JM Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Emory Law is a highly ranked law school and a global leader in legal education. Through scholarship, teaching, service, and immersion in the communities it serves, Emory Law strives for a diverse and inclusive law school community that works for a more fair and just society by advancing the rule of law. Emory Law faculty influence the development of academic disciplines, policy, and legal practice. The curriculum provides students exceptional learning opportunities, enabling graduates to become respected leaders in their chosen professions.
Emory Law faculty and other legal experts teach JM courses. More than 60 full-time faculty, along with our adjunct faculty, teach more than 250 courses at Emory Law. Their focus on legal research and their practical legal expertise means they are not only teaching you the law, they are also actively participating in shaping laws around the world.
A JD degree is a 90-credit-hour degree, also known as a Doctor of Jurisprudence, which prepares students to sit for the Bar Exam and practice law.
A JM degree is a 30-credit-hour master’s degree in law. It is intended for individuals who want to learn the laws that govern their profession. JM recipients are not eligible to practice law.
No legal standards exist for paralegal education and training requirements. It is not a master’s degree. A paralegal cannot practice law.
The JM is intended for professionals or individuals who want to improve their legal literacy and become more knowledgeable regarding the impact of law and regulation on their industry and field of expertise. The four concentrations available address topics of interest to a range of industries: business law and regulation; data, privacy, and technology law; employment law and human resources; and health care law and regulation. You can customize your experience by taking some courses on-campus, selected in consultation with your academic advisor. Our students include c-suite executives, HR directors, compliance officers, and healthcare administrators, among others.
The online format is composed of 10 sequential asynchronous courses, with two synchronous online experiences, and can be completed in as little as 20 months. If you take most of your courses on campus, you can complete the degree in two sequential semesters or take up to four years.