Juris Doctor (JD)
The Juris Doctor (JD) is a doctoral level law degree in the US, required to practice law and pass the bar exam.
Careers open to law graduates
Institutions awarding this level in law (216)
Source: IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education). IPEDS records the field and level of each award, not its exact title.
- Georgetown University · Washington
- Harvard University · Cambridge
- George Washington University · Washington
- New York University · New York
- Columbia University · New York
- Fordham University · Bronx
- University of Miami · Coral Gables
- Brooklyn Law School · Brooklyn
- Suffolk University · Boston
- University of California Hastings College of the Law · San Francisco
- University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley
- University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles
- Yeshiva University · New York
- New England Law · Boston
- American University · Washington
- Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law · Saint Paul
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor
- Northwestern University · Evanston
- Stetson University · DeLand
- New York Law School · New York
- University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago
- University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville
- South Texas College of Law · Houston
- The University of Texas at Austin · Austin
- University of Houston · Houston
- Southwestern Law School · Los Angeles
- University of Denver · Denver
- Widener University · Chester
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe
- Hofstra University · Hempstead
- Pace University · New York
- Emory University · Atlanta
- St. John's University · Queens
- University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia
- Boston University · Boston
- Boston College · Boston
- Seton Hall University · South Orange
- Rutgers University-Newark · Newark
- Duke University · Durham
- Loyola University Chicago · Chicago
- Santa Clara University · Santa Clara
- Michigan State University · East Lansing
- Washington University in St Louis · Saint Louis
- Indiana University-Indianapolis · Indianapolis
- University of Wisconsin–Madison · Madison
- Yale University · New Haven
- University of San Diego · San Diego
- Southern Methodist University · Dallas
- University of Florida · Gainesville
- St. Thomas University · Miami Gardens
- William & Mary · Williamsburg
- University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia
- University of Chicago · Chicago
- Tulane University · New Orleans
- Illinois Institute of Technology · Chicago
- Temple University · Philadelphia
- St. Mary's University, Texas · San Antonio
- Georgia State University · Atlanta
- CUNY School of Law · Long Island City
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis
- Vanderbilt University · Nashville
- Seattle University · Seattle
- University of Maryland, Baltimore · Baltimore
- University of Baltimore · Baltimore
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill
- Marquette University · Milwaukee
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park
- Florida State University · Tallahassee
- Western Michigan University Cooley Law School · Lansing
- Loyola University New Orleans · New Orleans
- University of Detroit Mercy · Detroit
- Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College · Baton Rouge
- Stanford University · Stanford
- Saint Louis University · St Louis
- Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus
- University of Southern California · Los Angeles
- Syracuse University · Syracuse
- California Western School of Law · San Diego
- Lewis & Clark College · Portland
- University of California-Davis · Davis
- Barry University · Miami
- University of Georgia · Athens
- Cornell University · Ithaca
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge
- Indiana University Bloomington · Bloomington
- University of the Pacific · Stockton
- University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder
- Roger Williams University School of Law · Bristol
- University of New Hampshire-Franklin Pierce School of Law · Concord
- Villanova University · Villanova
- University of Iowa · Iowa City
- University of Oklahoma · Norman
- Charleston School of Law · Charleston
- University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame
- Nova Southeastern University · Fort Lauderdale
- Albany Law School · Albany
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle
- Texas A & M University-College Station · College Station
- George Mason University · Fairfax
- University of Mississippi · Oxford
- Oklahoma City University · Oklahoma City
- Pepperdine University · Malibu
- University at Buffalo · Buffalo
- Touro College · New York
- Rutgers University-Camden · Camden
- DePaul University · Chicago
- University of Oregon · Eugene
- Florida International University · Miami
- University of Connecticut · Storrs
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Urbana
- Drexel University · Philadelphia
- University of Richmond · University of Richmond
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico-School of Law · San Juan
- Texas Southern University · Houston
- Campbell University · Buies Creek
- University of St. Thomas - Minnesota · Saint Paul
- Chapman University · Orange
- University of Missouri-Kansas City · Kansas City
- Texas Tech University · Lubbock
- Baylor University · Waco
- Samford University · Birmingham
- Duquesne University · Pittsburgh
- University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras · San Juan
- Howard University · Washington
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas · Las Vegas
- Gonzaga University · Spokane
- University of Kentucky · Lexington
- North Carolina Central University · Durham
- University of California-Irvine · Irvine
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln · Lincoln
- Elon University · Elon
- Capital University · Columbus
- University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock · Little Rock
- University of Cincinnati · Cincinnati
- Creighton University · Omaha
- Mercer University · Macon
- Quinnipiac University · Hamden
- University of Akron · Akron
- Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland
- Cleveland State University · Cleveland
- University of Idaho · Moscow
- University of Arkansas · Fayetteville
- University of Louisville · Louisville
- Mississippi College · Clinton
- Vermont Law and Graduate School · South Royalton
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville · Knoxville
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · Tallahassee
- Belmont University · Nashville
- Brigham Young University · Provo
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth · North Dartmouth
- University of Dayton · Dayton
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Pittsburgh
- Golden Gate University · San Francisco
- University of Tulsa · Tulsa
- Washington and Lee University · Lexington
- Catholic University of America · Washington
- University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia
