What Is the Meaning of a Juris Doctor?

A Juris Doctor (JD) degree is essential for practicing law, offering comprehensive legal education and career opportunities. Explore coursework, prerequisites, program duration, and career prospects for this prestigious law degree.

By Brad Nakase, Attorney

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Table of Contents

1. What is a Juris Doctor degree?

2. Degree prerequisites for a Juris Doctor

3. Basic Legal Education Coursework

4. Senior thesis

5. Job shadowing

6. Final certification upon completion of education

7. What is the duration of the Juris Doctor program?

8. Double degree

9. Intensive J.D. programs

10. Prerequisites for the Juris Doctor (JD) degree

11. Just what does a Juris Doctor degree involve?

12. Future earnings

What is a Juris Doctor degree?

As a professional, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree to practice law. A Juris Doctor degree is the pinnacle of academic achievement in the legal profession. Prior completion of a bachelor’s degree is required for admission to Juris Doctor programs; however, a master’s degree is not required.

Degree prerequisites for a Juris Doctor

Going to law school is no picnic. The admittance percentage for top law schools in the United States varies from 6.9% to 35.3%. Not to mention how demanding it may be. Because many law schools employ the “case study method”—which necessitates the study of prior cases or precedents to comprehend present-day legal concepts—first-year law students report reading an average of fifty to seventy-five pages a day.

Let’s take a look at the classes you’ll take in a J.D. program and what more you might have to do to graduate.

Basic Legal Education Coursework

Among the many abilities you’ll hone in law school is the ability to think critically, analytically, and creatively, as well as to write effectively.

Foundational law courses covering the following topics will be required of you during your first year of law school:

Civil procedure
Constitutional law
Criminal law
Contract law
Torts
Property law
Researching and drafting legal documents

You will take more advanced courses in your second and third years of law school that will deepen your knowledge of specific fields or legal procedures.

Art law
Sports law
Corporate crime
Animal law and policy
International arbitration
Antitrust law and policy
International taxation

Senior thesis

Although not all law schools mandate it, a capstone project gives you the chance to put your knowledge to use and is therefore something you should definitely consider doing. Writing a scholarly article suitable for publication in a law review or a legal document like a brief or draft complaint are common formats for capstone projects.

Job shadowing

While you’re a law student, you might be able to take advantage of an externship opportunity. For the purpose of obtaining college credit, you will gain job experience in a real-world situation, which will supplement your classroom knowledge. Aside from providing valuable hands-on experience in your field, an externship is a great way to meet industry professionals and build your career network.

Final certification upon completion of education

It is common practice to take the bar test after receiving a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-approved law school in order to become a licensed attorney. At present, however, prospective attorneys in four states—Washington, Virginia, Vermont, and California—are allowed to take the bar exam without first completing law school, provided that they first complete an apprenticeship with a practicing attorney or judge.

The test usually lasts for two days. You will be required to take a standardized exam known as the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) on the first day of the exam. This test will consist of questions on contract law, tort law, criminal law, real property law, constitutional law, evidence, and contracts. Over the course of the second day, you will be required to compose essays based on a variety of broad subjects. Submitting to a background check will allow the American Bar Association to confirm your character in addition to your skill.

What is the duration of the Juris Doctor program?

The typical time commitment for a Juris Doctor degree program is three years of full-time study. It can take four or five years to complete law school on a part-time basis. It is a requirement of many law schools that you finish your degree within five years after starting.

Double degree

Some students of law decide to pursue a dual degree, such as a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work (MSW), or a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Health (MPH). You can specialize your legal practice and have a deeper understanding of a particular sector by obtaining two master’s degrees. The average time to finish a dual degree program is four or five years, which is less than the time it would take to get each degree individually.

Intensive J.D. programs

Accelerated bachelor’s degree and J.D. programs are available for those who decide early on that they want to practice law and wish to complete their undergraduate degree and J.D. in six years instead of seven. However, that choice necessitates a substantial amount of planning ahead of time, such as settling on a six-year education program.

Taking a hiatus before deciding to get a J.D. is more usual. According to the American Bar Association, of the sixty-five percent of students who take a break between their undergraduate studies and law school, just over fifty percent of those students take a break that lasts for three years or more.

Prerequisites for the Juris Doctor (JD) degree

The following are often required by law schools in order to apply for the Juris Doctor degree program:

1. Graduate with a bachelor’s degree

A bachelor’s degree is often required to enroll in law school. Given that law schools welcome applicants with a wide range of academic backgrounds, the American Bar Association states that your intended major should not impact your application. Your hobbies and career aspirations should guide your major selection.

Although, it’s true that some bachelor’s degrees do provide the groundwork for success in law school and the legal profession. According to National Jurist, these are a few popular choices:

2. Government and politics

Since many colleges and universities incorporate law-related courses into their political science curricula, this is a highly sought-after path for students aspiring to become lawyers. The extensive reading, research, and writing that is required of you will also help you become ready for the practice of law as a Juris Doctor.

3. Business and finance

Although a degree in economics may provide you with marketable abilities in many fields, it can be especially useful if you want to work in tax or corporate law. Pursuing a degree in economics will help you develop strong analytical abilities, which might be useful when applying for graduate-level jobs.

4. Communications or English

Research and paper writing will occupy a significant portion of your time as a law student. A solid grounding in writing and communication, whether as an undergraduate or graduate student, will serve you well in the legal profession and beyond, helping you with tasks like oral argument preparation and brief authoring.

5. Get your LSAT score

Most law schools still insist on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) as a prerequisite for admission, while a small number of institutions have begun to accept the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Critical thinking, reasoning, reading strategically, and grasping formal logic are some of the abilities that this standardized test will measure. These are all abilities that are considered necessary for success in law school.

Law School Admission Council (LSAC)-approved testing centers throughout the nation administer the exam four times yearly. Seats are limited, so it’s always a good idea to register early.

Just what does a Juris Doctor degree involve?

In order to become a lawyer, the vast majority of students get a Juris Doctor degree. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 10% increase in demand for legal practitioners in the next ten years. You can work for a law firm if you so choose, however many companies employ in-house legal departments to keep their legal expenses in check.

Future earnings

A Juris Doctor degree might be expensive, but once earned, a lawyer can expect to earn more than the average salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2021, the median yearly wage for lawyers in the US was $127,990. A number of criteria, such as your degree of experience, your location, and the kind and size of your company, will determine your compensation in the end.

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