College of Professional Studies

Law and Policy

Professional Doctorate : Boston

More Program Options

Professional Doctorate : Seattle
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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.

Boston
Location
Part-Time
Commitment
2 Years
Duration
No
Meets F1 Visa Requirements
Overview

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. 

More Details 

Unique Features

  • Our executive program is designed for working professionals with 10 years of experience and can be completed in 2 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 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 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, DC
Intensive weekend in London, UK		 N/A

Looking for something different?

View more Public Health & Public Policy programs
Admissions

A graduate degree, accelerated degree, or certificate from Northeastern—a top-50 university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and real-world experience in your area of interest. Apply now, and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

$91.1K *
Tuition
$3.7K
Avg Institutional Aid
4%
% Receiving Aid

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

  • Online application
  • Academic transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate degree documentation
  • Professional resume: Current resume 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.
    1. Discuss your career trajectory and your professional goals. How will earning this degree help you achieve those goals? (500 words)
    2. 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 & 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.

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Global Engagement Learn how our teaching and research benefit from a worldwide network of students, faculty and industry partners.

Admissions Dates

Admissions Deadline for Summer 2019 (Boston only):

Priority deadline: February 12
Final deadline: May 15

Admissions Deadline for Fall 2019 (Seattle only):

Priority deadline: May 15
Final deadline: August 1

Admissions Deadlines for Winter 2020 (Seattle Only):

Priority deadline: August 23

Final deadline: November 22

 

Curriculum

General Requirements

Doctor of Law and Policy Required Courses

LWP 6118 - Historical Foundations of American Law 
3.00 
LWP 6119 - Current Law and Policy Debates: Our Nation’s Capital and Beyond 
3.00 
LWP 6120 - Law and Legal Reasoning 1 
2.00 
LWP 6401 - Law and Policy Concepts 1: The Policymaking Process 
3.00 
LWP 6424 - Research Methods 
3.00 
LWP 6121 - Law and Legal Reasoning 2 
3.00 
LWP 6402 - Law and Policy Concepts 2: Strategizing for Public Policy 
3.00 
LWP 6423 - Qualitative Methods 
3.00 
LWP 6122 - Law and Legal Reasoning 3 
3.00 
LWP 6403 - Law and Policy Concepts 3: Policy Case Studies 
2.00 
LWP 6420 - Quantitative Methods 
2.00 
LWP 6123 - Law and Legal Reasoning 4 
2.00 
LWP 6410 - Economics for Policy Analysis 
3.00 
LWP 6404 - Evaluation Research 
3.00 
LWP 6431 - Political and Moral Ethics and Dilemmas 
2.00 
LWP 6500 - Doctoral Research Design 1 
2.00 
LWP 6450 - Public Policy Theory and Practice 1 
2.00 - 4.00 
LWP 6501 - Doctoral Research Design 2 
3.00 
LWP 6451 - Public Policy Theory and Practice 2 
3.00 - 4.00 
LWP 6502 - Doctoral Research Design 3 
2.00 
LWP 6452 - Public Policy Theory and Practice 3 
2.00 - 4.00 
LWP 6503 - Doctoral Research Design 4 
2.00 - 6.00 
 

Experiential Learning

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.
Faculty

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.

Kimberly Larson, JD, PhD

Associate Teaching Professor and
Director of the Doctor of Law and Policy program

J.D. LaRock, JD, EdD

Visiting Associate Teaching Professor, College of Professional Studies

Golnoosh Hakimdavar

Associate Teaching Professor, Leadership Portfolio
Students

By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 245,000 alumni and 3,200+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global NGOs. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional campuses 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.

 

  • Where They Work

    • City of Boston
    • IBM
    • Deloitte
    • State Board of Education
    • U.S. Army
    • FDA

  • What They Do

    • Legal
    • Business Development
    • Education
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Community and Social Services

  • What They're Skilled At

    • Policy Analysis
    • Legal Writing
    • Research
    • Public Speaking
    • Legal Analysis

 

Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.

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