Doctor of Juridical Science

Our SJD degree is a highly selective, non-course directed program that allows students to conduct scholarly research for the purpose of producing a publishable dissertation that uniquely contributes to a specific area of law. This program is available to international LLM degree-holders who want to pursue academic or high-ranking careers in countries outside the U.S.
The S.J.D. (Scientiae Juridicae Doctor) degree is designed for scholars and teachers of law and is most often obtained by international attorneys who are pursuing academic or high ranking governmental careers in their home countries. The S.J.D. is not a course-oriented degree but rather is directed towards scholarly research and producing a dissertation of publishable quality that contributes in an original manner to the area of law to which it is directed.

The S.J.D. program at Wake Forest University is highly selective. The Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) is the highest post graduate law degree offered by the Wake Forest University School of Law. Each S.J.D. candidate will be assigned a principal faculty advisor with expertise in the student's research area and two additional faculty members who form the student's doctoral committee. This faculty committee will evaluate the S.J.D. student's progress, make recommendations, and conduct an oral examination on the dissertation. In addition to the S.J.D. student's doctoral committee, other members of the Faculty of Law are generally prepared to offer advice when consulted.

To be eligible for admission, an SJD applicant must

Hold a first degree in law (LL.B.) or equivalent from a foreign institution (non-U.S.)
Hold a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Wake Forest University School of Law or another ABA-accredited law school
Have outstanding academic credentials
Demonstrate exceptional promise as a legal scholar through submission of prior written work (such as an LL.M. thesis) of high quality
Possess exceptional English language proficiency
Present an original and detailed doctoral dissertation proposal

Resume
Your resume should list all universities you have attended, academic publications, and relevant extracurricular activities. Provide information about any honors, awards, and scholarships you may have received. You should also list any law or business-related professional experience you have, by providing the dates of employment, your employer, and the position you held.
Personal Statement
In English, please explain your reasons for pursuing an S.J.D. degree, your intellectual goals in pursuing doctoral studies, and how you plan to use your graduate degree for your short and long-term career plans. If there is a faculty member with whom you are particularly interested in working with because of their area of expertise or research, please identify the individual and explain the reasons for your interest in this professor. Indicate all of your previous international experience, including your experiences in your LL.M. Program, and any particular interest you have in the Wake Forest School of Law S.J.D. Program.
Official Transcripts
You must submit transcripts from each university or college that you have attended. Transcripts must be in the language of the institution, as well as in English, and should explain the University's grading system.
Proof of English Proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English language proficiency. The following tests are an accepted way to provide proof.

TOEFL: Applicants must earn a minimum paper-based score of 600 or an internet-based score of 100 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The institution code for the TOEFL is C261.
IELTS: A score of 7.0 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also accepted.