Northeastern's Doctor of Law and Policy Program (DLP) empowers leaders working in government, for-profit, and nonprofit sectors to advance in their careers and become change agents with a deeper understanding of public policy.

Our DLP 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.

Through the program, students will complete a doctoral thesis that examines a compelling policy change. Graduates establish themselves as experts on topics where they want to see change, help solve new and emerging issues, or explore an area they are passionate about.

Northeastern's DLP programs offer the majority of coursework online, although there are two different learning formats based on professional experience and one's need for flexibility:

• Doctor of Law and Policy (includes quarterly residencies in Charlotte or Seattle) Classes meet in Charlotte and Seattle twice a quarter, with online learning throughout the rest of the year. You can complete your doctorate in 3-6 years.
• Doctor of Law and Policy–Executive Program (includes residencies twice a quarter in Boston) Complete your doctorate in as little as two years with the Executive DLP format.

Program objectives

• Utilize law to be a better policy maker and change agent.
• Develop new leadership and strategic thinking skills.
• Interpret research and use it to further policy-related goals.
• Be able to negotiate with stakeholders in courts, legislatures, and agencies in corporate and non-profit environments.

Unique Features

1. Learn alongside Industry Leaders: Your classmates are made up of fellow accomplished individuals who represent a wide range of fields, ages and experiences. Past students have come from all over the country and worked for various employers such as Amazon, the FDA, the Department of Justice, Harvard University and other higher education institutions, the U.S. State Department, and more.
2. Learn from faculty that are industry leaders including distinguished policymakers, foreign service officers, international consultants, international education consulting experts, and experts in development policy with considerable domestic and global experiences.
3. Travel abroad with your cohort for an international intensive and domestically to Washington, DC., to experience law and policy in a real-life, immersive experience. Past guest speakers have included Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas; Marty Baron, executive editor of the Washington Post; Mason Dunn, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; Dr. Victor Dzau, president of the National Academy of Medicine, and more.