By earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law, you'd be prepared to teach law at a college or university and conduct research. These programs are generally found only in campus-based formats and not online. Check the admission requirements and typical curriculum for a PhD in Law program.
What PhD. in Law Degrees Can I Earn?
The graduate law degree you'll need in order to pursue a career as a lawyer is a Juris Doctor (JD). However, if your interest is in teaching and research, rather than practicing law, you can earn a PhD degree in law. You'll find these programs offered as a PhD in Criminology, Law and Society or in Public Law.
These programs are often interdisciplinary and allow you to focus on the law from many approaches, including anthropology, sociology and the criminal justice system. Occasionally, these programs are offered through a university's law school; in other cases, they are offered as concentrations within the graduate department of another field, such as sociology or history.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Options</b></td><td>PhD in Criminology, Law and Society; PhD in Public Law</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td>Philosophy of law, law in society, criminal justice system</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Admission Requirements</b></td><td>May include bachelor's degree, master's degree, recommendation letters, scholarly writing sample</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td> $116,430 (<i>for all postsecondary law teachers</i>)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 7% growth (<i>for all postsecondary law teachers</i>)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatWillIStudy">What Will I Study?</h3><p>Your required coursework will vary based upon the focus of your PhD program. However, many law-oriented PhD programs include the opportunity to study how the law functions in society. This may include the actual process of legal actions, conflict resolutions and the criminal justice system. You may also take coursework in the philosophy of law, the administration of law throughout the U.S. or the government's role in law creation.
</p><p>Some programs provide you with the chance to gain experience in education through assistant teaching posts. You may also work as a research assistant for graduate faculty members. In addition to building your credentials for your career, these opportunities can be useful sources of income while you complete your PhD program. Most programs culminate with you researching, writing and defending a dissertation.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreTheAdmissionsRequirements">What Are the Admissions Requirements?</h3><p>Since PhD programs in law are research and writing-intensive, you may need to submit evidence of your scholarly readiness for doctoral study. This may include the submission of an original writing sample in which you demonstrate your analytical proficiency. Alternatively, you may need to submit professional or academic letters of recommendation or complete an interview.
</p><p>You'll need to possess a bachelor's degree, and some programs also require that you earn a master's degree either prior to starting doctoral study or as part of your doctoral studies. Most programs don't require a specific prior field of study.</p>
