But seriously: the JD is an American 3-year post-graduate degree earned from a law school that is generally (though not always, it varies by state) a prerequisite for sitting for the Bar. It is not a real doctorate and attorneys who ask to be called "doctor" for having it are considered gauche.

April 10, 2026 - 14:38 UTC

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This reminds me, I've always wondered if there is/could be a law degree that focuses on public service jobs (immigration, juvenile delinq & depend, etc) that could be a more affordable for folks interested in these areas.
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The problem is that people will PAY for a law degree and so schools CHARGE for them. They become revenue centers. Also, I wouldn’t expect to see any expansions in those fields until at least 2029.
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There are, I believe, American programs that offer Masters and Doctorate tracks in Law, which are academically oriented and don't qualify you to practice law in the US. The latter do allow you to call yourself a "doctor of law" without the Bar frowning.

The rest of the world does this differently.
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