An SJD, or Doctor of Judicial Science, is one of the highest academic degrees in law. It is a research doctorate, typically intended for people who already have strong legal training and want to pursue advanced scholarship.
The SJD has a significant place in the history of American legal education. Harvard Law School describes the SJD as its most advanced law degree, designed for aspiring legal academics who want to pursue sustained independent research and writing. Historical accounts commonly identify Harvard as an early American leader in offering the SJD/JSD research doctorate in the early twentieth century, after which other major law schools adopted similar degrees.
The purpose of the SJD is scholarly rather than professional. Students are expected to produce a substantial dissertation that makes an original contribution to legal scholarship. Unlike the JD, the SJD is not a general practice degree.
The SJD is best for future law professors, legal researchers, international scholars, and lawyers who want to pursue academic careers. Many SJD candidates are foreign-trained lawyers who plan to teach, research, or influence legal development in their home countries or internationally.
Sources
American Bar Association – Non-JD and Post-JD Programs by School