is a jd higher than a masters 
while the jd is the only degree necessary to become a professor of law or to obtain a license to practice law it is not a research degree however there are two types of research degrees available to individuals who are interested in studying law these are the master of laws ll m degree which typically requires a jd as a prerequisite before pursuing study and the doctor of juridical science sjd jsd degree which typically requires a master of laws as a prerequisite 