Students must earn their J.D. and pass the bar exam to practice law. Some lawyers also earn a Master of Laws degree, which allows lawyers to specialize in a particular area of law, or Doctor of the Science of Law degree, which prepares lawyers to teach law.
Students who have their undergraduate degree are eligible for J.D. programs. L.L.M. programs usually only admit students who already have their J.D. Most J.S.D programs require an L.L.M.
It takes three years to earn a J.D.; L.L.M. programs usually take one year; J.S.D. programs take two to four years.