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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 6/3/24
If you’re considering joining the legal field, you’ve likely come across the term “JD.” To learn more about this term, read on! This guide will go over one of the most popular legal degrees pursued, a Juris Doctor program, and how it can be used.
A Juris Doctor (JD) is a three-year professional graduate degree required to become a licensed lawyer. It signifies an advanced level of expertise and specialization as the highest degree that can be achieved in the legal field.
Preparing for your JD will require meticulous groundwork to fulfill the lengthy list of JD requirements and adhere to your desired law school’s application timeline:
Students often spend months of hard work perfecting their applications to ensure they stand out! Along with understanding how to get a JD, it’s also important to consider the salary ranges that come with the degree.
If you have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, your salary can vary quite a bit. The average base salary is around $100,849 per year, but with bonuses and other benefits, it could increase to about $148,054 annually.
Several factors affect your salary: the area of law you specialize in, your location, your experience, and the type of employer. For instance, corporate law tends to pay more than family law.
Salaries are also typically higher in big cities compared to rural areas. More experienced lawyers generally earn more. Finally, private law firms usually offer higher salaries to lawyers with JD credentials than government or nonprofit jobs.
JD graduates can also find opportunities in fields like compliance or consulting, where they can use their legal skills.
You should know what you’re getting yourself into by pursuing a JD! They typically take three arduous years to complete as a full-time student and are incredibly demanding.
However, there are several part-time JD programs that take four years to complete. These programs offer the same curriculums and opportunities as full-time JDs but have more flexibility!
If you need help navigating the process of applying to law school, Our law school admissions consulting services can help.
We tailor our services to enhance your application documents, ensuring they meet the high standards expected by top law schools. From setting up your LSAC application to perfecting your personal statement and preparing for interviews, we're here to help you every step of the way, increasing your likelihood of getting accepted.
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The majority of individuals who complete a Juris Doctor degree go on to work as practicing lawyers. For graduates seeking to practice law within the United States, it's also necessary to gain admission to the Bar in the specific jurisdiction you plan to practice.
The most common legal specialties Juris Doctor candidates pursue are:
Not sure if working as a lawyer is right for you? Our Would I Be a Good Lawyer? quiz might help. This easy-to-use quiz asks a few simple questions to help you understand if law could be a good fit for you. After completing it, you'll get feedback that could guide your decision on pursuing a legal career, whether you're considering a prestigious law school or a local program. Take the quiz to explore your potential in the legal field and gain some clarity on your future.
Many law school graduates choose not to pursue licensure or leverage their degree in different career paths, including:
Lawyers can eventually also become judges without any further education. However, this typically involves over a decade of experience working as an attorney and is a highly revered and selective career.
Some JD holders may choose to become mediators instead of lawyers. Mediators are neutral third parties that help resolve conflicts to reach agreeable settlements.
Jury consultants assist attorneys in identifying and evaluating potential biases, attitudes, and perceptions of prospective jurors. Through careful research and consideration, their goal is to ensure the right and least biased jurors are chosen.
Legal secretaries play an integral role in any law firm by helping with administrative tasks to ensure smooth operation.
While paralegals often only hold degrees or certificates in paralegal studies, JD students are more than qualified to pursue this role. Paralegals work closely with attorneys and provide them with a range of support services.
You may also pursue a teaching career with a JD but will need to obtain higher education to teach at the postsecondary level.
Choosing the right area of law to practice can be tough, but our quiz can help you figure it out. It matches your interests and skills with different legal fields. For example, if you like debating, you might enjoy being a trial lawyer, or if you're into contracts, corporate law could be a good fit.
Just remember, this quiz is a starting point. To get a real feel for what each area of law is like, try doing some internships and talk to lawyers who work in those fields.
While schools offered bachelor’s degrees in law in the past, the main types of law degrees besides a JD are master’s, such as a Master’s of Law (LLM), and doctoral degrees, such as a Doctor or Juridical Science (JSD). These degrees allow students to gain more in-depth knowledge of a specific specialty.
For any remaining inquiries, here are the answers to frequently asked questions about this legal degree.
A JD is unlike any other degree. It is a graduate-level degree that offers you specialized training in law and valuable experience to prepare you for your career. In this way, it can be compared to an MD, as an MD also offers advanced training in medicine and considerable hands-on experience.
But, MD students must also complete residencies to practice medicine. Lawyers can begin practicing right after their JDs, assuming they pass the bar exam!
No, a JD is not equivalent to a PhD. PhDs require research, independent study, and thesis components that JDs do not. While PhD holders are considered doctors, JD holders are not.
No, a JD is much more extensive than a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite to a JD.
Yes, a JD is considered a professional doctorate degree.
Getting into a JD program will be difficult. It will require you to write the LSAT, maintain a high GPA, and submit a standout application to admissions committees that have seen thousands of applications. Once you’re in a JD program, the difficulty will only increase. These programs are also extremely expensive!
Considering these factors, pursuing a career as a lawyer ensures all of this time, effort, and money is not spent in vain. Lawyers are well-paid and can often handle their student debt when working full-time. However, if you pursue another job, such as a mediator, you will not make as much and may struggle with your student loans.
Additionally, you do not need a JD to pursue other legal careers! There are other cheaper and less competitive options that would serve you better.
Bearing in mind the high costs and competitiveness of these programs, it’s essential you carefully consider whether this degree is right for you. After reading this guide, you should be able to make a decision more easily!
