Juris Doctor

noun

Ju·​ris Doctor ˈju̇r-əs- 

: a degree conferred by a law school usually after three years of full-time study

Examples of Juris Doctor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Becerra graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Stanford University and then a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School. — Philip Wang, Time, 2 June 2026

Schlossberg later returned to the States and enrolled at Harvard University, earning both a Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor. — Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025

Nance has a bachelor's degree in economics from Chicago State University, a Juris Doctor with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law and a master's in finance from the University of Iowa College of Business, according to UA. — Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 21 July 2025

Sassoon graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and obtained her Juris Doctor at Yale Law School. — Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, doctor of law

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Juris Doctor

• auctor
• proctor

Legal Definition

juris doctor

noun

ju·​ris doc·​tor

ˈju̇r-əs-ˌdäk-tər

often capitalized J&D

: the lowest degree conferred by a law school usually after three years of full-time study or its equivalent compare master of laws, doctor of laws, doctor of the science of law

Note: The juris doctor replaced the bachelor of laws as the first degree conferred by a law school in 1969. Not all states mention the J.D. or LL.B. specifically as a requirement for admission to the bar, but all states do require graduation from a law school.

Etymology

New Latin, doctor of law