The Juris Doctor (J.D.) is a first-professional law degree awarded to a student who has successfully completed the study of law. Albany Law School offers three- and four-year programs leading to a J.D. degree.

The oldest independent law school in North America, Albany Law has been educating students and producing superb lawyers for more than 155 years. And as the only law school in the capital of New York State, Albany Law is uniquely positioned to offer you a kind of legal education not yet available anywhere else. Here you will find an intellectually rigorous curriculum in a highly supportive environment; a close-knit community of dedicated students; and distinguished, yet accessible faculty.

We are home to an extensive clinical program and dynamic law centers that serve the public and provide you with opportunities to engage in meaningful law practice.

Though we emphasize the value of a broad-based education, Albany Law School offers concentrations for students wishing to focus their fields of study on particular areas of interest. Albany Law School also offers Joint Degree Programs in cooperation with several local institutions.

Joint degree offerings include:
. J.D./Master of Arts in Bioethics
. J.D./Master of Business Administration
. J.D./Master of Public Administration
. J.D./Master of Regional Planning
. J.D./Master of Social Work

The LL.M. program offers several different study options. Candidates may specialize in government administration and regulation, health law, intellectual property law, or international law, or may design a course of study other than those specialized programs.

LL.M. candidates are required to earn 24 credits in approved courses. Students are strongly encouraged to earn academic credits, up to a limit of six, by engaging in faculty-supervised research and writing projects. A minimum GPA of 2.0, current and cumulative, is required.

Students are expected to complete their degrees within three years and to be continuously enrolled (full- or part-time) during fall and spring semesters until all degree requirements are met.

Courses previously taken toward the J.D. do not count toward the LL.M.

This LL.M. program is designed for international law graduates who seek an academic program in order to qualify for admission to the New York State or other state bar. An applicant who has studied in a foreign country may qualify to take the New York State bar examination by submitting to the New York State Board of Law Examiners satisfactory proof of the legal education as required by Part 520.6 of the Rules of Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law. For foreign law graduates whose law degree does not meet the durational equivalency requirements, the applicant can satisfy the requirements by successfully completing a full-time or part-time program consisting of a minimum of 20 semester hours of credit in professional law subjects, in an approved law school in the United States.