What is a JD or LLM in the US?
Asked by: Dr. Jessy Durgan | Last update: August 22, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (11 votes)
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 ...
Is an LLM higher than a JD?
1. Is JD Higher Than LLM? No, an LLM is a master's program, so it's more advanced and usually requires a JD or equivalent law degree.
What is the US equivalent of an LLM?
The Master of Laws (LL. M.) is a post-graduate law degree offering students an opportunity to obtain advanced legal education in specialized areas of law. For students with J.D. degrees from a U.S. law school, the LL. M.
What is LLM called in USA?
A Master of Laws (M.L. or LL. M.; Latin: Magister Legum or Legum Magister) is an advanced postgraduate academic degree, pursued by those either holding an undergraduate academic law degree, a professional law degree, or an undergraduate degree in a related subject.
What is the JD equivalent in the US?
JDs are considered equivalent to LLBs, and graduates must meet the same requirements to qualify, including undergoing a practical training.
What Is the Difference Between a JD Degree, LLM Degree, and Master of Legal Studies?
What is a LLM in law?
An LLM, or Master of Laws, is a graduate qualification in the field of law. The LLM was created for lawyers to expand their knowledge, study a specialized area of law, and gain international qualifications if they have earned a law degree outside the U.S. or Canada.
Is a JD comparable to a PhD?
Because a JD is a professional degree intended to prepare you to practice law, while a PhD is an academic degree intended to prepare you to do cutting edge research. Lawyers do some research, but it consists of examining previous legal decisions to see if they are relevant to the case at hand.
What is the salary of LLM in USA?
How much does a Llm make? As of Jan 18, 2025, the average annual pay for the Llm jobs category in the United States is $142,663 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $68.59 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,743/week or $11,888/month.
Is a LLM a judge?
“LLM as a judge” refers to the use of LLMs to evaluate or assess various types of content, responses, or performances, including the performance of other AI models. For example, using LLMs as judges for evaluating AI model accuracy, automating grading in education contexts, content moderation, or benchmarking.
Can you get LLM without JD?
Technically, you can pursue an LLM degree without ever earning your JD. That's only possible, however, if you're an international student who studied law outside of the U.S. “You have to have what we call a first law degree. In the U.S., your basic first law degree is the JD, so you do need it to get your LLM.
Are you a lawyer with an LLM?
An LLM will provide you with advanced training in law, but it doesn't qualify you as a licensed lawyer. A JD prepares you for legal practice by teaching you everything you need to pass the bar exam and be an effective lawyer. An LLM is more theoretical than a J.D.
Is an LLM prestigious?
Holding an LLM from a top university could significantly lift your earning potential as well as your chances of getting that fabulous promotion or job offer from a top firm once you are more settled.
How many years is an LLM in USA?
It has a duration of 1-2 years, and many reputed US universities and colleges, including the University of Chicago, Harvard Law School, Stanford University, and Yale University offer it.
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 ...
Is a JD degree a lawyer?
What is the difference between a lawyer and a Juris Doctor? The difference between a lawyer and a JD is that a lawyer has passed the Bar Exam and is now licensed to legally practice law in the state where they passed it. At the same time, a JD is a person who has completed law school and earned a Juris Doctor degree.
Do you need LSAT for LLM?
LLM applicants are lucky not to have to take this test as it is a challenging exam that requires great preparation. Many students take the LSAT twice or even three times in an attempt to improve their score. Most LLM applicants will have to take the TOEFL test, which tests reading, writing, and comprehension.
Can an LLM take the bar?
Enrollment in an LLM degree does not guarantee that you will be eligible to take a U.S. bar exam or practice law in the United States. You should review the requirements set by each state in which you wish to sit for the exam.
Is a JD better than an 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 a JD be a judge?
Not every type of judgeship requires that you get a law degree and become a lawyer. But if you want to qualify to become a judge in a higher court, you must attend an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school and get a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. A full-time J.D. degree program takes three years to complete.
Is LLM worth it in USA?
However, a lot of employers, the vast majority in fact, simply don't give the degrees much weight. The reason has to do with the practice of law vs. the study of law. In short, an LLM doesn't offer much of anything that you can't just pick up from day-to-day legal practice.
Can LLM practice law in the US?
Completion of the LLM degree in itself does not guarantee eligibility to take a bar examination. In some states, including New York, California, and Louisiana, the completion of an LLM degree along with certain other criteria will allow attorneys with a non-U.S. law degree to sit for the bar exam.
Can a JD call themselves a doctor?
Committee has held that the use of the J.D. is proper, and the use of the title "Doctor" is proper in reputable law lists, on academic occasions and in academic circles when in accordance with the customs of the school and when dealing with lawyers and others abroad in countries in which lawyers are referred to as " ...
What is higher than a Juris Doctor?
Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
A Doctor of Juridical Science degree is considered the highest level of a law degree and is designed for professionals who are looking to gain an advanced legal education after earning their JD and LLM.
How difficult is law school?
Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.