Which PhD is best after LLM?

Asked by: Tomasa Ernser  |  Last update: March 10, 2026
Score: 5/5 (51 votes)

The "best" PhD after an LLM depends on your career goals: for academia and deep legal research, a traditional PhD in Law (like a SJD/JSD) focusing on your specialization (e.g., Public International Law, Business Law, Human Rights) is ideal; for a tech/business-oriented career, consider PhDs in Computer Science, Information Science, or related fields if interested in AI/LLMs, or an Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) for practical, industry-focused legal/business research.

Which degree is best after LLM?

Top 10 Career Opportunities After Master of Law (LL. M) in 2025

  • Corporate Lawyer. Corporate law is one of the most lucrative fields for LL. ...
  • Legal Advisor. ...
  • Judge or Judicial Services. ...
  • Legal Researcher. ...
  • Professor or Academic Career. ...
  • International Lawyer. ...
  • Public Prosecutor. ...
  • Policy Maker / Legal Consultant in Government.

Which PhD is most in demand?

The most in-demand PhD degrees are heavily concentrated in STEM fields, particularly Computer Science (AI, Data Science, Cybersecurity), Engineering, and Health Sciences (Pharmacy, Nursing Practice, Public Health), alongside Economics, due to strong industry demand, high salaries, and rapid growth in innovation sectors like tech and healthcare. Professional doctorates in fields like Law and Health Sciences also offer excellent return on investment (ROI). 

What is the next step after LLM?

Small language models

As noted above, an SLM is like an LLM but is trained on a smaller set of data. In general, bigger is better when it comes to training data, especially if you want to create a model that can support a wide range of use cases -- as most LLMs do.

Which LLM is most in demand?

Top 10 LLM Specializations in Demand in 2025 – Scope, Salary & Career Opportunities

  • LLM in International Law.
  • LLM in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
  • LLM in Human Rights Law.
  • LLM in Environmental Law.
  • LLM in Cyber Law / Technology Law.
  • LLM in Taxation Law.
  • LLM in Arbitration, Mediation & Dispute Resolution.

Things about a PhD nobody told you about | Laura Valadez-Martinez | TEDxLoughboroughU

29 related questions found

Which branch of LLM is best?

The best LLM specializations in India include corporate law, intellectual property, technology law, and human rights law, among others. Whether you aspire to be a corporate lawyer, a human rights advocate, or a tax consultant, the right LLM specialization can help you achieve your professional dreams.

What is the biggest problem with LLM?

The Predominant Challenges of Implementing LLMs

  • LLM Cost Efficiency. The cost of deploying and maintaining LLMs is a significant hurdle for many enterprises. ...
  • Accuracy of LLM Outputs. Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated content is crucial. ...
  • Currentness. ...
  • Enterprise Context Awareness. ...
  • Safety.

Can I take the bar after an LLM?

degree in American Law does not guarantee eligibility to take a bar examination. It is the responsibility of the LL. M. student to familiarize him/herself with the requirements of the bar exam he/she wishes to take.

What's better than LLMs?

SLMs are more efficient than LLMs for certain tasks because they have fewer parameters. They are trained on focused, high-quality datasets designed for specific domains or workflows. This smaller design means they need less computing power, memory, and storage.

Does LLM make you a lawyer?

No, an LLM (Master of Laws) doesn't make you a lawyer on its own; it's a postgraduate specialization for those who already have a law degree (like a JD in the U.S.) or for foreign-educated lawyers to gain U.S. qualifications, but you still need to pass the bar exam to practice. The standard path to becoming a lawyer in the U.S. involves a JD degree, followed by bar admission, while an LLM offers deeper expertise in areas like tax or international law, making you more competitive or eligible to take the bar in specific cases. 

What is the quickest PhD to get?

