Doctor of Juridical Science

Summary

A Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD; Latin: Scientiae Juridicae Doctor),[1] or a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD; Latin: Juridicae Scientiae Doctor),[2] is a research doctorate degree that is equivalent to a Doctor of Philosophy degree in law.[3][4][5]

Australia edit

The SJD is offered by the Australian National University,[6] Bond University,[7] La Trobe University,[8] the University of Canberra,[9] the University of New South Wales,[10] the University of Sydney,[11] the University of Technology Sydney,[12] and the University of Western Australia.[13]

Canada edit

In Canada, the JSD or SJD is only offered at University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Other law schools in Canada still offer a PhD in law as the terminal degree.

United States edit

The JSD, or SJD, is a research doctorate, and as such, in contrast to the JD, it is equivalent to the more commonly awarded research doctorate, the PhD.[14] It is considered the "most advanced law degree" by American University Washington College of Law,[15] Georgetown Law Center, Cornell Law School,[16] Harvard Law School,[17] Columbia Law School,[18] Yale Law School,[19] NYU Law,[20] Penn Law,[21] Stanford Law,[22] UVA Law,[23] Duke Law School,[24] Berkeley Law,[25] UCLA School of Law,[26] Washington University School of Law,[27] George Washington University Law School,[28] James E. Rogers College of Law,[29] Golden Gate University,[30] and University of Illinois College of Law.[31] According to Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law[32] it is the "terminal degree in law designed for individuals interested in academia." The National Association of Legal Professionals states that the JSD/SJD is "the most advanced (or terminal) law degree that would follow the earning of the JD and LLM degrees".[33]

Applicants for the program must have outstanding academic credentials.[34] A first degree in law (such as a JD) is required, as well as an LLM.[35] Exceptions as to the latter condition (i.e., holding an LLM) are seldom—if ever—granted.[36]

The JSD/SJD typically requires three to five years to complete.[36][37] The program begins with a combination of required and elective coursework. Then, upon passage of the oral exam, the student advances to doctoral candidacy. Completion of the program requires a dissertation, which serves as an original contribution to the scholarly field of law.[38]

Despite its terminal status, the JSD/SJD is rarely earned by American scholars. The American Bar Association considers the first-level JD a sufficient academic credential for the instruction of the law. This has been adopted by virtually all American law schools, though outstanding academic performance and an extensive record of legal publications are usually required for tenure-track employment at most universities. Most scholars who complete the JSD/SJD at American universities are either international students seeking academic employment in their home countries (where a research doctorate may be required) or American scholars already employed, and who wish to further their legal education at the highest level.

Notable recipients of the degree of Doctor of Juridical Science include:

See also edit

Notes and references edit

  1. ^ "S.J.D. Program". Harvard Law School. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  2. ^ School, Stanford Law. "Doctor of Science of Law (JSD)". Stanford Law School. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Doctor of Juridical Science – Legal Definition". Yourdictionary.com. 20 August 2011. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  4. ^ "Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)". Archived from the original on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "LL.M. and S.J.D. Programs, Graduate Studies in Law". Law.virginia.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.), ANU College of Law - ANU". programsandcourses.anu.edu.au. Canberra, Australia: Australian National University. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Doctor of Legal Science (Research)". bond.edu.au. Gold Coast, Australia: Bond University. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Doctor of Juridical Science". latrobe.edu.au. Melbourne, Australia: La Trobe University. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Course - University of Canberra". canberra.edu.au. Canberra, Australia: University of Canberra. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Juridical Science (PrDoc)". legacy.handbook.unsw.edu.au. Sydney, Australia: University of New South Wales. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  11. ^ Sydney Law School. "Doctor of Juridical Studies - Sydney Law School - The University of Sydney". sydney.edu.au. Sydney, Australia: University of Sydney. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  12. ^ "C02027v5 Doctor of Juridical Science". cis.uts.edu.au. Sydney, Australia: University of Technology Sydney. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Doctor of Juridical Science". uwa.edu.au. Perth, Australia: University of Western Australia. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  14. ^ Doctorate document[dead link] at US Dept. of Education
  15. ^ "SJD Program". wcl.american.edu. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  16. ^ "J.S.D. Program". lawschool.cornell.edu. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  17. ^ "S.J.D. Courses & Academics". Law.harvard.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  18. ^ "J.S.D. Admissions". www.law.columbia.edu. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Yale Law School | Contact the Graduate Programs Office". Law.yale.edu. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  20. ^ "NYU Law – LL.M. & J.S.D.: J.S.D. Program". Law.nyu.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  21. ^ Street, The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School3501 Sansom; Philadelphia; Pennsylvania, PA 19104 map 215 898 7483 University of. "SJD Program". www.law.upenn.edu. Retrieved 28 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Stanford Law School. "Doctor of Science of Law (J.S.D.) | Stanford Law School". Law.stanford.edu. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  23. ^ "S.J.D. Program". law.virginia.edu. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  24. ^ "S.J.D. Program". law.duke.edu. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  25. ^ "J.S.D. Program". law.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  26. ^ Studies, Office of Graduate. "Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) at UCLA Law | UCLA Law". law.ucla.edu.
  27. ^ "Programs for International Lawyers/Juridicae Scientiae Doctor (J.S.D.) Program". WashULaw.
  28. ^ The George Washington University Law School. "Doctor of Juridical Science | GW Law". law.gwu.edu. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  29. ^ The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law (19 April 2018). "Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.); The University of Arizona". law.arizona.edu. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  30. ^ "Doctor of Juridical Science | SJD | (GGU) Golden Gate University". Golden Gate University(GGU). Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  31. ^ "J.S.D. Application – University of Illinois College of Law". law.illinois.edu.
  32. ^ "S.J.D. Degree". Indylaw.indiana.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  33. ^ "NALP - National Association for Law Placement | Working Glossary". nalp.org. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  34. ^ "S.J.D. Degree". law.duke.edu. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  35. ^ "Doctor of Juridical Science Degree". Law.gwu.edu. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  36. ^ a b "Georgetown Law – Doctor of Juridical Science (Admissions)". Law.georgetown.edu. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  37. ^ "Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) Requirements". Law.duke.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  38. ^ "Tulane Law School Prospective Students". Law.tulane.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  39. ^ Houston, Charles Hamilton (2012). Charles H. Houston: an interdisciplinary study of civil rights leadership. Lanham [Md.]: Lexington Books. p. 5. ISBN 9780739143582.
  40. ^ Yardley, Jonathan (7 May 1987). "A Woman's Triumphs in a Fight for Justice". Newsday. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  41. ^ "Katherine Franke | Faculty | Columbia Law School". law.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  42. ^ Harvard Law School. "Lucian A. Bebchuk | Harvard Law School". hls.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2 September 2016.