Doctor of Laws (SJD)

The Doctor of Laws (SJD) Program is intended for individuals who have demonstrated superior scholarly potential and who are engaged in, or plan to pursue, careers in academia, government service, or the judiciary. In rendering admissions decisions, strong preference is given to the Law School's own LLM graduates, although external candidates' applications are welcome. Candidates accepted into the SJD Program must have the ability to conduct sustained and original academic or professional research at a high intellectual level, culminating in submitting a doctoral dissertation. SJD candidates are expected to spend the first two academic semesters of the Program in residence at the Law School. There is no required coursework apart from the defense of the SJD prospectus during the year in residence.

The UConn School of Law is one of the leading public law schools in the country. Its campus, listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, is probably the most beautiful of any law school in the United States. The Law Library is one of the largest globally and was recently named among the 50 Most Amazing University Libraries in the World by Best Masters Programs. Two miles from the center of Hartford, the Law School is located in a neighborhood of large Victorian homes, where many students, staff, and faculty live.

Founded in 1921, the Law School is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. It offers a professional education of the highest quality that prepares its graduates for a lifetime of fulfilling service in any career they choose, including the bar, government, business, and education. The school's program emphasizes intellectual discipline and the development of the professional analytic skills required to respond effectively to the challenge of continuing change in the law and in the society it serves.