law Center, Cornell Law School,[16] Harvard Law School,[17] Columbia Law School,[18] Yale Law School,[19] NYU Law,[20] Penn Law,[21] Stanford Law,[22] UVA Law,[23] Duke Law School,[24] Berkeley Law,[25] UCLA School of Law,[26] Washington University School of Law,[27] George Washington University Law School,[28] University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law,[29] Golden Gate University,[30] and University of Illinois College of Law.[31] According to Indiana University[32] it is the "terminal degree in law designed for individuals interested in academia." The National Association of Legal Professionals states that the JSD/SJD is "the most advanced (or terminal) law degree that would follow the earning of the JD and LLM degrees".[33]

Applicants for the program must have outstanding academic credentials.[34] A first degree in law (such as a JD) is required, as well as an LLM[35] Exceptions as to the latter condition (i.e. holding an LLM) are seldom—if ever—granted.[36]

The JSD/SJD typically requires three to five years to complete.[36][37] The program begins with a combination of required and elective coursework. Then, upon passage of the oral exam, the student advances to doctoral candidacy. Completion of the program requires a dissertation, which serves as an original contribution to the scholarly field of law.[38]

Despite its terminal status, the JSD/SJD is rarely earned by American scholars. The American Bar Association considers the first-level JD a sufficient academic credential for the instruction of the law. This has been adopted by virtually all American law schools, though outstanding academic performance and an extensive record of legal publications are usually required for tenure-track employment at most universities. Most scholars who complete the JSD/SJD at American universities are either international students seeking academic employment in their home countries (where a research doctorate may be required) or American scholars already employed, and who wish to further their legal education at the highest level.

Notable recipients of the degree of Doctor of Juridical Science include:

As the highest level of law degree, the SJD is suitable for law professionals who have already earned other advanced law degrees, such as the JD and the LLM. It provides candidates with the rigorous knowledge they need to go onto careers as professors and scholars of law.

SJD programs typically take two years to complete with a full-time course load. This may be followed by additional time to complete a dissertation. Since candidates have already acquired foundational knowledge of the law, SJD programs don’t typically follow a traditional curriculum consisting of required courses. Rather, candidates participate in seminars, and conduct their own legal research working closely with professors.

Law is an ever-evolving field with ongoing opportunities for knowledge advancement. The SJD represents a unique and exciting pathway for individuals looking to contribute to emerging understanding of the law in both theory and practice through research and scholarship.

Wondering about the difference between an SJD and a PhD, meanwhile? The answer is not as clear-cut as you might expect. Aside from the fact that the SJD is shorter in duration, it may position graduates more specifically for academic law school jobs when compared to the PhD, which may be more appropriate for academic jobs outside the legal sector, according to retired professor of law and public policy Carl Franklin.

“We must remember that the [SJD] degree is aligned more with the jurisprudence discipline than with the practice of law. There are few PhD. degrees in law, so for those wanting to be an expert in the narrow field of law, the [SJD] is a good choice,” Franklin asserts.

Environmental and energy law are two evolving fields which are of vital importance globally. This also makes them fertile ground. To that end, Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law recently announced a collaboration with India’s Jindal Global Law School on research and teaching in these areas. In addition to offering a J.D. and LLM in both Environmental and Environmental Law, Haub Law also offers an SJD in Environmental Law.

Haub Law Dean Horace Anderson said of the five-year renewable initiative, “This agreement will allow us to expand the vision and reach of our research globally, and allow our schools to exchange students seeking broader international perspectives on legal studies, especially in the area of environmental law.”

The College of Law of Qatar’s Peninsula Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) also recently announced that it will offer a new SJD program. This makes it the region’s first “full-fledged research-intensive” law doctorate degree, andone of the only programs of its kind available outside of the US.

''The launch of the SJD degree in August 2020 reinforces the College of Law's focus on research. We look forward to having a cadre of SJD students devoted to intensive legal research with their resulting dissertations published as books or series of law review articles,” HBKU College of Law dean Dr. Susan L Karamanian said.

