An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode that can produce powerful light emission with low driving voltage, without reducing crystallinity. The electrode for a semiconductor light emitting device has a structure with an n-type or p-type electrode and an opposing p-type or n-type electrode on the same side of the light emitting device. Both electrodes comprise a bonding pad and a transparent conductive layer. Preferably, the light emitting device is a GaN-based semiconductor light emitting device. The material of the transparent conductive layer is a metal oxide such as ITO, or a metal such as Al, Ni.