Admittance into a Master of Laws degree program requires a Juris Doctor, or JD, and is competitive. Law schools can also require letters of recommendation, personal statements and resumes. The second professional law degree after the JD, Master of Laws programs are specialized and feature concentrations such as taxation, human rights and environmental law. These programs can generally be completed within a year when studying full-time; the curriculum will vary depending upon the specialization. Possible coursework includes white-collar crime, laws of the European Union, and local and state taxation. Some schools offer combined Juris Doctor and Master's degree programs.
The highest law degree awarded in the United States, the Doctor of Juridical Science requires students to have previously obtained a bachelor's degree, Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws degree. Admission is competitive; law schools favor students with strong grades and may also require published works, a resume or a research proposal. In some cases, students without a master's may be admitted on the basis of superior performance. Doctor of Juridical Science degree programs are research-based and students must complete several courses, a significant amount of research, and a dissertation in order to graduate.
Another advanced law degree that students can pursue is the Doctor of Comparative Law. More specialized than the Doctor of Juridical Science, which permits students to choose their own paths of research, the Doctor of Comparative law degree program focuses on a professional, in-depth study of legal philosophies and systems in a comparative light. A relatively uncommon choice for students, the Doctor of Comparative Law is often offered as an option when studying toward a Doctor of Juridical Science, and can be awarded for the same degree requirements, such as at the University of Chicago's Law School.
Individuals who have earned an advanced degree in the field of law are faced with a wealth of employment opportunities. Those with a Master of Laws designation may go on to become employed by a law firm and work within their specialty. Examples of these occupations include human-rights lawyers and environmental-rights lawyers. Those with a Doctor of Juridical Science or Comparative Law often become university and law school professors, or enter the field of academia and research.