J.D. Law Degree

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Earn your law degree at an accredited, respected and affordable law school.

U.S. News ranks UND School of Law in the top 10 for affordability and top 90% for bar passage rate, making it an exceptional value.

Program type:: Law Degree
Format:: On Campus
Est. time to complete:: 3 years
Credit hours:: 90

What is a J.D. degree?

Application Deadline

FALL:: July 15*

*For new and transfer students

At North Dakota's only law school, you'll have opportunities to interact with practicing attorneys and judges, including the North Dakota Supreme Court and other federal, local and tribal courts. Through the 3-year program, we'll provide you with:

A practice-ready education that promotes the highest professional standards, critical thinking and a commitment to serving society.
A community where you'll receive support and encouragement from faculty and staff committed to your success.
A quality education at an affordable price — UND Law ranks in the top ten among law schools with the least amount of student debt.

UND Law offers certificate programs in Indian and Tribal Law, Aviation Law and Energy, Environmental and National Resources, as well as joint degrees in Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Public Administration and Masters of Public Health.

View Law Courses

Accredited Law Degree

UND Law has been continuously accredited by the American Bar Association since 1923. Founded in 1899, the School of Law joined the Association of American Law Schools in 1911 and the Order of the Coif in 1925.

UND Law's ABA Required Disclosures

J.D. Law Degree at UND

Get personal attention, with an entering class of 80 to 90 students and an average class size of 23 for second-year and third-year students.
Gain professional experience through more than 120 field placements and externships.
Build practice and leadership skills through the North Dakota Law Review, moot court and trial competitions. We also have 20 active student organizations.
Explore job opportunities in rural areas through the Rural Justice Program.
Learn from dedicated faculty and experienced attorneys in state-of-the-art classrooms and courtrooms.
Gain lifelong friends and colleagues in a newly renovated educational facility featuring a state-of-the-art student-centered, collegial learning environment.

What can you do with a J.D. degree?

77%

UND first-time ND Bar Exam pass rate, 2023

ND Courts

146k

Median annual salary for lawyers, 2023

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

UND Law graduates have many job opportunities and career paths available to them throughout the U.S. and Canada. Practice-ready lawyers are critically needed throughout our state and region — in family law, financial and estate planning, real estate and housing law, criminal law and constitutional law.

Our graduates are successful in private practice, the public sector, as corporate and non-profit attorneys, and in a variety of professions and industries including banking, accounting, sports and entertainment, aerospace, real estate development and law enforcement. We are proud to count among our alumni:

Current and former governors, members of Congress, state legislators, state attorneys general, state and federal trial and appellate court judges, and tribal leaders.
General counsel for DLA Piper, a global law firm with lawyers in more than 40 countries.
Founding partner of prominent Washington, D.C., law firm specializing in Indian Law.
President and CEO of Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies in Minneapolis, Minn.
Former treasurer for the National Indian Gaming Association in Washington, D.C.
Tribal judge for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, N.D.
Founder of an influential Silicon Valley law firm.
Executive chair of the Winnipeg Jets, an NHL franchise in Manitoba.
Former board chair of the American Heart Association.
President and Chief Executive Officer of Thrivent

Law Degree Jobs

Law alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

Crowley Fleck PLLP
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
North Dakota Supreme Court
State of North Dakota
Conmy Feste, Ltd.

Best Online Law Juris Doctor's Programs

#2 Student Loan Planner
#3 Best Value Schools
#4 Stilt
#7 Biglaw Investor

UND is ranked by many as a Top 10 best online Law juris doctor's program in the nation. We are well regarded for our educational quality, affordability, flexibility, and career outcomes.

Ranking sites vary in their methodology, but are generally based on the following criterion:

Financial data such as net cost, loan default rate, and return on investment
Academic rigor including curriculum standards, accreditation status, and faculty reputation
Student gratification, retention rate, and support services
Employment rate and graduate salary

Leaders in Law

Learn why students chose UND for their degree.

Explore More Options

Visit the Law School website or discover ways you can join a combined program to get your J.D. and another degree at the same time.