A Juris Doctor, also known as a J.D. or Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, is an advanced law degree that prepares students to practice law in the United States and other countries. This professional degree follows completing a primary degree bachelor’s program and typically takes three years.

A J.D. degree is one of several other law degrees, next to a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D. or D.J.S.) and Legum Doctor (L.L.D.), which is an honorary degree.

Graduates of the course are eligible to take the bar exam in the state where they were educated to become licensed attorneys.