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Exploring Law Degrees Other than and Beyond the JD: Pathways for Students Interested in Law and Justice

Choosing a career connected to the law doesn’t always mean becoming an attorney. There are a wide range of graduate degrees available, some designed for practicing lawyers and others built for professionals who want to understand legal systems without stepping into a courtroom. For students interested in justice, policy, advocacy, or compliance work, these programs can open doors to meaningful careers that don’t require a Juris Doctor (JD).

Below is a guide to the most common law-related graduate degrees other than the JD, as well as some that go beyond the JD, what they offer, and who typically pursues them.

Master of Jurisprudence (MJ or M.Jur.)

Who it’s for:
Students and professionals who want to understand legal issues in their fields but do not want to become licensed attorneys.

What you’ll learn:
MJ programs introduce the fundamentals of legal reasoning, regulatory systems, and core areas of law. Students may pursue concentrations such as:

  • Employment and labor law
  • Corporate compliance
  • Health law
  • Education law
  • Criminal justice policy

Career impact:
Graduates often work in HR, healthcare administration, government agencies, school districts, or compliance-focused roles where understanding the law leads to better decisions and stronger leadership.

Master of Legal Studies (MLS) or Master of Studies in Law (MSL)

Who it’s for:
Non-lawyers seeking a solid grounding in legal concepts relevant to their professions.

What you’ll learn:
The MLS/MSL covers foundational legal subjects—contracts, regulations, ethics, administrative law, and legal writing—without the professional obligations of a JD. Many programs offer flexible formats and specialized tracks such as:

  • Public policy
  • Environmental regulation
  • Cybersecurity and privacy
  • Social justice
  • Intellectual property concepts for non-lawyers

Career impact:
Professionals in business, nonprofits, government, education, and technology use the MLS/MSL to improve their ability to interpret laws, collaborate with attorneys, and navigate complex regulatory environments.

Master of Laws (LLM)

Who it’s for:
Lawyers who already hold a JD

What you’ll learn:
An LLM provides advanced training in a specialized legal area. Popular options include:

  • Environmental or natural resources law
  • Human rights and humanitarian law
  • International business law
  • Intellectual property and technology law
  • Taxation

Career impact:
LLM graduates deepen their expertise, expand their career options, and meet eligibility requirements for certain U.S. bar exams.

Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD or SJD)

Who it’s for:
Existing lawyers seeking the highest academic credential in law, similar to a PhD.

What you’ll learn:
JSD/SJD students conduct original, in-depth legal research and produce a dissertation. Programs often include teaching opportunities and close mentoring from faculty scholars.

Career impact:
Graduates often become university professors, legal researchers, policy analysts, or advisors in government agencies, think tanks, and NGOs.

Doctor of Juridical Studies (JJD)

Who it’s for:
Lawyers pursuing a terminal research doctorate in law.

What you’ll learn:
Available at only a few institutions, the JJD mirrors the JSD/SJD format—advanced coursework, rigorous research, and a dissertation focused on complex legal issues.

Career impact:
Ideal for those interested in academic careers, public policy leadership, or high-level legal research.

Which Degree Is Right for You?

If you’re curious about law but unsure whether law school is the right path, degrees like the MJ and MLS offer legal literacy without requiring bar licensure. Students planning to become attorneys may gravitate toward advanced programs like the LLM, JSD/SJD or JJD.

Each program supports different goals, from strengthening your career in compliance or public policy to preparing for global practice or academic research. Thinking about a future related to law, justice, or policy—even if you’re not planning to become a lawyer—opens up a world of possibilities.

JD Advantage

In the legal profession, the traditional career trajectory for most law school graduates typically involves passing the bar, working as an attorney at a law firm, becoming a public defender or prosecutor, or serving as corporate in-house counsel. However, as the legal landscape continues to evolve, a growing number of law graduates are pursuing JD Advantage jobs, which provide career opportunities that leverage the skills gained in law school without requiring bar admission or practicing law in a traditional sense.

These roles offer law school graduates an exciting and diverse range of professional opportunities while capitalizing on their legal training.

What is a JD advantage? JD Advantage (or “Juris Doctor Advantage”) jobs are positions that do not require a law license or the direct practice of law but where a Juris Doctor (JD) degree provides a distinct advantage. These roles draw on the critical thinking, problem-solving, negotiation, and research skills that law graduates acquire, while allowing them to work in areas adjacent to the legal field or in entirely different industries.

Such jobs can be found across a wide array of industries, including compliance, human resources, consulting, government affairs, risk management, contract management, and even tech. JD Advantage jobs often come with similar earning potential and career growth opportunities as traditional law firm positions, making them an appealing option for law graduates who wish to explore non-traditional career paths.

Key Characteristics of JD Advantage Jobs

No Bar Admission Required: These positions do not require passing the bar exam or a legal license, though having a JD degree is beneficial.

Diverse Career Fields: JD Advantage jobs are found in numerous sectors including business, finance, healthcare, education, and government. This allows law graduates to pursue roles aligned with their personal interests and skills.

Application of Legal Knowledge: While these roles may not involve practicing law directly, they often benefit from a candidate’s legal education, particularly when it comes to understanding regulations, contracts, or legal risk management.

JD Advantage careers span a broad range of industries and roles. Some of the most common examples include:

Compliance Officer: Compliance professionals ensure that companies adhere to laws, regulations, and internal policies. In highly regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and insurance, a background in law is incredibly valuable when managing compliance programs and mitigating legal risks.

Contract Manager: Law graduates are well-suited for contract management roles, where they review, negotiate, and ensure the legal and financial terms of contracts are in the best interest of their employers. This role is common in large corporations, tech companies, and government agencies.

