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.
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.
Through the program, you will complete a doctoral thesis that examines a compelling policy change. Graduates establish themselves as an expert on a topic in an area they would like to make a shift or see a change, to help solve new and emerging issues or explore an area they are passionate about.
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 both programs, the majority of coursework takes place online.
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Unique Features
- Complete your doctorate in as little as two years through our Executive DLP format with residencies in Boston. You can also enroll in our more flexible program format with residencies in Seattle to earn your degree in 3-6 years.
- Advance your current career by learning the skills and knowledge needed to move into policy and management positions in government, nonprofit agencies, research organizations, consulting firms, and more.
- Earn your doctorate online, with in-person residencies. Designed for working professionals, the DLP program combines the flexibility of online learning with immersive residences.
- Network with your accomplished classmates, who are fellow driven individuals in a wide range of fields.
- Past students have come from all over the country and worked for a range of employers such as Amazon, the FDA, the Department of Justice, Harvard University and other higher education institutions, the U.S. State Department, and more.
- Learn from faculty that are industry leaders. They are distinguished policymakers, foreign service officers, international consultants, international education consulting experts, and experts in development policy with considerable domestic and global experiences.
- Cohort learning model allows students to cultivate a network of friends and colleagues from a multitude of industries, ages, and experiences.
- Travel abroad with your cohort for an international intensive in London and domestically to Washington, D.C., 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.
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 | $94,530 | $68,860 |
| Financial aid | Available | Available |
| Other differentiating factors | Includes registration, textbook purchase and distribution, and catering for all intensive weekends Intensive weekend in Washington, D.C. Intensive weekend in London, UK |
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Testimonials
Chrissie Noonan, 2019 DLP Graduate
Joseph Richmond, 2019 DLP Graduate
Atyia Marin, 2014 DLP Graduate
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Program Costs
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: | May 1, 2021 |
| Final deadline: | May 15, 2021 |
| Admissions Deadline | |
|---|---|
| Priority deadline (September 20, 2021 start date): | August 1, 2021 |
| Final deadline (September 20, 2021 start date): | August 15, 2021 |
| Priority deadline (January 10, 2022 start date): | December 1, 2021 |
| Final deadline (January 10, 2022 start date): | December 15, 2021 |
| Priority deadline (July 11, 2022 start date): | June 1, 2022 |
| Final deadline (July 11, 2022 start date): | June 15, 2022 |
General Requirements
Please note: This curriculum is for marketing purposes only and is subject to change. Official curriculum can be found within the course catalog.
Northeastern's signature experience-powered learning model has been at the heart of the university for more than a century. It combines world-class academics with professional practice, allowing you to acquire relevant, real-world skills you can immediately put into action in your current workplace. This makes a Northeastern education a dynamic, transformative experience, giving you countless opportunities to grow as a professional and person.
Our Faculty
Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and 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 3,350+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global nongovernmental organizations. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional locations further foster a 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.