Doctor of Juridical Science at University of Pittsburgh

Programme overview

The SJD is the Law School's most advanced degree, designed for legal academics pursuing advanced independent research and writing. Candidates produce an original dissertation that contributes significantly to legal scholarship.

Faculty: School of Law | Department: Center for International Legal Education | Duration: 2-4 years, including a first year of residency | Location: Pittsburgh, PA, United States

What you will study

A non-credit, ungraded colloquium in the first year, then independent research under a full-time faculty advisor. Candidates submit and defend a dissertation overview, then submit and defend the doctoral dissertation.

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Application information

Entry requirements

Open only to exceptionally well-qualified candidates who earned their first law degree outside the United States and completed an LLM at an ABA-accredited US law school (preference for Pitt LLM graduates). A full-time faculty member must agree to supervise the dissertation. Application requires original-language transcripts, CV/resume, up to three preferred faculty advisors, a writing sample, a dissertation proposal, and 2-3 recommendation letters (at least one from an LLM professor). Review has three stages: CILE screening, advisor fit check, then full SJD committee.

Duration: 2-4 years, including a first year of residency

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