SJD stands for Doctor of Juridical Science, the highest available
law degree in the American educational system. Students in an SJD
program pursue research on a topic of their choice, which ultimately
culminates in a dissertation; thus, the SJD is in some ways a PhD in
law.
Admission to an SJD program typically requires a JD (the regular law
degree) and an LLM. These programs are highly
competitive--unlike most PhD programs, SJD programs generally accept only
one or two students per year. The degree requires a minimum of two years,
although part-time students may take longer; after completing the program,
most graduates go on to teach and/or pursue further research.