Policy Analyst: Many law graduates work in policy analysis, where they research and assess the impact of laws, regulations, and public policies. This role is particularly common in think tanks, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Human Resources (HR) Professional: Legal training can be particularly useful in HR roles, especially when it comes to navigating employment law, labor relations, and employee contracts. JD holders in HR often manage company policies related to compliance with labor laws and dispute resolution.

Consultant: JD graduates can apply their problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills in consulting roles. Many law graduates work in legal consulting, helping companies navigate regulatory changes, or in broader business consulting where they advise on risk management, mergers, and corporate governance.

Regulatory Affairs Specialist: In industries like pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and energy, regulatory specialists ensure that companies comply with government regulations. JD holders are particularly valuable in understanding the legal complexities of these regulations and how they apply to product development and business operations.

Risk Manager: Risk managers help companies identify, assess, and mitigate risks, whether legal, financial, or operational. JD graduates are well-equipped for this role due to their understanding of risk assessment and legal implications in business decisions.

Legal Tech and AI Specialist: With the rise of legal technology, JD holders are increasingly entering tech-driven roles that involve developing and implementing legal software, artificial intelligence tools, and solutions that improve the efficiency of legal processes.

While law firms are known for demanding work hours, many JD Advantage roles offer more predictable work schedules, providing a better work-life balance for those who prioritize it. Careers in compliance, consulting, or HR, for example, tend to have more structured hours than a high-pressure litigation job. Many JD Advantage positions offer salaries comparable to those in traditional legal roles. For example, compliance officers, risk managers, and policy analysts often enjoy lucrative compensation packages, especially as they advance in their careers.

The demand for JD Advantage professionals has grown in recent years as businesses and organizations increasingly recognize the value of legal knowledge across various domains. As laws and regulations become more complex, particularly in industries like finance, healthcare, and technology, professionals who understand legal frameworks but also possess business acumen are highly sought after.

Additionally, the shift towards legal tech and AI is creating new opportunities for law graduates to merge their legal expertise with technological innovation. Legal departments are now looking for professionals who can help integrate AI tools, blockchain technology, and data analytics into their operations, opening up even more non-traditional roles for JD holders.

JD Advantage jobs represent an exciting and expanding frontier for law graduates who want to apply their legal knowledge without following the traditional attorney path. These roles allow law professionals to leverage their analytical and problem-solving skills across various industries, from compliance and risk management to tech and policy analysis. For many, JD Advantage careers offer an ideal balance of intellectual challenge, job satisfaction, and work-life balance, making them an increasingly popular choice for new graduates and experienced professionals alike.

How to make your Law School application stand out

You are approaching the end of your junior year at Lawrence. You have already carefully chosen your major, taken rigorous, relevant courses, and earned a strong GPA. You have also completed several pieces of research, become an excellent writer, and accomplished a great deal in an internship, specific extracurricular activity, or on-campus job. Now you are ready to start seriously thinking about your law school applications. How will you stand out from all the other applicants?

To stand out in a competitive pool requires a multi-pronged approach. Here are some specific actions you can take:

Maximize your LSAT score: This often carries the most weight. While aiming for a top score is ideal, consider retaking the test if you think you can improve significantly.

Tell your unique story: The personal statement is an especially important part of your application. Do not just list achievements. Instead, highlight your motivations, experiences, and how they shaped your passion for law.

Highlight specific skills and qualities: Use your personal statement and CV to demonstrate strengths like analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership through anecdotes and examples.

Highlight relevant work experience and education: Your CV should also be used to highlight your academic achievements and any legal internships, or paralegal jobs you may have held. Unrelated jobs can also be included if they demonstrate responsibility, time management, and transferable skills.

Proofread meticulously: Eliminate typos and grammatical errors.

Get someone to review your material: Have someone with expertise in this area review your application material. Career Center staff and faculty members are extremely helpful in this regard.

Tailor your application to each school: Highlight features that align with their specific interests and programs.

Provide strong letters of recommendation: Choose faculty recommenders who know you well and can speak to your academic strengths and potential.

Consider optional essays: If offered, use them to address potential weaknesses or provide further context to your story.

Be genuine and authentic: Let your personality shine through, showing the admissions committee who you are beyond numbers and scores.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. However, by focusing on academic excellence, crafting compelling narratives, highlighting diverse experiences, and presenting a well-polished application, you can increase your chances of standing out in the competitive law school application pool.

American Bar Foundation Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship

Undergraduate students considering a career in law already know that it’s hard to get hands-on legal experience such as internships if you’re not in law school. Luckily, there are a few programs that are designed to provide undergrads with the experience they seek. One such program is the American Bar Foundation (ABF) Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship.

According to their web site, the American Bar Foundation (ABF) looks “for students students who demonstrate a strong work ethic and intellectual curiosity and who take initiative with mentors by asking questions and expressing a genuine interest in their research. Preference is given to candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, including but not limited to first-generation and low-income students and students of color.

This fellowship introduces undergraduate students to the rewards and demands of a research-oriented career in law and/or social science. It also provides guidance about the many career options under the umbrella of the legal profession. Each Fellow will be assigned an ABF Research Professor who will involve the Fellow in their research project and act as a mentor during the Fellow’s tenure. In previous years, Fellows have supported faculty members’ work by conducting archival research, creating literature reviews, and coding qualitative data collected from interviews and newspaper reports. In addition to partnering with a faculty mentor, Fellows will meet with other ABF faculty and affiliates.”

For more information, including pay, eligibility and the program application, visit the ABF Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program web site. The annual deadline to apply is in late January or early February.