Bachelor of Science / Juris Doctor

St. John's University

The dual Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor program permits you to enter the St. John’s University School of Law before completing your bachelor’s degree and to complete your academic training in six years, earning an undergraduate degree from the College of Professional Studies and a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s Law.

In the dual degree program, up to 27 credits earned during your first year at St. John’s Law will be applied toward the completion of your bachelor’s degree.

You should consult the Pre-Law Advisors in the College of Professional Studies for additional information about the specific majors relevant to the program, the courses that you need to take prior to entering law school and the law school application process.

Roughly speaking, students who participate in this program apply to law school one year before a traditional student hoping to enter law school after graduating college would apply. Such a traditional student would generally apply to law school and take the Law School Admissions Test in the fall of their senior year. Students applying to the dual B.S./J.D. program generally take the LSAT and apply to law school in the fall of their junior year.

Career Outcomes

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition) employment of lawyers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Demand for legal work is expected to continue as individuals, businesses, and all levels of government require legal services in many areas.

Law firms will continue to be the largest employers of attorneys while many large corporations are increasing their in-house legal departments. This will result in an increase in the demand of lawyers in various settings such as financial and insurance firms, consulting firms, and health care providers.

Also, the federal government is likely to continue to need lawyers to prosecute or defend civil cases on behalf of the United States, prosecute criminal cases brought by the federal government, and collect money owed to the federal government. It is projected that budgetary constraints at all levels of government will likely moderate employment growth.