Doctor of Juridical Science

Doctor of Juridical Science, Doctor of the Science of Law, (in Latin) Scientiae Juridicae Doctor or Juridicae Scientiae Doctor (sometimes also referred to as a Doctor of Laws), abbreviated S.J.D. or J.S.D., respectively, is a research doctorate in law and doctorate equivalent to the Ph.D. It is offered primarily in the United States, where it originated, in Canada and in Australia. As a research doctorate, it follows professional training in law (LL.B. or J.D.) and the first graduate-level training in law (Master of Laws), and is primarily aimed at educating professors, legal scientists, and other scholars in law.

The J.S.D., or S.J.D. is a research doctorate, and as such it is generally accepted as equivalent to the more commonly awarded research doctorate, the Ph.D. It is considered the "terminal degree in law" by Indiana University and as the "most advanced law degree" by Harvard Law School,Yale Law School (J.S.D. Handbook),George Washington University,New York University,Stanford University,UCLA, and Tulane University. The University of Kansas School of Law and Pace University also offer the S.J.D. The National Association of Legal Professionals states that the J.S.D./S.J.D. is "typically the most advanced (or terminal) law degree that would follow the earning of the LL.M. and J.D. degrees." Some law schools, such as Case Western Reserve University and Widener University, offer the S.J.D. in Health Law.

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