The shortest PhDs are often found in professional fields like Education (EdD) or Business (DBA) and can be completed in as little as 1-2 years through accelerated online programs or portfolio-based routes for experienced professionals, bypassing traditional lengthy research with a dissertation in favor of practical projects or existing work. While a standard PhD typically takes 4-7 years, specialized programs in areas like Healthcare Administration, Organizational Leadership, or specific online EdD tracks offer faster paths by leveraging prior experience and structured coursework. 

Which PhD pays the highest?

13 of the Highest-Paying Doctoral Degrees

  1. Systems Engineering. ...
  2. Economics. ...
  3. Electrical, Electronics, Communications Engineering. ...
  4. Information Science and Studies. ...
  5. Mechanical Engineering. ...
  6. Computer and Information Sciences (General) ...
  7. Computer and Information Technology Administration and Management.

Which PhD is the toughest?

The hardest PhDs to get often involve highly competitive, mathematically intensive, or research-heavy fields like Pure Mathematics, Theoretical Physics (Quantum, String Theory), Astrophysics, Computer Science (Theory), Neuroscience, and top-tier Engineering (EE, Aerospace), with the MD-PhD dual degree being exceptionally tough due to its extreme length (7-9 years) and rigorous, combined medical/research demands. Difficulty also stems from market saturation (like Physics/Astronomy) or abstract conceptual depth (Philosophy, Humanities), making acceptance highly luck-dependent and completion demanding immense dedication and unique skills. 

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
 

What is an LLM degree salary?

Llm Salary in Los Angeles, CA

The median wage is $156.1K / yr. $152.2K - $162K. 17% of jobs. $171.1K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.

What jobs can you do with LLM?

Depending on the specialist field of law which you have studied in your LLM, you will be able to consider career opportunities relevant to this area of law. Examples include: Insurance • IT • Finance • Banking • Ship financing • The UN • The World Health Organisation.

Will LLMs replace lawyers?

“The tools actually are not there to basically substitute [for] your lawyer,” says Afra Feyza Akyurek, the lead author of the paper. “Even though a lot of people think that LLMs have a good grasp of the law, it's still lagging behind.”

Which 3 jobs will survive AI?

While AI will transform many roles, jobs requiring high-level creativity, complex problem-solving, and human connection, like AI Specialists/Programmers, Energy Experts, and Biologists/Healthcare Professionals, are predicted to remain crucial, focusing on AI development, global energy transitions, and scientific breakthroughs, respectively. These roles demand human intuition, adaptability, and ethical judgment beyond current AI capabilities, though AI will serve as a powerful tool within them, notes Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. 

Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
 

Is an LLM higher than a JD?

Neither an LLM nor a JD is inherently "higher," but they serve different purposes: a JD (Juris Doctor) is the fundamental, primary degree needed to become a lawyer and practice law in the U.S., while an LLM (Master of Laws) is a secondary, specialized degree for those who already hold a JD (or foreign law degree) and want advanced knowledge in a specific area like tax or environmental law, often for career advancement. Think of the JD as the entry ticket to the legal profession and the LLM as a specialization for existing legal professionals. 

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?

No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in July 2025, a result she publicly shared in November 2025, vowing to keep studying despite the setback, but she has previously passed the "Baby Bar" exam after multiple attempts and plans to retake the main bar exam. She revealed her failed attempt on her show The Kardashians, showing emotional moments from her preparation and disappointment, and emphasized her determination to pass.
 

Is LLM bad at math?

This nuance underscores their tendency to replicate statistical patterns instead of performing the step-by-step procedures that come naturally to a human. LLMs often make arithmetic mistakes, produce flawed proofs, or get stumped by problems that specialized math software handles easily.

What is the 30% rule in AI?

The 30% rule in AI is a practical framework that says you should start by automating roughly 30% of your repetitive tasks—the ones that eat up time but don't require human creativity or judgment. This focused approach delivers the biggest ROI while avoiding the chaos of trying to automate everything at once.

What are LLMs not good at?

While LLMs are good at understanding and generating sentences, they're not great at solving complex problems. For example, if you ask an LLM to solve a multi-step math problem or a puzzle, it might get confused and make mistakes along the way.