Wondering if that expensive law degree you’re working toward will make you a “doctor”? You’re not alone. Let’s take an in-depth look at the Juris Doctor (JD) to see if it meets the criteria for a doctorate.
What is the Juris Doctor Degree?
The Juris Doctor or JD is a graduate degree that is mandatory for practicing law in the United States. To enroll in a JD program, you’ll need an accredited bachelor’s degree along with qualifying LSAT exam scores.
JD programs generally take 3 years of full-time intensive study to complete. During this time, you’ll take specialized courses in key legal topics like constitutional law, contracts, civil procedure and criminal law. You‘ll also develop core skills in legal research, writing, analysis and oral argument.
JD curriculum across the 200+ accredited law schools is comparable, though areas of specialty may differ. Experiential learning is also emphasized – most JD candidates participate in clinics, externships and simulations to gain real legal experience.
Upon completing the JD program, you must pass the bar exam to qualify for a license to practice law. Each state has its own exam assessing competence. The exams are notoriously difficult – just 60% of graduates pass on their first attempt.
How the JD Compares to a PhD
Let‘s examine some key differences between the Juris Doctor and the iconic doctorate degree – the Doctor of Philosophy or PhD:
Time Investment
- JD: 3 years full-time
- PhD: 4-7 years depending on specialty
The JD allows entry into the legal job market more quickly.
Rigor and Coursework
The JD entails rigorous legal study similar to the PhD‘s academic intensity. But the focus differs:
JD Courses: Contracts, civil procedure, evidence, constitutional law
PhD Courses: Research methodology, literature reviews, specialty seminars
Dissertations
- JD: No dissertation required
- PhD: Multi-year original research dissertation mandatory
While impactful, the JD thesis doesn‘t equal a PhD dissertation‘s depth.
Career Focus
- JD: Prepares for legal practice
- PhD: Readies for research/academia roles
So you can see that while the JD isn‘t the same as a PhD, it matches or exceeds it in some vital areas.
The JD as a Professional Doctorate
Is the JD considered an academic doctorate like the PhD then? Not quite. The U.S. Department of Education categorizes the JD as a "first-professional degree" instead.
Professional doctorates like the JD, MD, PharmD, etc. have some shared criteria:
- Extensive coursework in a specialty area
- Development of skills needed for professional practice
- Intensive training for licensure/credentials
- Less focus on research compared to academic doctorates
So while the JD is more practice-oriented than research-based, it still retains "professional doctorate" status due to its rigor, duration and career impact.
Use of the Title "Doctor"
What about that coveted "doctor" title – can JD holders claim it? Traditionally lawyers have been addressed as "Doctor" in legal and court settings. So while uncommon in social contexts, JD graduates do have grounds to assert the title in appropriate professional spheres.
State bars also occasionally restrict "doctor" usage to prevent confusion with medical doctors. But in general, JD holders can deformally claim the title "doctor" – reinforcing the degree‘s professional doctorate status.
Statistics on US Law Schools and Careers
Let‘s run some numbers to evaluate how the JD‘s requirements and career outlook stack up against typical doctorate metrics.
Law School Enrollment and Costs
- Over 200 accredited law schools in the US
- Over 110,000 JD students as of 2021
- Average annual JD program tuition – $32,264 (public) – $52,535 (private)
So there‘s heavy demand for law degrees despite rising education costs.
Bar Exam Difficulty and Law Jobs Outlook
Only 60% of graduates pass their state bar exam to practice law on the first try. And competition for law occupations is projected to grow 7% from 2020-2030 – faster than average compared to other jobs.
Strong demand for legal services ensures JD holders have abundant career options upon licensure.
Lawyer Salaries
The median lawyer salary is over $126,930 in the US. However, pay can range from
$58,920 for public defenders to $208,000 or more for lawyers with in-demand specializations in fields like patents or mergers & acquisitions.
So JD-required law occupations clearly offer superior earning potential compared to many doctoral careers in academia.
Is the Time, Money and Effort Worth It?
Given the stats on rigorous curriculum, bar exam difficulty, career prospects and lawyer pay, the JD certainly seems to meet the thresholds for a professional doctorate.
You invest similar – or longer – durations studying for a JD versus a PhD. You also complete qualifying examinations for licensure to demonstrate similar competencies.
Upon graduation, both JD and PhD holders also refer to themselves as “doctors” in formal settings.
So while it may not seem an "academic" doctorate, the JD‘s merits rival traditional PhD doctorates. When you complete those long hours reading case law and pass the dreaded bar, you‘ve definitely earned the right to call your degree a doctorate too!
Sources:
American Bar Association: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm
Law School Transparency: https://data.lawschooltransparency.com/costs/tuition/