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 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 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 college graduates to make the most of a wide range of career options in the government, private corporations, law firms, international organizations, and academia.
A JD graduate was recently licensed to practice law in New York after completing the LL.M. degree at a US law school, and other graduates are pursuing licensing in Qatar and Canada, subject to the requirements of those jurisdictions. Graduates are typically qualified to undertake further legal studies in the United States and other countries in Europe.
In short, our JD graduates rise to the top as they combine previous university education and training with three years of rigorous, interdisciplinary legal education.