What degrees are offered at Columbia Law School?
Columbia Law School offers three degrees: • The J.D. (Juris Doctor) is the first, post-graduate law degree awarded in the United States. Upon successful completion of the Bar exam, individuals holding the J.D. degree are qualified to practice law in this country. • The LL.M. (Masters of Law) is a one-year program primarily geared toward foreign-trained lawyers who, having already earned their home country’s J.D. equivalent, are interested in studying the American legal system. If you would like to learn more about our LL.M. program, please contact the Office of Graduate Legal Studies directly. • The J.S.D. (Doctor of the Science of Law) is a doctorate degree for which a prior law degree, as well as the submission and oral defense of a dissertation, is required. Admission to the J.S.D. program at Columbia Law School is normally restricted to applicants who desire a career in legal academia. If you would like to learn more about our J.S.D. program, please contact the Office of Graduate L
