J.S.D. Degree Requirements

J.S.D. candidates at Yale Law School must successfully complete a dissertation that makes a substantial contribution to legal scholarship. They complete their work independently under the close supervision of their dissertation committee, which consists of a supervisor and additional readers, and must submit a detailed report of their research, writing, and professional contributions at the end of each academic year. This report is certified by the candidate’s supervisor, who must confirm that the candidate is making adequate progress.  The J.S.D. dissertation must be completed and approved by the student’s dissertation committee by May 1 in the fifth year after J.S.D. admission.

Yale Law School Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress

Please refer to the Yale Law School Bulletin for complete academic requirements.