Who Should Consider This Program
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 is located 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. The S.J.D. Program is not limited to these named areas of specialization and invites applications from candidates interested as well in domestic U.S. law areas including criminal law and procedure, civil rights, constitutional law, immigration, environmental law, law and political economy, social justice, and critical legal theory.
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 people and ideas. Students not only benefit from the resources of Miami Law and the wider university, but also from the distinctly international intellectual and cultural 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, a J.D. (with honors) from Yale Law School, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of South Florida.
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
Each S.J.D. candidate is appointed a resident faculty advisor who supervises the research, course selection, and progress toward fulfillment of the S.J.D. dissertation requirements. Miami Law has one of the largest faculty of any U.S. law school teaching and doing research in international 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 are some of the ones who can serve as faculty advisors:
Courses, Requirements, Admissions
Info Session
