Master of Laws (LLM) and Juris Doctor (JD) are both graduate-level degrees in the field of law, but they serve different purposes and are typically pursued at different stages of one's legal education and career. While the LLM offers an opportunity for specialised exploration and advanced understanding of specific legal areas, the JD serves as the gateway to legal practice in many jurisdictions.
Purpose
The LLM is a postgraduate degree designed for individuals who already hold a JD or an equivalent law degree such as an LLB and wish to gain expertise in a specific area of law or jurisdiction. LLM programmes are usually one year in length and allow students to focus on a particular area of law, such as tax law, international law, or intellectual property law.
The JD is a professional law degree that is the primary degree required to practise law in the United States and some other countries such as Australia and Canada. It is typically a three-year programme in the United States and includes both foundational and specialised legal education. JD graduates from ABA-approved law schools are eligible to take the bar exam in the state of their choice and become licensed attorneys in that jurisdiction.
Admission Requirements
To enrol in an LLM program, you usually need a JD or its equivalent, which means you must already have a basic legal education. Some LLM programmes may also accept international students with equivalent foreign law degrees such as an LLB. LLM programmes often require applicants to demonstrate a strong interest or background in the specific area of law they wish to study.
To enter a JD programme, you typically need a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, which can be in any subject. Admissions to T14 law schools are highly competitive, and you must take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) for admission to any ABA-approved JD programme in the United States. JD programmes are often the first step in a legal career.
Curriculum
LLM programmes are more specialised, allowing students to dive deep into a specific area of law and take courses related to their chosen field of study. For example, if you are pursuing an LLM in taxation, your coursework would focus primarily on tax-related topics. LLM programmes often have an academic and research-oriented approach, preparing students for careers in academia, research institutions, or policy analysis. LLM programmes are usually shorter in duration compared to JD programmes, typically lasting one year full-time or two years part-time.
JD programmes provide a comprehensive legal education covering a wide range of foundational legal subjects, including constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, torts, property law, and more. In addition to core courses, JD students can choose electives to explore their interests. JD programmes typically take three years full-time or four or more years part-time to complete in the United States, but some law schools offer accelerated two-year full-time JD programmes.
Career Paths
LLM graduates often use their specialised knowledge to enhance their legal careers. They may work in highly specialised areas of law, academia, international organisations, or multinational corporations. Some LLM programmes are designed to help foreign lawyers understand and work within the legal system of another country. An ABA-approved LLM alone is not sufficient for eligibility to take the US bar exam. Nevertheless, it serves as a qualification for foreign lawyers and law graduates to satisfy the eligibility requirement to sit the bar exam in some states.
JD holders can pursue a wide range of legal careers, including litigation, corporate law, public interest law, and more. Graduates with a JD from an ABA-approved law school are eligible to sit the bar exam in any US state of their choice, and upon passing, they can practise law as attorneys, subject to additional requirements, such as the mandatory 50-hour pro bono requirement for admission to practise law in the State of New York.
In summary, an LLM is a postgraduate degree that provides specialised legal expertise while a JD is typically the first step for those aiming to become practicing attorneys. The choice between the two depends on your career goals and where you are in your legal education and career path.
