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To legally practice law in the U.S. you must have a Juris Doctor, or J.D. degree, according to the Law School Admission Council. A Juris Doctor degree program takes three years to complete after earning an undergraduate degree. The Harvard Law School shares that the classes you take to earn this degree provide the foundation for legal study and introduce students to law-related specializations. The courses during the first year of a J.D. program generally cover topics like criminal law, civil procedure and international law. A student then pursues an area of interest during the second and third years.

After earning a J.D. degree, you can go on to earn a Master of Laws, or LL.M. This type of degree program takes a year to complete if you study full time, and it allows you focus on a particular type of law specialization, enhance your legal training and experience or prepare for a doctoral law degree. The classes you take to earn a Master of Laws depends on the specialization that you want to pursue. The Harvard Law School says individuals who pursue an LL.M. degree are typically recent J.D. graduates, practicing lawyers, diplomats, judges, community leaders and international students.