- West Virginia University · Morgantown
- Western New England University · Springfield
- Drake University · Des Moines
- Wayne State University · Detroit
- Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights
- University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque
- Ave Maria School of Law · Naples
- University of Toledo · Toledo
- University of Memphis · Memphis
- Willamette University · Salem
- Lincoln Memorial University · Harrogate
- University of North Texas at Dallas · Dallas
- University of Arizona · Tucson
- Washburn University · Topeka
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa · Honolulu
- Northern Illinois University · DeKalb
- University of Kansas · Lawrence
- Regent University · Virginia Beach
- University of San Francisco · San Francisco
- Liberty University · Lynchburg
- Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem
- Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School · Atlanta
- University of Utah · Salt Lake City
- University of Southern Maine · Portland
- Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce · Ponce
- The University of Montana · Missoula
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale · Carbondale
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law · San Diego
- University of Wyoming · Laramie
- University of North Dakota · Grand Forks
- University of West Los Angeles · Inglewood
- University of South Dakota · Vermillion
- Ohio Northern University · Ada
- Westcliff University · Irvine
- Appalachian School of Law · Grundy
- University of La Verne · La Verne
- University of the District of Columbia · Washington
- Massachusetts School of Law · Andover
- Faulkner University · Montgomery
- The Colleges of Law at Ventura · Ventura
- Southern University Law Center · Baton Rouge
About
The Juris Doctor (JD) is the highest degree awarded in the US legal education system, classified at the doctoral level. It is a professional graduate degree designed to prepare students for a career in law, including practicing as attorneys, judges, or legal consultants. The JD is typically earned after completing an undergraduate degree and is offered by accredited law schools, which are usually part of four-year institutions. This degree is essential for those who wish to sit for the bar exam, a mandatory step to become licensed lawyers in various states. The JD program emphasizes critical thinking, legal reasoning, and practical skills necessary for the legal profession. It is recognized nationwide, though individual states regulate bar admission. The degree also opens pathways to advanced legal studies or specialized certifications.
- Doctoral level professional degree
- Required for bar exam and legal practice
- Offered by accredited law schools
- Post-bachelor's admission prerequisite
- Nationwide recognition with state licensing
- Prepares for diverse legal careers
How to get in
Admission to a JD program requires a completed bachelor's degree, often with a competitive GPA. Applicants typically submit scores from standardized tests such as the LSAT, along with letters of recommendation, personal statements, and resumes. Law schools evaluate candidates based on academic performance, test results, and other achievements. The selection process is competitive, with many applicants vying for limited spots. Some schools may accept GRE scores as alternatives. Accreditation by the American Bar Association (ABA) is a key factor in choosing a law school, as it affects eligibility for the bar exam. While there is no federal licensing for the degree itself, attending an ABA-accredited institution is crucial for professional recognition.
- Bachelor's degree required
- LSAT or GRE scores submitted
- Competitive admission process
- Personal statements and recommendations
- ABA accreditation important
- Varied applicant backgrounds considered
Format and schedule
The JD program generally lasts three years of full-time study, with some schools offering part-time or evening options to accommodate working students. The curriculum is structured around credit hours, combining lectures, seminars, and practical exercises. Clinical programs and internships provide hands-on legal experience, often required for graduation. Evaluation methods include written exams, research papers, and practical assessments. There is no formal national internship requirement, but many students complete externships or clerkships to gain experience. The academic calendar aligns with typical university semesters, and students must maintain a satisfactory GPA to progress.
- Three years full-time study
- Credit hour-based curriculum
- Clinical and practical experience
- Written exams and papers for assessment
- Part-time options available
- GPA monitoring required
What next?
After earning a JD, graduates typically take the bar exam in the state where they wish to practice law. Passing this exam grants a license to practice as an attorney. Many JD holders find employment in law firms, government agencies, corporations, or non-profits. The degree also serves as a foundation for advanced legal education such as LLM or SJD degrees. Some graduates pursue careers in academia, policy, or business where legal expertise is valued. Transfer agreements or articulation are less common at this level, but some programs offer joint degrees combining law with business or public policy. The JD remains the essential credential for entering the legal profession in the US.
- Bar exam eligibility after graduation
- Wide legal career options available
- Advanced degrees possible
- Joint degree programs offered
- Licensing by state required
- Professional and academic pathways
Frequently asked questions
What prior education is needed for a JD?
You must have completed a bachelor's degree before applying to a JD program. There is no specific major required, but strong academic performance is important.
Is the JD recognized outside the US?
The JD is primarily designed for the US legal system. Recognition abroad varies, and additional qualifications may be needed to practice law in other countries.
Can I work while studying for a JD?
Many programs offer part-time or evening options to accommodate working students, but the JD is demanding and requires significant time commitment.
What exams do I need to pass after the JD?
Graduates must pass the bar exam in the state where they want to practice law to become licensed attorneys.
Are there financial aids available for JD students?
Yes, students can apply for federal aid through FAFSA, scholarships, and loans, but funding is competitive and varies by institution.
What skills does the JD program develop?
The JD hones critical thinking, legal analysis, writing, oral advocacy, and practical lawyering skills essential for the profession.
Can I pursue other careers with a JD?
Yes, the JD opens doors to careers in business, government, academia, and policy, beyond traditional legal practice.
How important is ABA accreditation?
Attending an ABA-accredited law school is crucial as it affects eligibility to take the bar exam and professional recognition.