Why Law and Policy?
The Doctor of Law and Policy program (DLP) is designed for experienced professionals who are interested in the origins, development, implementation, and analysis of legal and public policy decisions in government and related institutions.
Today's professionals operate in an increasingly complex and global environment. Northeastern's Doctor of Law and Policy Program empowers leaders working in government, for-profit, and nonprofit sectors to advance in their careers with a deeper understanding of public policy. Our Doctor of Law and Policy engages students in advanced coursework that develops legal reasoning, research, and policy analysis skills. By examining the intersection of three key themes—law, research, and policy—within their professional fields, the program prepares leaders to tackle practical challenges with a multidisciplinary approach.
Expert faculty members guide working professionals through a hybrid program that combines the flexibility of online learning with the depth of immersive residencies. One weekend per quarter, Doctor of Law and Policy students gather with their cohort of peers in Boston for four days. Through this approach, students have the opportunity to complete their course work and doctoral thesis in 24 months. Since its launch in 2005, the Doctor of Law and Policy Program has helped working professionals become change agents in industries such as government, human services, and higher education.
More Details
Unique Features
- Hybrid format with classes meeting one four-day weekend per quarter, and online learning throughout the rest of the quarter
- Cohort learning model
- Quarterly residencies offer students the advantages of interactive learning without the restrictions of a traditional doctoral program
- In addition to the residencies on their home campus, students participate in a three-day residency in Washington, D.C., in their first year and one international four-day residency in their second year. Students participate in a mixture of sessions that include guest lecturers from various elected officials and public policy advocates, as well as excursions to places that play key roles in policy-making
- Past guest speakers have included Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas; Congressional journalists from CNN, NPR, Buzzfeed and Politico; Marty Baron, Executive Editor of the Washington Post; Senator Edward Markey; Lonnie Bunch, Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture; Mason Dunn, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; and Dr. Victor Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine
- Learn from faculty with decades of experience as international consultants, higher education consulting experts, legal experts, and experts in development policy
Program Objectives
- Develop new leadership and strategic thinking skills
- Utilize law as a way to be a better policy maker and change agent
- Interpret research and use it to further policy-related goals
- Be able to negotiate with stakeholders in courts, legislatures, and agencies in the corporate and non-profit environments
Graduates Share Their Story
View the video below to hear Doctor of Law and Policy graduates share why they chose the program, what they learned and their area of focus.
What you'll study
General Requirements