Phd Law Interdisciplinary Programs

[int.student]

I am graduating from law school next May and have been searching for Interdisciplinary Law Programs (like NYU Law and Society and Berkeley's Jurisprudence). Are there any other programs like these? Where do I find them? Are they worth the time and effort or is it better to apply to PoliSci or Soc. Phd. programs? Any and all advice would be truly appreciated.

[digits2006]

I could be wrong. But I feel like American University had a program like that.

[sba2016]

NYU's program did not accept applications this year. I don't know that they will be accepting applications in the future either. The department is going through massive changes right now. AU has Justice Law and Society, UC Irvine has Criminology Law and Society and UF has Criminology Law and Society. The Berkeley program tends to admit people that already have advanced degrees (J.D. and M.A. in other fields), so that works to your advantage. You may also want to check out Philosophy and Sociology departments because there are some that do Phil of Law and Soc. of Law. It really depends on what exactly your interests are as to the value. If you really want to teach or study interdisciplinary law then sure they could be worth your time. If not, then probably not.

Edited March 24, 2010 by sba2016

[PaperChaser]

On 3/16/2010 at 10:51 PM, int.student said:

I am graduating from law school next May and have been searching for Interdisciplinary Law Programs (like NYU Law and Society and Berkeley's Jurisprudence). Are there any other programs like these? Where do I find them? Are they worth the time and effort or is it better to apply to PoliSci or Soc. Phd. programs? Any and all advice would be truly appreciated.

I think it depends on what you want to do. Many attorneys who want to go into academia (or eventually become "specialists" if their state bars allow such designations) do LLM programs rather than PhDs. LLMs are shorter (1-2 years) and are geared specifically towards the law, whereas (as I and many others have found) PhD programs don't necessarily offer you the options that you might want--i.e. having to lump your interests into Political Science, Economics, etc. I know George Mason Univ. (DC) has a Law and Economics PhD. Harvard and Yale have LLM and SJD degrees---that might be something to look into if your end goal is law school-level teaching or governmental consulting. Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) offers the following joint JD degrees:  JD/MBA,  JD/MSW, JD/LLM in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution and JD/LLM in Taxation. WashU also has JD certificates in Public Interest Law, Business & Corporate Law, and International & Comparative Law.

For lack of a better idea, try googling "Law PhD" and see what different programs you find. I think what you're looking for exists--albeit, very few--but it might not go by an obvious name

[jycegrcia]

I want to go for law program that has an interdisciplinary, humanistic approach to law, or really any program that is more theoretical.I know of one university that is in Chicago which offers such programs but was wondering whether NYU offers or not.

[noname]

Indiana University offers Ph.D program in Law and Social Science and Law and Democracy.. As far as I know NYU does not offer its PhD program in Law and Society anymore.

I want to go for law program that has an interdisciplinary, humanistic approach to law, or really any program that is more theoretical.I know of one university that is in Chicago which offers such programs but was wondering whether NYU offers or not.

Edited March 16, 2011 by noname

[vitaminquartet]

Harvard and Yale have SJD programs (requiring prior completion of their LLM programs) for people who want to be academics, including Americans - other universities have SJD/JSD programs though they are often geared towards foreign lawyers, and virtually all require prior legal qualifications.

[overlyresearched]

Let me know if you find anything not mentioned here. I'm interested in the same type of program.

[SMK2015]

I'm interested in the Jurisprudence and Social Policy program at UC Berkeley.  I know it's incredibly tough to get in and I'm wondering what my chances are? 

 

I've got a JD from a Top 30 law school where I graduated at the top of my class; went to a Top 20 undergrad school where I did pretty well; have practiced for five years; and I have couple of publications.  I took the GRE and got 170/159/4.5 (V/Q/W).  I know my stats are okay (though I guess I could take the GRE again) but I also know that a lot of people with better qualifications have been rejected.

[carpincho]

On 4/24/2014, 11:03:32, SMK2015 said:

I'm interested in the Jurisprudence and Social Policy program at UC Berkeley.  I know it's incredibly tough to get in and I'm wondering what my chances are? 

 

I've got a JD from a Top 30 law school where I graduated at the top of my class; went to a Top 20 undergrad school where I did pretty well; have practiced for five years; and I have couple of publications.  I took the GRE and got 170/159/4.5 (V/Q/W).  I know my stats are okay (though I guess I could take the GRE again) but I also know that a lot of people with better qualifications have been rejected.

What you don't mention are your research interests. Your stats are fine. Focus your application on demonstrating your fit with the program and your ability to identify a strong research project. Nobody will hold you to it, but it will help the committee determine if JSP is right for you and vice versa.