If you want to work as a lawyer in the US, you will most likely need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. This degree is the first legal degree. The LLM degree is an advanced legal certification with global credibility. Some of these programs require a law degree for admission. JD stands for Juris Doctor. This is not a promotion. It is a professional degree equivalent to an LLB degree in other countries. Essentially, this is the entry into the legal profession, provided you pass the bar exam.