Doctor of Juridical Science
A Doctor of Juridical Science, or a Doctor of the Science of Law , is a terminal research doctorate degree in law that is equivalent to a Ph.D. degree. In most countries, it is the most advanced law degree that can be earned, higher than both a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Laws.
Australia
The SJD is offered by the Australian National University, Bond University, La Trobe University, the University of Canberra, the University of New South Wales, the University of Technology Sydney, and the University of Western Australia.The University of Sydney stopped accepting new applications for an SJD in 2018.
Canada
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.Italy
In Italy, the title of Doctor of Juridical Science is awarded to holders of a Degree in Juridical Sciences, while Magistral Doctor of Juridical Sciences is awarded to holders of a Magistral Degree in Juridical Sciences.Instead, the terminal degree for law, is the research doctorate, awarding the title of Research Doctor.
United States
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. It is the most advanced law degree.Applicants for the program must have outstanding academic credentials. A professional degree in law is required, as well as an LLM. Exceptions as to the latter condition are seldom—if ever—granted.
The JSD/SJD typically requires three to five years to complete. 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.
The JSD/SJD is rarely earned by American scholars. The American Bar Association considers the 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 or American scholars already employed, and who wish to further their legal education at the highest level.