How do you write a law degree after your name?
Asked by: Ms. Theresia Lemke I | Last update: December 30, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (17 votes)
"J.D." stands for Juris Doctor — also known as a law degree. You may encounter the term "J.D." after someone's name in a resume, CV, or in an academic paper. Similar to other academic suffixes like "Ph. D." or "M.D.," a J.D. indicates that the titleholder has completed law school.
What do lawyers write after their name?
"Esquire" applies to all genders and appears after an individual's name, often abbreviated as "Esq."Example: Natasha Parks, Esq. Read more: Attorney vs. Lawyer: What Are the Differences?
Is it a JD or JD degree?
A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States, it is the only qualifying law degree.
Can you put LLB after your name?
Holders of this qualification are permitted to use the letters LLB (Hons) (Open) after their names.
How do you put JD after your name?
How do you write JD LLM after a name? Use abbreviations without periods—such as AB, BA, MA, MS, MBA, JD, LLB, LLM, DPhil, and PhD—when the preferred form is cumbersome. Use the word degree after the abbreviation. Example: Louise has a JD degree from California Western School of Law.
What are you going to do after your law degree?
Is JD a title or suffix?
"J.D." stands for Juris Doctor — also known as a law degree. You may encounter the term "J.D." after someone's name in a resume, CV, or in an academic paper. Similar to other academic suffixes like "Ph. D." or "M.D.," a J.D. indicates that the titleholder has completed law school.
When to use JD or Esq?
Esq. stands for Esquire and is added to a lawyer's name once they pass the bar exam. J.D. stands for Juris Doctor, which is earned by graduating from law school. Someone given the title of J.D. has received a law degree but cannot practice law because they're not a bar member.
Is LLB higher than JD?
An LLB degree is the first step to becoming a practicing solicitor or barrister, the titles for lawyers in the United Kingdom and several other countries. Upon completion of the LLB, a graduate can apply for a Master of Laws (LLM), the equivalent of the JD degree in the United States.
Which comes first JD or LLM?
LawyerEDU defines the JD "as the initial, postsecondary law degree necessary to sit for the bar examination and practice as a lawyer in a US jurisdiction," and the LLM as "a secondary degree for lawyers who have achieved their JD and passed the bar exam, and who are interested in a focused, specialized course of study ...
How do I write my qualifications after my name?
- Civil honours.
- Military honours.
- Appointments (e.g. MP, QC)
- Higher Education awards (in ascending order, commencing with undergraduate)
- Membership of academic or professional bodies.
Is a JD closer to a Masters or Phd?
4. Is a JD a Doctorate? Yes, a JD is considered a professional doctorate degree.
How to put JD in email signature?
Include your first name, middle name (if applicable), and last name to provide a professional and complete identification. You may also want to include your professional credentials or qualifications, such as “JD” (Juris Doctor), “LLM” (Master of Laws), or “Esq” (Esquire), after your name. However, this is optional.
How do you abbreviate a law degree?
Bachelor of Laws (abbreviated as LL. B., LLB, or rarely Ll. B.) is an undergraduate law degree.
What do you call a person with a law degree?
The titles JD and Esq. both refer to someone who has completed law school. JD stands for Juris Doctor, and signifies that someone has completed law school and earned their JD degree. Esq. stands for Esquire and is an honorary title that typically signifies someone has both completed law school and passed the bar exam.
Should I put JD after my name on my resume?
Style: Be consistent within categories and abbreviations: if one position title is in bold caps, put all position titles in bold caps or if you use J.D. instead of Juris Doctor (Do NOT use “Juris Doctorate”), use B.A., M.B.A. or Ph. D. Italics are used for degree designations, such as magna cum laude.
What initials go after a lawyer?
The term esquire, often abbreviated Esq., often appears at the end of an attorney's name.
Is JD higher than LLM?
While a JD program provides the foundational knowledge you need to practice law, an LLM allows you to specialize in your specific area of interest and distinguish yourself in the legal market. Since an LLM allows you to dig deeper into specialized subject matter, it can also open up more job opportunities.
Can you practice law with a JD?
As a whole, the JD degree is a crucial credential for anyone who seeks to practice law or progress in the legal profession. It imparts a sturdy foundation in legal theory and practical skills and is often a prerequisite for admission to the bar and obtaining a license to practice law.
Can I do LLM without JD?
If you're an American or Canadian student, to pursue an LLM, you'll need to already have a JD degree. International students who want to pursue an LLM are required to have earned a first professional degree in law, such as a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or an equivalent credential that permits entry into legal practice.
What letters go after a lawyer's name?
Esq. “Esq.” often succeeds an attorney's name.
Why did LLB become JD?
“Between 1964 and 1969, at the encouraging of the American Bar Association, most American law schools … upgraded their basic law degree from the traditional” LLB to JD “to reflect the (by then) almost-universal postgraduate status of the degree,” according to a 2012 blog post from the Marquette University Law School.
What degree do most lawyers have?
Juris Doctor (JD)
A Juris Doctor degree is the required legal degree for professionals who are pursuing a career as a practicing attorney.
Does JD mean you are a lawyer?
A Juris Doctor (JD) degree is a professional degree required to practice law.
Is an attorney more powerful than a lawyer?
It is helpful to remember that all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys. The major difference is that attorneys can represent clients in court and other legal proceedings, while lawyers cannot.
How do you write juris doctor after name?
My nitpicky short answer is, “Just use JD."