In the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, the degree is an advanced doctorate, usually awarded on the basis of exceptionally insightful and distinctive publications that contain significant and original contributions to the study of law. Some universities, such as the University of Oxford, award a doctorate in civil law instead. In South Africa, the LL.D. is awarded on the basis of research and completion of a thesis; the Doctor of Laws may also be awarded as an honorary doctorate on the basis of contributions to society; see below. There are many doctoral programs that require individual applicants to obtain approval from a faculty member who states that they are willing to be the applicant`s advisor and committee chair for their thesis. This must be achieved before a person applies to the program. In South Africa, the Doctor of Laws is offered in the form of a research doctorate of at least two years,[22] in various specialist areas of law. [23] In general, South African universities offer either the PhD[24][25] or the LLD,[26][27][28] without any significant distinction between them. (At UCT, UKZN and Wits, the PhD is the research PhD, while the LLD is the Advanced PhD; [29] [30] [31] SU and UWC offer the LLD for law graduates and the PhD for other graduates researching a law-related topic). [32] [33] To obtain the degree, at the end of a module in research methodology, the submission of a research proposal and an oral examination, the student will complete a thesis under the supervision of a supervisor. The work will provide evidence of thorough independent research and understanding of the subject and will constitute an original scientific contribution. Admission is usually based on an LLM and, in some cases, an LLB. A Juris Doctor degree is technically a professional doctorate.
But unlike other PhDs, lawyers do not have the title of „doctor.“ Instead, they can use the title „Esquire,“ which is shortened to „Esq.“ and modeled after the lawyer`s name. Some doctoral programs require the student to take courses in additional areas, and other programs do not have this requirement. Almost all programs require the student to write a dissertation that could be published and make a valuable contribution to the legal literature. Most programs require a graduate student to conduct research under the supervision of an academic advisor. A Doctor of Laws degree is the highest level of law offered in the United States. The Doctor of Laws is divided into four general categories, including a Doctor of Laws, a Doctor of Laws, a Doctor of Philosophy, and a Doctorate in Comparative Law. The American Bar Associate states that there are about 20 law schools in the United States that currently offer Juris Doctorates. The majority of programs are exclusive and limit enrollment to one or possibly two exceptional and exceptional candidates per year. Despite its final status, J.S.D./S.J.D.
is rarely won by American scientists. The American Bar Association considers the first J.D. (or LL.B.) to be sufficient academic evidence for the teaching of law. This has been adopted by virtually every U.S. law school, although outstanding academic achievement and an extensive record of legal publications are typically required for tenure-track employment at most universities. Most researchers pursuing J.S.D./S.J.D. at U.S. universities are either international students seeking academic employment in their home country (where a research PhD may be required) or U.S. academics who are already employed and wish to pursue their legal studies at the highest level.
In Malta, the smallest Member State of the European Union, the LL.D. a university degree at doctoral level in law, requiring at least three years of full-time postgraduate study at the University of Malta,[17] the National University of Malta. At least three years of law school were required to enter. Students were required to take courses in a number of fundamental areas of law, as well as submit a dissertation that purports to be „an original document on the approved subject or other contribution to knowledge showing that they have done sufficient research in that area.“ [18] It confers the title of doctor used in Malta to address a holder of the diploma.