Featured School

University of Phoenix More Info

The Juris Doctorate, or J.D. degree, is the standard law degree in the United States. It usually entails three years of study. Although dissertations are not usually required, written legal analysis are part of most law school curricula. After earning a law degree, individuals may not practice law until passing a state Bar exam.

Developing strong analytical and legal reasoning skills is a key aim of online civil law PhD degree programs. A characteristic of law schools is the case study method, in which situations are considered from a variety of legal perspectives. Courses might include constitutional and criminal law, civil procedures, contracts, torts, arbitration, wills, trusts, communications, immigration, tax-exempt organizations, and civil rights. Additional fields include environmental, property, family, tax, employment, and labor law.

After earning a J.D. degree and passing the Bar, one might practice law in these and many other areas, perhaps in a private law firm. Other career paths include in-house counsel in businesses and hospitals, and public sector positions. Some lawyers go on to be elected or appointed as judges.

Most civil law degree online PhD programs require a bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite. Good preparation for law school includes a major in Political Science or American History, and studies in public speaking, psychology, economics and expository writing. Admission to law schools typically demands high scores on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) exam, a standardized test focusing on reasoning skills.

Work experience or internships in law firms are also very helpful, before and between the years of law school. Summer internships can very competitive, and may lead to employment offers.