Is it JD or JD on resume?
Asked by: Edward Lemke | Last update: November 5, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (15 votes)
When listing your law degree, you may write out Juris Doctor or abbreviate it as J.D. or JD. But remember, your degree is not a “Juris Doctorate”!
How do you write J.D. on a 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.
How to list a J.D. candidate on a resume?
If you acquired a degree which employers might not recognize by its abbreviation, spell out the degree name. For your law degree, you can either list it as “J.D. Candidate” with your expected graduation date, or you can list “J.D.” and the date as “Expected May 20XX.”
How to add J.D. in resume?
Add a job description to the top half of the first page on your resume. Include a suitable amount of relevant experiences. Begin each description with essential information about the job and company. Emphasize accomplishments over work duties.
Should I put J.D. after my name on my resume?
Should I put JD after my name? JD can go after a lawyer's name, but it is usually only used in academic settings. Even though a legal degree is a doctorate, you do not usually address law degree holders as "doctor." Lawyers do not normally put Esq. after their name and many attorneys consider it old-fashioned.
Resume Tips for the JD Application
Do lawyers use JD after their name?
JD is usually only used for academia, like if you were writing an academic paper. It acknowledges that a law degree is a doctorate. It would be unconventional to use JD in any other setting. Esquire or Esq will often appear on business cards or nameplates in offices but again are not used in an everyday setting.
Is a JD higher than a bachelor's degree?
The American law degree, called a Juris Doctor (JD), is a three-year professional degree. Law school applicants must already have a bachelor's degree. It typically takes three years to complete the J.D. degree, after which the graduate must pass the bar exam to practice law.
How do you put J.D. in a title?
"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.
Is J.D. a professional designation?
A Juris Doctor (JD) degree is a professional degree required to practice law.
Does J.D. mean resume?
The term “J.D.” stands for Juris Doctor and is awarded to a person who has received a law degree from an accredited law school. Lawyers will use this title for business purposes. They will have it on their resumes, business cards, letters, emails, etc. J.D. programs typically last three years.
How do you refer to a 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.
Why do people say J.D. candidate?
Between 1964 and 1969, at the encouraging of the American Bar Association, most American law schools (including Marquette) upgraded their basic law degree from the traditional “LL. B.” to “J.D.,” to reflect the by then almost universal postgraduate status of the degree.
How do you address a J.D. in an email?
Nonetheless, the standard courtesy title, which is usually a combination of first and last name followed by 'Esquire' or 'Attorney at Law', should be employed at the beginning of the correspondence. This applies even if the attorney holds a J.D. or any higher level of Juris, that is, a law degree.
What does J.D. stand for in office?
A job description or JD is a written narrative that describes the general tasks, or other related duties, and responsibilities of a position.
Should role description be the same as resume?
If your resume does not match the job description or company culture, you will be at a disadvantage from the start. Being too unclear about projects you've worked on or achievements you've made can make your resume appear full of clutter.
What is the title LLM after a name?
An LLM, or Master of Laws, is a graduate qualification in the field of law.
Is JD above PhD?
Is a JD Equivalent to a PhD? 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.
Is it juris doctor or juris doctorate on resume?
Spell out Degrees: Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts; magna cum laude and summa cum laude are Latin and written in italics with small letters (no capitals).
Are you a lawyer if you have a JD?
Earning a J.D. doesn't make someone a lawyer, but it is the first step in the process to begin practicing as one. Graduates of J.D. programs can sit for the bar examination in their state – upon passing the exam, they can then practice law.
How do I write my JD?
- Job Title.
- Company Bio/Mission.
- Role Summary.
- Role Responsibilities.
- Role Requirements (Must-Have Skills)
- Time/Location.
- Next Steps (How to Apply)
Should you put JD after your name?
It is the opinion of the Committee that there is no impropriety in using the initials J.D. after the name of an attorney holding that degree or the use of the title "Doctor" or both in business or social contacts.
How to write out JD?
Lowercase: bachelor of arts, bachelor's degree, juris doctor, master's degree, honorary doctorate. Abbreviations of two letters should use periods: B.A., M.A., J.D., M.S.
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
Is a JD equivalent to a Masters?
A: No, J.D. is considered a professional doctorate. Interestingly, lawyers in America will first obtain a J.D. and then apply for a master's degree since it allows them to specialize in a certain area of the law.
Can I be a professor with a JD?
Academia. A JD degree-holder can become a teacher or professor. People who follow this career path typically get an LLM instead of sitting for the bar exam. They can further specialize in their preferred field by obtaining a Doctor of Laws (JSD or SJD).