The Washington University Law Juris Scientiae Doctoris (JSD) program is designed for attorneys pursuing a career in academia, policy or scholarly legal research. The JSD program is very small, and it is focused on exceptional candidates with a sophisticated scholarly focus. The JSD degree program requires two years of residency on campus in St. Louis, Missouri, and it typically takes an additional year or more to complete.
For attorneys interested in a broad-based understanding of the U.S. legal system or in developing a specialty in a particular area, please contact our Admissions Office to discuss the LLM programs.
Juris Scientiae Doctoris (JSD)
Year 1 Residency: LLM Course Work
During the first year of the program, students are expected to form their dissertation committee, which is comprised of at least three members. The faculty advisor will serve as the chair of the committee. It is recommended that first-year JSD students enroll in Research Design. JSD students should meet with their advisor to discuss a plan of study and auditing courses. However, course work is not a requirement of the program. By the end of the first year, students are required to have completed a literature review and made any necessary revisions to their proposal.
Year 2 Residency: JSD Research and Dissertation
During the second year of residency in the JSD program, JSD students focus on refining and advancing their dissertation proposals with the assistance of an assigned faculty advisor. The JSD program emphasizes original research and writing that culminates in the preparation of a significant and extensive dissertation of publishable quality. In consultation with the faculty advisor, each JSD student will identify any advantageous additional course work; however, additional course work is not a requirement of the program.
Dissertation
The JSD dissertation should demonstrate not just an awareness of a body of material but also the synthesis of that material into a rigorous, high-quality analysis. It should be a work that, when published, will contribute to the field.
JSD Dissertation Committee: After a student is admitted to the JSD program, the JSD Admissions Committee will appoint a Dissertation Committee. Each Dissertation Committee is made up of at least three members, and the chair of the committee serves as the primary faculty advisor to the JSD candidate.
The dissertation must be completed and accepted by the candidate's Dissertation Committee within five years of matriculation. All JSD candidates will be expected to defend their dissertation vive voce. In extenuating circumstances, a dissertation can also be defended via a videoconference or a similar computer-facilitated meeting.