Who Should Consider This Program
The S.J.D. degree is primarily intended for those who teach or who wish to teach law outside the United States, who are pursuing a judicial career in their home countries, or who are involved in policy work in research institutes or government organizations. The S.J.D. program is only open to exceptionally well-qualified candidates who either:
- Have already obtained an LL.M. degree; or
- Wish to begin their S.J.D. studies with an LL.M. degree at the University of Miami.
Applicants to the S.J.D. program must also submit a research proposal and further demonstrate excellent English writing skills. Because the S.J.D. degree requires the completion of a dissertation under the supervision of a full-time faculty member, an applicant must obtain the consent of a Miami Law faculty member to serve as the applicant’s faculty advisor.
In the News
"First Students Enroll in SJD Program at Miami Law"
Why Miami Law
Miami Law provides an excellent environment in which students can pursue their S.J.D. degree. Miami Law has a rich history of engagement with international and comparative law, a world-renowned faculty, and a location in a global city that serves as a bridge to the Americas.
Miami Law’s S.J.D. Program builds on our highly successful LL.M. programs that offer unique specialties in international arbitration, international law, international taxation, entertainment, art and sports law, as well as other disciplines.
Miami Law also boasts a large and diverse faculty with expertise in a wide variety of areas. Miami Law has one of the largest faculty of any U.S. law school teaching and doing research in international law, and Miami Law has extensive experience with comparative research in fields such as criminal law and policy, and race and gender and the law. The size and diversity of the Miami Law faculty allows students to address and engage with global policy issues relating to climate change, migration, trade and finance, dispute resolution, human rights, health, and education.
Finally, Miami Law provides an ideal location for students pursuing an S.J.D. degree. Miami is at the pivot point between the Americas and Europe, located in a city fueled by an influx of international ideas. Students not only benefit from the resources of Miami Law and the wider university, but also from the distinctly international intellectual life of the surrounding city.
Program Director
Elizabeth M. Iglesias, Professor of Law and S.J.D. director, received her B.A. (magna cum laude) from the University of Michigan and a J.D. (with honors) from Yale Law School.
Her areas of expertise include Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Law and Political Economy, LatCrit Theory and Philosophy of Law, and International Criminal Law and Procedure.
Faculty Advisors
A resident faculty member is appointed as a faculty advisor to each S.J.D. candidate. The faculty advisor supervises the candidate’s research, course selection, and progress toward the S.J.D. requirements. Miami Law also boasts a large and diverse faculty with expertise in a wide variety of areas. The school has one of the largest faculty of any U.S. law school teaching and doing research in international law, as well as extensive experience with comparative research in multiple areas of law. The size and diversity of the Miami Law faculty allow students to address and engage with global policy issues relating to climate change, migration, trade and finance, dispute resolution, human rights, health, and education.
The following Miami Law faculty serve as faculty advisors:
Courses, Requirements, Admissions
Info Session
