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Law vocabulary · Legal Professions

JD

Meaning in law, with examples

/ˌdʒeɪ ˈdiː/abbreviationCommon term

In law, JD means: Short for Juris Doctor, the main professional law degree in the United States, taken after a first university degree and usually lasting three years.

In Turkish: Juris Doctor, ABD hukuk diploması

How it is used

Most US states require a JD from an approved law school before you can take the bar exam. It is written after a name or on a CV. Although the name contains 'Doctor', it is not a research doctorate like a PhD.

Example sentences

  1. She earned her JD in 2019 and joined a litigation firm in Chicago.

  2. Unlike in Turkey, students in the US start a JD only after finishing a bachelor's degree.

Common collocations

  • earn a JD
  • JD degree
  • JD program
  • JD candidate
  • LLBShort for Bachelor of Laws, the standard undergraduate law degree in the UK and many other countries.
  • LLMShort for Master of Laws, a postgraduate law degree, often one year long, that lawyers take to specialise in an area or to study abroad.
  • barThe legal profession as a whole, especially lawyers who are allowed to argue in court; in the UK it means barristers as a group.
  • attorneyA lawyer, especially in the United States, who is licensed to advise clients and represent them in court; more generally, a person allowed to act for someone else.

More terms: Legal Professions

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.