A Juris Master, often abbreviated JM, is a graduate-level law degree designed primarily for nonlawyers. It gives students a working understanding of legal systems, regulation, contracts, compliance, and legal risk without preparing them to sit for the bar exam or practice law as attorneys.
The JM is part of a relatively modern category of law school programs created for professionals whose work increasingly overlaps with legal rules. As business, healthcare, finance, education, cybersecurity, and government became more regulated, law schools began offering legal education to people who needed legal literacy but did not need the full attorney-training path of a JD The ABA lists the JM among academic master’s degrees for nonlawyers offered by ABA-approved law schools, while also noting that non-JD Degrees themselves are not individually “approved” by the ABA in the same way the JD program is.
The purpose of a JM is practical. Students learn how law affects decision-making in their field, how to identify legal issues early, and how to communicate more effectively with attorneys. A JM may include courses in legislation, administrative law, compliance, employment law, healthcare law, or business law.
A JM is best for professionals who work around the law but do not want to become lawyers. Common students include executives, compliance officers, HR managers, healthcare administrators, government employees, contract managers, and risk professionals. George Mason, for example, describes its JM as a degree for professionals seeking a deeper understanding of the US legal system and its impact on their work.
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American Bar Association – Non-JD and Post-JD Programs by School