Definition

1. Noun:
   • An honorary law degree: A doctoral-level academic degree in law that is awarded honoris causa, meaning it is conferred as an honor rather than through the completion of a standard course of study or dissertation. It is often abbreviated as LL.D. (Legum Doctor).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The university will confer a doctor of laws upon the retiring chief justice for her lifetime of service to jurisprudence.
  • He received a doctor of laws from his alma mater in recognition of his philanthropic contributions to legal education.

Advanced Usage

• Honorary nature: The phrase "doctor of laws" almost exclusively refers to an honorary degree. When referring to an earned research doctorate in law, terms like "Doctor of Juridical Science" (S.J.D. or J.S.D.) are typically used.
  • While he never attended law school, his groundbreaking work in human rights law earned him a doctor of laws from several prestigious institutions.

Variants and Related Words

• LL.D.: The standard abbreviation for Legum Doctor, the Latin term for Doctor of Laws.
  • The citation read "John Smith, LL.D."
• Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D./J.S.D.): An earned, research-based doctorate in law.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.): The primary professional degree in law in the United States, required to practice law.

Synonyms

• Honorary doctorate in law: A direct descriptive synonym.
• Legum Doctor (LL.D.): The Latin equivalent.

Related Phrases

• Honoris causa: A Latin phrase meaning "for the sake of honor," used to describe degrees awarded as an honor.
  • The degree was awarded honoris causa.

Noun

1. an honorary law degree