Doctor of Juridical Science

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 terminal research doctorate degree in law that is equivalent to a Ph.D. degree.³⁴⁵ In most countries (including the United States), it is the most advanced law degree that can be earned, higher than both a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.).

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 Technology Sydney,¹¹ and the University of Western Australia.¹²

The University of Sydney stopped accepting new applications for an SJD in 2018.¹³

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

In Italy, the title of Doctor of Juridical Science (dottore in scienze giuridiche) is awarded to holders of a Degree in Juridical Sciences (laurea in scienze giuridiche, EQF level 6), while Magistral Doctor of Juridical Sciences (dottore magistrale in scienze giuridiche) is awarded to holders of a Magistral Degree in Juridical Sciences (laurea magistrale in scienze giuridiche, EQF level 7).

Instead, the terminal degree for law, is the research doctorate (PhD, dottorato di ricerca), awarding the title of Research Doctor (dottore di ricerca).

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 the most advanced law degree.

In 1910, Harvard Law School became the first American law school to offer the SJD/JSD.¹⁵¹⁶ The first student to obtain a Doctor of Juridical Science was Eldon Revare James, who entered Harvard in 1911, and obtained his SJD in 1912.¹⁶ Other law schools, including Yale, N.Y.U., Michigan, and Columbia, followed suit. Between 1910 and World War II, most law students who earned the SJD/JSD in the United States were Americans preparing to become law professors. However, after World War II, the SJD/JSD fell out of popularity with American law students, but became increasingly more attractive to foreign students seeking proficiency in American law. For example, in the 1950s, 155 American students earned the SJD/JSD, 110 Americans earned it in the 1960s, and only 65 Americans received the degree in the 1970s. But foreign law students earned two-thirds of the American SJD/JSDs in the 1970s. In the 1980s, only 25% of American SJD/JSDs were awarded to American law students. Today, American scholars rarely earn the SJD/JSD.¹⁷ Most scholars who complete the JSD/SJD at American universities are international students seeking employment in their home countries. Many foreign SJD/JSD students are already lawyers in their home countries, and are seeking to further advance their careers.¹⁸

Applicants for the program must have outstanding academic credentials.¹⁹ A professional degree in law (such as a JD) is required, as well as an LLM.²⁰ Exceptions as to the latter condition (i.e., holding an LLM) are seldom—if ever—granted.²¹

The JSD/SJD typically requires three to five years to complete.²¹²² 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.²³

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