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.
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.
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.
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.
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.