Dissertation
To be awarded the JSD degree, candidates must produce a dissertation, a significant scholarly work in a chosen field of study. This requirement will normally be fulfilled in the form of a monograph or book of 80,000 to 100,000 words in length. As an exception, and typically in the field of economic analysis of law, the dissertation requirement may be met through a series of substantial papers or law review articles. A candidate can only fulfill the dissertation requirement in this manner if granted prior approval by his or her Dissertation Supervisor and the JSD Committee.
Oral Dissertation Defense
It is expected that candidates defend their dissertations orally, viva voce, before their Dissertation Jury upon completion of their dissertation.
Appointing a Defense Jury
Once the members of the Dissertation Committee after reading the candidate’s draft dissertation, believe that it is of sufficient quality to receive the degree they will send a report to the JSD Committee confirming that the dissertation is ready for the defense and include a list from which an outside examiner will be selected. Based on these recommendations, the JSD Committee will invite one outside examiner to serve on the Defense Jury. The Defense Jury consists of two members of the Dissertation Committee and the outside examiner. The JSD candidate’s supervisor will not be a member of the Defense Jury. Only when an outside examiner confirms his/her participation, could the defense be scheduled.
Awarding of the Degree
Award of the JSD degree is a two stages process:
A recommendation by the Defense Jury based on reading the dissertation and an oral examination is sent to the Chair of the JSD Committee.
The JSD Committee will decide whether or not to accept the recommendation of the Defense Jury and award the degree. It may also require revisions or reject the dissertation.
The JSD office will coordinate a defense date with the members of the Defense Jury. The JSD Program will defray the cost of attending from out of town incurred by dissertation defense committee members. Typically the dissertation defense takes place in a public forum and lasts about two hours.
After the defense, the dissertation defense committee should send the JSD Committee a detailed report on the dissertation and the defense. This report is to be accompanied by a recommendation regarding whether the candidate should be awarded the degree, required to revise and resubmit their dissertation, or have their dissertation rejected. Upon receipt of this report, the JSD Committee will review the recommendation and make a decision regarding the dissertation defense.
If the JSD Committee decides to award a degree to a JSD candidate who has successfully defended his or her dissertation, the decision will be communicated to the Dean of NYU School of Law as well as to the Department of Academic Services. Upon request the candidate is eligible to be sent a redacted version of his/her Defense Committee Report. The candidate will be eligible to receive his or her degree at the next commencement ceremony. The JSD Committee will fund a celebratory toast for the graduate, their friends and their family on a date to be chosen by the JSD graduate.
At the defense, the candidate is expected to make a twenty to thirty minute presentation of the central thesis of his or her dissertation. This shall be followed by two rounds of questioning by the Dissertation Committee. At the discretion of the supervisor, questions might be taken from the public. Thereafter, the candidate and members of the public will withdraw while the committee shall discuss the defense in the interest of composing a recommendation to the JSD Committee.