Juris Doctor

A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence,^[1] or Doctor of Law^[2] (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other jurisdictions, such as Australia, Canada, and Hong Kong, offer both the postgraduate JD degree as well as the undergraduate LL.B., BCL, or other qualifying law degree depending on the requirements of the jurisdiction where the person will practice law.

Originating in the United States in the late 19th century, the JD is the most common law degree in the country. The degree generally requires three years of full-time study to complete and is conferred upon students who have successfully completed coursework and practical training in legal studies. The JD curriculum typically includes fundamental legal subjects such as constitutional law, civil procedure, criminal law, contracts, property, and torts, along with opportunities for specialization in areas like international law, corporate law, or public policy. Upon receiving a JD, graduates must pass a bar examination to be licensed to practice law. The American Bar Association does not allow an accredited JD degree to be issued in less than two years of law school studies.^[3][4]

In the United States, the JD has the academic standing of a professional doctorate (in contrast to a research doctorate),^[5][6] and is described as a "doctor's degree – professional practice" by the United States Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics.^[7][8] In Australia, South Korea, and Hong Kong, it has the academic standing of a master's degree,^[9][10] while in Canada, it is considered a second-entry bachelor's degree.^[11][12]

To be fully authorized to practice law in the courts of a given state in the United States, the majority of individuals holding a JD degree must pass a bar examination,^{[13][14][15][16]} except from the state of Wisconsin.^[17][18] United States Patent and Trademark Office also involves a specialized "Patent Bar" which requires applicants to hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in certain scientific or engineering fields alongside their Juris Doctor degree in order to practice in patent cases —prosecuting patent applications — before it.^[19] This additional requirement does not apply to the litigation of patent-related matters in state and federal courts.