Earlier this summer, Penn State Dickinson Law also announced that it was expanding its law degree offerings with the addition of the SJD to its lineup. Aimed at both domestic and international lawyers seeking specialized knowledge in one area of the law, a career in academic law or as a law scholar, or career advancement, culminates in an oral defense.

Dickinson Law’s Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law Danielle M. Conway heralded the degree’s “global curricular” advantage for aspiring legal scholars looking to continue their law education while engaging in intensive legal research and writing.

According to Talia Gillis, who received her SJD from Harvard Law in 2020 and is now a full-time associate professor at Columbia Law School, the degree allowed her to focus on topics of interest to her. This includes the intersection of consumer finance law, behavioral economics, and household finance. With the degree, Gillis can also research and write from home, which is especially beneficial in pandemic times.

Dr. Nudrat E. Piracha, Pakistan’s first female lawyer to earn an SJD, also shared her plans for putting her legal knowledge to work in the area of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in her home country. “There is a dearth of awareness and experience in ADR in Pakistan. It’s an area that is properly implemented, could overcome some of the hurdles in the way of dispensing timely justice, and help relieve the courts’ burden,” Piracha told The International News.

Maha Albesharah completed her SJD last year in the US with the goal of returning to her home country of Kuwait to become a law professor. Of what drove her to pursue the degree she said, “I loved reading those laws, analyzing them. My friends were telling me they wanted to be detectives and lawyers. And they asked me, ‘What do you want to be?’ I said, ‘I need to be a law professor. I want to teach.’”

As made obvious by the examples above, many people who pursue SJDs do so because of their passion for the law. If you’re in it for the money, however, a career as an attorney or lawyer may be more fitting than one as an academic. According to PayScale, the average salary for SJD holders is $75,000 compared to $100,000 for practicing lawyers. Lawyers employed by corporations collect the highest paychecks. Meanwhile, the average salary for chief compliance officers is $193,000.

If you are a professional seeking a legal career or law-related occupation, it is important to remember that a Juris Doctor (JD) is not the only type of law degree available to you. When pursuing your law degree options, you should first consider the specific legal skills you will need to advance your career.

Some types of law degrees, like the JD, will prepare you to pass the bar exam and practice law as a lawyer in the courtroom or in a more traditional legal setting. Other non-JD law degrees, like the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) or Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR), provide you with legal skills that are useful in almost any field.

Exploring the different admissions requirements, curriculum options, and outcomes of these degrees will help you determine which type of law degree is the best fit for your career goals.

A Master of Legal Studies degree is designed for nonlawyers who could benefit from a deeper understanding of the law but do not want to follow the path of becoming a practicing attorney. A legal studies degree is generally a good fit for professionals who deal with legal procedures or concepts in their daily role and are looking to advance their career.

Admission:MLS programs require applicants to have earned their bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and can sometimes require standardized test scores. In addition, a résumé, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and personal interviews can be required.

Academic Experience:MLS curriculums typically cover a variety of legal topics to give students a strong foundation in all aspects of the law. Courses can cover legal topics like contracts, regulatory compliance, negotiation theory, and administrative law. In addition, students are sometimes required to attend in-person learning experiences that give them the opportunity to put their newly gained legal skills into practice. MLS programs typically take 16 to 28 months to complete depending on full-time or part-time options.

Program Outcomes:Graduates of legal studies degree programs typically pursue careers in law-adjacent fields such as business, human resources, regulatory agencies, law enforcement, and social work. Skills like working with contracts, understanding the legal procedures involved in transactions, and ensuring compliance with the law can help students advance in these fields.

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s online Master of Legal Studies program helps students understand complex legal concepts to make more informed decisions in their role. Students also have the option of choosing a concentration in dispute resolution, with courses from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s Straus Institute—ranked #1 for dispute resolution by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s online Master of Legal Studies program.

A Master of Dispute Resolution degree can be beneficial for professionals who are looking to develop conflict resolution and negotiation skills to better manage conflict and handle difficult situations. MDR programs can attract professionals who are interested in learning how to resolve conflicts between parties, handling change or promoting communication in their organization, and identifying workplace issues before they arise.

