The Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) is an advanced academic degree in law, often considered the highest level of legal education. It is designed for individuals who wish to pursue scholarly research and contribute to legal scholarship. Typically, candidates for this degree already hold a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or an equivalent law degree and engage in extensive research, culminating in a dissertation. The S.J.D. program usually involves a combination of coursework and independent study, focusing on specialized areas of law. Graduates often pursue careers in academia, legal research, or high-level policy-making, contributing to the development of legal theory and practice.