DOCTOR IN JURIDICAL SCIENCE S.J.D.
EXPAND YOUR LEGAL EXPERTISE/TRAINING IN MIAMI WITH AN S.J.D.
As the highest degree offered in law, the S.J.D. is a three-year, post-LL.M. degree primarily designed for students interested in careers as legal scholars teaching law outside the United States. It is also intended for individuals who have demonstrated superior scholarly potential and who plan to pursue policy work in research institutes, or are engaged in careers in government service or the judiciary. S.J.D. candidates conduct advanced research and produce original scholarship submitted as a scholarly dissertation under the guidance of the internationally renowned faculty at the University of Miami School of Law.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
An S.J.D. Is a Good Choice for Students Who:
Want to get a doctoral degree in 3 years.
Plan to return to their home country for a long-term career in academia, government, research, or public policy.
ADMISSIONS STANDARDS
Successful Candidates Should: Have already obtained a J.D. or an LL.M. degree from a U.S. law school accredited by the American Bar Association
OR have obtained an LL.M. degree from a non-U.S. law school in a common law country with equivalent standards and degree requirements.
Have demonstrated excellence in English research and writing skills.
Be able to conduct sustained and original academic or professional research at a high intellectual level.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & TIMELINE
The S.J.D. is a 30-credit degree program typically completed in three years.
Year 1 (Required, In-Residence)
S.J.D. Seminar (3 credits each semester)— students take a two-semester course designed to provide the skills necessary to successfully complete their dissertation.
Additional credits of upper-level law courses based upon consultation with the faculty advisor.
Years 2-3 (Required, In-Residence or Remote)
Dissertation Research and Writing (6 credits each semester)
Study in Miami or Remotely—After the first year, students may choose to remain in Miami and can continue to audit classes. Students will be encouraged to participate in the intellectual life of the law school. Whether studying in Miami or remotely, students will receive regular assessments of their progress from their faculty advisor.
Years 4-5 (Optional)
While this is normally a three-year degree, with the faculty advisor’s support, a student may extend their studies and have a maximum of five years to complete the writing of the dissertation.
LL.M. TO S.J.D.
Subject to approval, Miami Law’s LL.M. students may apply to the S.J.D. during their first semester at Miami Law. If admitted, students may be able to reduce the duration of their S.J.D. residency by one semester.
EXPERT FACULTY ADVISORS
Each S.J.D. candidate is appointed a resident faculty advisor who supervises the research, course selection, and progress toward the S.J.D. Miami Law has one of the largest faculty of any U.S. law school teaching and doing research in international law. The size and diversity of the Miami Law faculty allows students to address and engage with global policy issues relating to climate change, migration, trade and finance, dispute resolution, human rights, health, and education.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Elizabeth M. Iglesias, Professor of Law and S.J.D. director, received her B.A. (magna cum laude) from the University of Michigan and a J.D. (with honors) from Yale Law School. Her areas of expertise include Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Law and Political Economy, LatCrit Theory and Philosophy of Law, and International Criminal Law and Procedure.
STUDENT LIFE On Campus
Our graduate students—S.J.D. and LL.M. students—come from cultures representing over 50 different countries each year and S.J.D. students are part of Miami Law’s active, international graduate community. Upon completion of the program, students move into their professional careers having developed strong friendships and connections from around the globe.
In Miami
Miami Law provides an ideal location for students pursuing an S.J.D. degree. Miami is at the pivot point between the Americas and Europe, located in a city fueled by an influx of international ideas. Students not only benefit from the resources of Miami Law and the wider university, but also from the distinctly international intellectual life of the surrounding city.