The Juris Doctor (JD) degree is a unique model of graduate legal education designed to meet the needs of Qatar and the Middle East. The JD is the first-of-its-kind graduate law degree in the MENA region; courses are taught in English, so that graduates are prepared to work in the international legal market.
A JD differs from the undergraduate law degree in that it targets individuals who already hold an undergraduate degree, which can be in any subject, including law. The JD education builds on the student’s previous expertise and experience. JD students may pursue expertise in law that is aligned with their previous degree or move in a completely different direction.
The College of Law’s JD curriculum is consistent with the best offered internationally. The program was created through a strategic partnership with Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. The JD equips graduates with a high level of legal knowledge and complementary research, writing, and advocacy skills. The focus on skills training enables our graduates to make the most of a wide range of career options in the public sector, private corporations, law firms, international organizations, and academia.
The American Bar Association, the governing body of US lawyers, has passed the following resolution about the JD degree:
“WHEREAS, the acquisition of a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree requires from 84 to 90 semester hours of post baccalaureate study and the Doctor of Philosophy degree usually requires 60 semester hours of post baccalaureate study along with the writing of a dissertation, the two degrees shall be considered as equivalent degrees for educational employment purposes.”
JD graduates are also in a position to undertake further legal studies in other countries, such as the United States or in Europe. Recent JD graduates have pursued or are pursuing LLM degrees at Harvard Law School, New York University School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, and the Graduate Institute Geneva.
In short, our JD graduates rise to the top as they have combined previous university education and training with three years of rigorous, interdisciplinary legal education.