Law and Policy
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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.
The Doctor of Law and Policy program offers two different learning formats based on professional experience and need for flexibility: The Doctor of Law and Policy–Executive Program format with residencies taking place every other month in Boston, and the more flexible Doctor of Law and Policy Program format with quarterly residencies in Seattle.
In the Doctor of Law Policy–Executive Program, 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 every other month, Executive Doctor of Law and Policy students gather with their cohort of peers in Boston. 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.
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Unique Features
- Our executive program is designed for working professionals with 10 years of experience and can be completed in two years
- Hybrid format with classes meeting every other month on-ground, and online learning throughout the rest of the year
- Cohort learning model allows students to cultivate a network of friends and colleagues from a myriad of industries, ages, and experiences
- Residencies every other month offer students the advantages of interactive learning without the restrictions of a traditional doctoral program
- In addition to the residencies in Boston, students participate in one 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; Representative Joseph Kennedy III; 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 nonprofit 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 Program Format is Right for Me?
| Executive DLP | DLP | |
| Location | Boston | Seattle |
| Length of program | 2 years; 69 credits | 3-6 years; 69 credits |
| Modality | Accelerated, cohort, hybrid model | More flexible, hybrid model |
| Classes per quarter | 3 courses | 1-2 courses |
| In-person intensive weekends | Meets every other month | Meets quarterly |
| Professional experience required | 10 years | 3 years (education accepted in lieu of professional experience) |
| Cost | $91,149 | $62,376 |
| Financial aid | Available | Available |
| Other diffentiating factors | Includes registration, textbook purchase and distribution, and catering for all intensive weekends Intensive weekend in Washington, D.C. Intensive weekend in London, UK |
N/A |
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Requirements
- Online application
- Academic transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate degree documentation
- Professional resumé: Current resumé that displays job responsibilities, relevant experience, and education history
- Academic recommendation: This letter should come from a former professor or mentor who can speak to your ability to succeed in an academic environment. The recommender should address your capacity to conduct research and write at the doctoral level. If you have been out of school for a long time or are no longer acquainted with your professors, you may ask someone who has evaluated you during a professional training seminar or workshop to compose this recommendation.
- Two Professional Recommendations: One must be from your current supervisor; recommendations should not come from individuals who report to you. Recommenders are encouraged to identify specific examples that highlight your skills and abilities.
- Admission Statement: Respond to both questions separately and stay within the prescribed word limits. The ability to demonstrate clear, succinct, well-reasoned writing is essential.
- Discuss your career trajectory and your professional goals. How will earning this degree help you achieve those goals? (500 words)
- Identify an important problem or issue related to your profession. Why do you want to explore and understand this problem or issue? Be sure to articulate how this problem or issue relates to law and policy. (500 words)
- Interview: Applicants may be requested to participate in an interview as part of the admissions process. If this is determined, we will reach out to you directly.
- Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language: English language proficiency guidelines
- DLP Transfer Credit – Due to the cohort model of the Doctor of Law and Policy program, transfer credits from other institutions are not accepted.
Admissions Dates
| Admissions Deadline | |
|---|---|
| Priority deadline: | November 22, 2019 |
| Final deadline: | December 2, 2019 |
| Admissions Deadline | |
|---|---|
| Priority deadline: | May 1, 2020 |
| Final deadline: | May 15, 2020 |
| Admissions Deadline | |
|---|---|
| Priority deadline: | July 20, 2020 |
| Final deadline: | August 1, 2020 |
General Requirements
Northeastern's signature experiential learning model combines academics with professional practice to help students acquire relevant, real-world skills they can apply to their desired industry. Each program offers its own unique experiential learning opportunities, but they might include:
- Experiential Learning at Work — Working professionals collaborate with their employer to develop a project that addresses a key business need their company has, in an area they want familiarity with.
- Experiential Network (XN) — Students work virtually with a sponsoring organization on a short-term project over a six-week period.
- Full-Time Co-op Opportunities — Students on co-op work in a paid position in their field of study for three to six months.
Our Faculty
Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and in fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.
By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 255,000 alumni and 3,300+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global NGOs. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional locations further foster that lifelong, global community of learning and mentoring.
Below is a look at where our Law & Criminology alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.
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Where They Work
- City of Boston
- IBM
- Deloitte
- State Board of Education
- U.S. Army
- FDA
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What They Do
- Legal
- Business Development
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Community and Social Services
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What They're Skilled At
- Policy Analysis
- Legal Writing
- Research
- Public Speaking
- Legal Analysis
Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.