Admission:Similar to other non-JD degree programs, individuals pursuing a dispute resolution degree are required to have earned their bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and can sometimes require standardized test scores. In addition, a résumé, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and personal interviews can be required.

Academic Experience:MDR curriculums typically cover negotiation, mediation, and arbitration strategies in addition to a wide range of dispute resolution topics. Course topics can include negotiation, mediation theory, arbitration practice, and conflict management. MDR programs typically take 16 to 28 months to complete.

Program Outcomes:Since conflict and difficult situations are present in almost every field, students can pursue careers in business management, social work, counseling, human resources, construction management, and labor relations.

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s online MDR program assists professionals across a variety of industries to confidently resolve conflicts and negotiate complex transactions. The online MDR program is offered by Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s Straus Institute, which is ranked #1 for dispute resolution by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s online Master of Dispute Resolution program.

A Juris Doctor degree is the required legal degree for professionals who are pursuing a career as a practicing attorney. JD degree programs at American Bar Association accredited law schools typically focus on all aspects of U.S. law and legal procedure to prepare students to research cases, prosecute or defend lawsuits, and argue on behalf of a wide variety of individual clients and businesses. A JD degree includes preparation for passing a state bar exam, which allows attorney’s to practice in their chosen state.

Admission:Students pursuing a JD degree are required to have earned their bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and must submit LSAT or GRE test scores. In addition, letters of recommendation, personal interviews, and personal statements can be required.

Academic Experience:JD curriculums typically emphasize the tools and strategies used in the courtroom and to conduct research on complex legal issues. Course topics can include U.S. law, constitutional law, civil law, criminal law, torts, contract law, property, and other legal topics. Students typically graduate in three years when taking a full-time course load. In most cases, they are also required to complete internships and clerkships at law firms.

Program Outcomes:Graduates of a JD degree program must pass a bar examination to practice law in the United States. Only after passing the bar exam can students become licensed attorneys.

Learn more about Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s on-campus Juris Doctor program.

A Master of Laws degree is designed for professionals who already hold a law degree and want to specialize in a particular area of law. Students in LLM programs typically develop expertise in a specific legal subject such as tax law, intellectual property, or human rights law.

Admission:Students pursuing an LLM degree are required to have earned a JD degree from an accredited college or university. In addition, a résumé, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and personal interviews can be required.

Academic Experience:LLM curriculums provide students with the opportunity to further hone their legal skills by choosing from a range of electives that cover advanced legal topics. Specialized areas of study include international law, human rights law, tax law, commercial law, copyright law, and environmental law. Students typically graduate in one year if taking a full-time course load or two years if taking a part-time course load.

Program Outcomes:After earning this degree and developing expertise in the subject of their choice, LLM degree graduates typically continue their careers as attorneys but serve a more specialized client base. These highly competitive fields can include international law, human rights law, intellectual property law, and health law.

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s online Master of Laws (LLM) in Dispute Resolution program prepares lawyers to solve the most pressing conflicts of today through mediation, negotiation, and arbitration. The online LLM program is offered by Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s Straus Institute, which is ranked #1 for dispute resolution by U.S. News & World Report. Request information today to learn more about Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s online Master of Laws in Dispute Resolution program.

Learn more about Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s on-campus LLM programs.

A Doctor of Juridical Science degree is considered the highest level of a law degree and is designed for professionals who are looking to gain an advanced legal education after earning their JD and LLM. Given that these legal professionals have already earned other advanced law degrees, an SJD provides them with the additional legal expertise that is required to become professors and scholars of law.

Admission:Students pursuing an SJD degree are required to have earned their JD and LLM from an accredited college or university. In addition, a résumé, a personal statement, a research proposal, letters of recommendation, and personal interviews can be required.

Academic Experience: Instead of a traditional curriculum featuring a range of required courses, SJD programs typically require students to conduct legal research in one-on-one sessions with professors and participate in seminars. SJD programs usually take two years to complete on a full-time course load.

Program Outcomes:SJD degree graduates typically pursue careers such as law professor or legal scholar.

The Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) is Harvard Law School's most advanced law degree, designed for aspiring legal academics who wish to pursue sustained independent study, research and writing.