Find Schools offering Juris Doctor (JD) Degree Programs
- A juris doctor, is a lawyer who has passed a state Bar exam and is licensed to practice.
- It usually takes about three to four years of schooling after a bachelor's degree to earn a J.D.
- Most J.D. programs are fairly competitive and require high grades and test scores to be accepted.
What does a juris doctor do?
A juris doctor (J.D.), Latin for Doctor of Jurisprudence, is the first graduate degree awarded, after three years of law study, by an accredited law school. A J.D. is not equivalent to the bachelor of laws degree (LL.B.), which is an undergraduate degree awarded in some countries. In order to get into a J.D. program, a student must have at least three years of undergraduate work under their belt. A juris doctor must take the American Bar exam in order to practice law.
What kind of degree is needed to work as a JD?
A J.D. is required to earn a competitive grade point average in their undergraduate years in order to be accepted into a graduate school of law. After acceptance, a student must complete three years of graduate level work to earn a J.D. degree. A J.D. degree does not allow someone to practice law. Practicing lawyers must pass the American Bar exam. A J.D. degree is not to be confused with a L.L.M. degree, which is specialized, more advanced law degree after the J.D.
What career opportunities are available for someone with a degree as a JD?
A J.D. opens the opportunity to the many different branches of law, which are many. Corporate law, tax law, property law, family law, criminal law, constitutional law, Civil litigation, international law, and labor and employment law are some of the major streams of law one can choose to specialize in and practice. In addition, there are other, nontraditional, legal careers that include working in a non-profit organization, an advocacy group, a community legal clinic or government policy. Some J.D. graduates also choose to earn their master's and teach in universities, or become a law librarians. Many people also earn their law degree to help them in their own business or enter into the political field.
How much money does a JD make?
A lawyer's salary is difficult to estimate because of the great differences between practices and specialties. The national average for a lawyer's salary is $86,000, with the bottom of the crowd earning $55,000 and the cream of the crop earning well above $100,000 a year.
What are the leading schools offering programs in Juris Doctor (JD)?
