Ph.D. in Law

The Ph.D. in Law prepares graduates for global leadership in the judiciary, academia, business, and government. Since 1966, the program has offered a select number of diverse students the opportunity to attain their highest professional aspirations and career goals. A preeminent center for interdisciplinary legal studies, UW Law, offers a global focus and innovative approach to integrating legal scholarship within the humanities and social sciences, medicine and global health, business and technology, and environmental and public policy.

The Ph.D. program is designed to provide a rich and thorough foundation in research methodologies, jurisprudence, legal theory, policy, dissertation preparation, and ready access to specialized elective coursework from law school and university-wide research centers, institutes, and schools. Throughout the program, our graduate students receive individualized attention from exceptional faculty and staff. With its long and respected history, the Ph.D. program provides students with a global alumni network. Alumni are committed supporters and mentors, and leaders in many sectors around the world.

As one of the nation's oldest and leading public law schools, we meld a traditional focus on the rule of law with a modern approach to solving problems and advancing social justice. We actively encourage students to explore their passions and equip them with the intellectual tools and hands-on legal experience they need to be practice-ready lawyers able to work in any field they choose.

Our location in Seattle—a vibrant hotbed of technology, innovation, progressive policymaking, philanthropy, and more—provides a real-world learning environment as well as programs and partnerships to support future lawyers and professionals.