Cecily Zamora
If you're interested in pursuing a master's degree in law, you may be wondering if you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree as a prerequisite. The answer depends on the specific program and country you're considering. In the United States, most LLM programs are designed for individuals who already have a first degree in law or are licensed attorneys seeking to practice in a different jurisdiction. However, there are rare exceptions where outstanding applicants with a bachelor's degree or equivalent, demonstrating a strong commitment to a specific cause, may be admitted. On the other hand, a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is tailored for non-lawyer professionals who aim to enhance their legal expertise without intending to practice law. This degree provides working knowledge of the law, enabling professionals to advance in their careers where legal knowledge is advantageous.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Master's in Law without a JD | Master of Studies in Law (MSL) or Master of Legal Studies (MLS) |
| Who is it for? | Those without a background in law who want to move into the profession |
| Who offers it? | Cornell Law School, Northeastern School of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law, University of Iowa, Yale Law School, University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign, and WU Executive Academy in Austria |
| Format | Online and in-class, full-time and part-time |
| Duration | Typically 1 year |
| What it won't do | Allow you to practice law, sit for the bar, or formally represent clients |
| What it will do | Provide a working knowledge of the law, enhance legal expertise, unlock career advancement opportunities, and open doors to different careers |
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What You'll Learn
Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
While obtaining a Juris Doctor (JD) is the most common way to practice law, there are other degrees, including the Master of Studies in Law (MSL), that can help you achieve your career goals in the legal field.
The MSL is a master's degree offered by some law schools to students who wish to study the law but do not want to become lawyers. MSL programs typically last one academic year and put students through a similar curriculum as first-year Juris Doctor students, but with more specialisation options. The MSL degree is designed for non-lawyers who want to gain a deeper understanding of legal principles and their applications in various fields. It is important to note that MSL graduates are not eligible to take the bar exam or become lawyers.
The MSL degree goes by different names across academic institutions, including Master of Science in Law, Master of Legal Studies, Master of Science in Legal Studies, Juris Master, and Master of Jurisprudence. The MSL program does not prepare students for a JD, but rather for applying the law to their industry and professional growth.
The online MSL program offered by Northwestern Pritzker Law, for example, is designed for STEM professionals who wish to advance their careers by deepening their understanding of law and business. The online MSL is part-time and can be completed in two to four years.
The USC Gould School of Law offers MSL students industry-specific certificates and the option to tailor their curriculum to meet their individual goals. The MSL program at USC Gould does not qualify students to sit for the bar exam or become licensed attorneys.
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Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is a non-professional graduate-level academic degree designed for non-lawyers who want to enhance their professional knowledge by providing them with a solid foundation in the law. It is intended for those pursuing academic careers and introduces students to the foundations of the legal system, basic modes of legal argumentation and analysis, legal procedure, and the substantive law of selected areas.
The MLS is a good option for those who want to turn their curiosity about the law into their ability to drive high-level decisions in a variety of industries, including technology, healthcare, media, entertainment, and government. It is not a route to becoming a lawyer, and credits from the MLS cannot be transferred to a JD.
MLS candidates are expected to complete all degree requirements within one academic year and must complete the degree within two consecutive academic years. Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits in courses approved for the MLS degree, including an introduction to the US Legal System. The remaining credits may be selected from a range of courses with the assistance of faculty advisors.
Exceptionally qualified MLS applicants may also apply to participate in the SPILS Program. To obtain the MLS degree, a student must complete four Autumn Quarter Law School courses, three of which must be first-year law student courses, and at least one of which must be Legal Research and Writing, plus an additional 24 approved quarter units of coursework.
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Master of Laws (LLM)
A Master of Laws (LLM) is a specialized degree that's provided by ABA-accredited law schools. It is a master's degree program in law that a Juris Doctor (JD) holder can use to advance their legal knowledge or career. An LLM program usually only lasts a year, unlike a JD degree program which takes three years (full-time) to complete. A practicing lawyer, an academic, or someone who has recently completed a JD program can qualify for an LLM degree program.
An LLM is generally a degree taken after obtaining a first law degree. It assumes a lot of prior legal knowledge, and many who complete LLMs are fully trained lawyers attempting to move jurisdictions. It is unlikely that a program will admit you without an existing law degree. Certain LLM courses may not require a pure legal background but they will require a certain amount of credits in law.
The LLM degree is designed to expand a student's knowledge of the legal process and the law in general. It is a globally recognized degree, and a practicing lawyer who goes on to get an LLM from a top-ranked university increases their value in the job market, thus improving their earning potential. Students with a first degree in law from a foreign university can apply for an LLM degree program in the US. Students in this category can then take the bar exam in certain states. People who don’t have a JD but would like to get an LLM can apply for the program in most law schools, as long as they have an undergraduate degree in Law.
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Juris Doctor (JD)
A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. In most states, you need a JD to sit for the bar. Getting only an LLM won't qualify you to sit for the bar in most states. However, some states may allow this, so it is important to check the rules of your state.
The JD degree is a terminal degree, the highest level of degree you can achieve in the discipline. It is a three-year, full-time, on-campus graduate degree that allows students to sit for a bar exam in a particular state. The degree generally requires three years of full-time study to complete and is conferred upon students who have successfully completed coursework and practical training in legal studies. The curriculum includes fundamental legal subjects such as constitutional law, civil procedure, criminal law, contracts, property, and torts, along with opportunities for specialisation in areas like international law.
In the United States, the JD has the academic standing of a professional doctorate, described as a "doctor's degree – professional practice" by the United States Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. In Australia, South Korea, and Hong Kong, it has the academic standing of a master's degree, while in Canada, it is considered a second-entry bachelor's degree.
To begin a Juris Doctor program, you need to have earned a bachelor's degree, but not necessarily a master's degree. Some accelerated programs allow you to earn your bachelor's and Juris Doctor in six years. Most law schools require you to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) before you can apply.
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LLM vs JD
A Juris Doctor (JD) is the most common way to practice law in the United States. It is a postsecondary law degree that allows you to take a bar exam and practice in the state in which you are licensed. A JD is typically designed to prepare an individual for practising law, and the programming is unified across schools. The curriculum covers general law concepts, basic legal principles, theories, and concepts, and students are expected to study topics such as advanced courses in legal writing and research or civil procedure, and electives such as estates and trusts, international law, and legislation. A JD is awarded after graduating from an ABA-accredited (American Bar Association) law school in the US.
A Master of Laws (LLM) is a specialised degree that is also provided by ABA-accredited law schools. It is a master's degree program in law that a JD holder can use to advance their legal knowledge or career. It is designed to build upon the experience of a JD. An LLM is a secondary degree for lawyers who have passed the bar exam and are interested in a focused, specialised course of study in a specific topic of law. It is a truncated degree designed to get lawyers up to speed with US law so they can take the US bar exam. However, in most states, you need a JD to sit for the bar. An LLM program focuses on more theoretical concerns than a JD program, and LLM programs frequently require a thesis. While a JD program provides the foundational knowledge to practice law, an LLM allows specialisation in a specific area of interest and can open up more job opportunities.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is possible to get a Master's in Law without a JD. There are Master of Law programs that do not require a law degree or the equivalent of a JD. However, it is considered very unusual and certain programs will require a substantial amount of work experience in a law environment.
Some examples of Master's in Law programs that don't require a JD include the Juris Master (J.M.), Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.), Master of Science or Master of Studies (M.S.), and Master of Legal Studies (MLS).
A JD is meant for individuals looking to practice law and become licensed attorneys. A Master's in Law, on the other hand, is designed for working professionals who want to enhance their legal expertise to achieve personal and organizational goals.
