What is a juris doctor degree?

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5 key takeaways about the juris doctor degree

A juris doctor (J.D.) is the standard law degree in the U.S. and is required to become a licensed attorney.
Earning a J.D. typically takes 3 years of full-time law school after completing a bachelor’s degree.
The curriculum includes foundational law courses, electives, legal writing, and hands-on experience like clinics or internships.
After graduation, most J.D. holders must pass the bar exam to practice law.
J.D. graduates can become attorneys, judges, policymakers, business leaders, or work in academia.

What is a juris doctor degree?

Think of a J.D. like your ticket to the courtroom—or wherever law and policy decisions get made. The juris doctor degree is a professional graduate degree that prepares you to practice law in the U.S. It’s the main degree you need if you want to become a lawyer. In fact, most people can’t even sit for the bar exam without it.

In Latin, juris doctor literally means “teacher of law.” In practice, it means you’ve spent three intense years diving deep into legal theory, learning how to think like a lawyer, and developing the skills needed to advocate, argue, negotiate, and interpret the law.

How do I get a J.D.?

You can’t jump straight from high school into a J.D. program. First, you need a bachelor’s degree in any major—there’s no specific pre-law requirement. Then, you’ll take the LSAT (or sometimes the GRE), apply to law schools, and once accepted, begin your J.D. journey.

To get into a good program, you’ll want:

A strong GPA
A solid LSAT score
Compelling letters of recommendation
A personal statement that shows your passion and goals

To find law schools that fit you best, try using Scout College Search.

What will I study in law school?

Law school is no joke. In your J.D. program, you’ll usually spend the first year (1L) covering core subjects that every lawyer should know:

Civil Procedure
Contracts
Constitutional Law
Criminal Law
Property
Torts
Legal Research and Writing

In your second and third years (2L and 3L), you can tailor your schedule to your interests. You might choose electives like immigration law, corporate law, environmental law, or intellectual property. You can also join legal clinics, internships, mock trial teams, and law journals.

Degree requirements for a J.D.

Every law school has its own graduation checklist, but here’s what most expect:

Complete about 85–90 credit hours.
Take a mix of required and elective courses.
Participate in practical experiences (like externships or clinics).
Pass a writing requirement.
Maintain a minimum GPA.

Most students graduate with a J.D. after three years full-time or four years part-time.

What is the bar exam?

Graduating with a JD doesn’t make you a lawyer just yet. To practice law, you’ll need to pass the bar exam in the state where you plan to work.

The bar exam is a multi-day test that includes:

Multistate Bar Exam (MBE): multiple-choice questions
Multistate Essay Exam (MEE): written responses
Multistate Performance Test (MPT): real-world lawyering tasks

After you pass, you still need to meet your state’s character and fitness requirements before you’re officially licensed.

How long does it take—and how much does it cost?

Let’s be real: A J.D. is a serious investment of time and money.

Time:

4 years of undergrad
3 years of law school
= about 7 years total

Cost:
Law school tuition varies widely. Average annual tuition ranges from around $30,000 to $55,000, depending on whether your school is public or private, and if you're paying in-state or out-of-state rates. That doesn’t include books, housing, or fees.

To help cover the cost, explore Law School Scholarships and tools like Scholly Scholarships.

What's the difference between the J.D. and other law degrees?

The J.D. is the most common law degree, but not the only one. Here's how the J.D. compares to the other law degrees out there:

Juris Doctor (J.D.): Required to take the bar exam and practice law in the U.S.
Master of Laws (LL.M.): For international lawyers or U.S. lawyers who want to specialize further. Not required to practice.
Master's in Legal Studies (MLS): For non-lawyers who want legal knowledge for careers in business, compliance, or human resources.

Bottom line: If you want to be a lawyer, the J.D. is the way to go.

What’s the difference between a J.D. and a master’s in legal studies?

It’s easy to get confused here. A master's in legal studies (MLS) or master of jurisprudence is usually a 1–2 year program for people who work in law-adjacent careers (like compliance or policy) but don’t want to practice law.

Key differences:

An MLS does not qualify you to sit for the bar.
A J.D. is longer and more rigorous.
J.D. holders are trained to argue cases and advise clients, while MLS grads are trained to understand legal systems and work alongside attorneys.

Bottom line: An MLS gives you legal fluency; a J.D. gives you legal authority.

What career paths can I pursue with a J.D.?

A J.D. opens doors beyond the courtroom. Yes, you can become a lawyer, but you can also work in:

Corporate law or in-house legal teams
Public interest or nonprofit law
Government or regulatory agencies
Politics or public policy
Academia or legal education
Startups or entrepreneurship

Some J.D. grads don’t even take the bar. They go into business, consulting, journalism, or tech—fields where deep legal understanding is a major asset.