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HLS Dissertations, Theses, and JD Papers

S.j.d. dissertations, ll.m. papers, ll.m. theses, j.d. papers, submitting your paper to an online collection, other sources for student papers beyond harvard, getting help, introduction.

This is a guide to finding Harvard Law School (“HLS”) student-authored works held by the Library and in online collections. This guide covers HLS S.J.D Dissertations, LL.M. papers, J.D. third-year papers, seminar papers, and prize papers.

There have been changes in the HLS degree requirements for written work. The library’s collection practices and catalog descriptions for these works has varied. Please note that there are gaps in the library’s collection and for J.D. papers, few of these works are being collected any longer.

If we have an S.J.D. dissertation or LL.M. thesis, we have two copies. One is kept in the general collection and one in the Red Set, an archival collection of works authored by HLS affiliates. If we have a J.D. paper, we have only one copy, kept in the Red Set. Red Set copies are last resort copies available only by advance appointment in Historical and Special Collections .

Some papers have not been processed by library staff. If HOLLIS indicates a paper is “ordered-received” please use this form to have library processing completed.

The HLS Doctor of Juridical Science (“S.J.D.”) program began in 1910.  The library collection of these works is not comprehensive. Exceptions are usually due to scholars’ requests to withhold Library deposit. 

• HLS S.J.D. Dissertations in HOLLIS To refine these search results by topic or faculty advisor, or limit by date, click Add a New Line.
• Hein’s Legal Theses and Dissertations Microfiche Mic K556.H45x Drawers 947-949 This microfiche set includes legal theses and dissertations from HLS and other premier law schools. It currently includes about 300 HLS dissertations and theses.
• Hein's Legal Theses and Dissertations Contents List This content list is in order by school only, not by date, subject or author. It references microfiche numbers within the set housed in the Microforms room on the entry level of the library, drawers 947-949. The fiche are a different color for each institution.
• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses @ Harvard University (Harvard login) Copy this search syntax: dg(S.J.D.) You will find about 130 SJD Dissertations dated from 1972 to 2004. They are not available in full text.
• DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard Sponsored by Harvard University’s Office for Scholarly Communication, DASH is an open repository for research papers by members of the Harvard community. There are currently about 600 HLS student papers included. Unfortunately it is not possible to search by type of paper or degree awarded.

The Master of Laws (“LL.M.”) degree has been awarded since 1923. Originally, the degree required completion of a major research paper, akin to a thesis. Since 1993, most students have the option of writing the LL.M. "short paper."  This is a 25-page (or longer) paper advised by a faculty supervisor or completed in conjunction with a seminar.  Fewer LL.M. candidates continue to write the more extensive "long-paper." LL.M. candidates holding J.D.s from the U.S. must write the long paper.

• HLS Written Work Requirements for LL.M. Degree The current explanation of the LL.M. written work requirement for the master of laws.

The library generally holds HLS LL.M. long papers and short papers. In recent years, we require author release in order to do so. In HOLLIS, no distinction is made between types of written work created in satisfaction of the LL.M. degree; all are described as LL.M. thesis. Though we describe them as thesis, the law school refers to them solely as papers or in earlier years, essays. HOLLIS records indicate the number of pages, so at the record level, it is possible to distinguish long papers.

• HLS LL.M. Papers in HOLLIS To refine these search results by topic, faculty advisor, seminar or date, click Add a New Line.

HLS LL.M. Papers are sometimes available in DASH and Hein's Legal Dissertations and Theses. See descriptions above .

The HLS J.D. written work requirement has changed over time. The degree formerly required a substantial research paper comparable in scope to a law review article written under faculty supervision, the "third year paper." Since 2008, J.D. students have the option of using two shorter works instead.

Of all those written, the library holds relatively few third-year papers. They were not actively collected but accepted by submission from faculty advisors who deemed a paper worthy of institutional retention. The papers are described in HOLLIS as third year papers, seminar papers, and student papers. Sometimes this distinction was valid, but not always. The faculty deposit tradition more or less ended in 2006, though the possibility of deposit still exists. 

• J.D. Written Work Requirement
• Faculty Deposit of Student Papers with the Library

HLS Third Year Papers in HOLLIS

To refine these search results by topic, faculty advisor, seminar or date, click Add a New Line.

• HLS Student Papers Some third-year papers and LL.M. papers were described in HOLLIS simply as student papers. To refine these search results, click "Add a New Line" and add topic, faculty advisor, or course title.
• HLS Seminar Papers Note that these include legal research pathfinders produced for the Advanced Legal Research course when taught by Virginia Wise.

Prize Papers

HLS has many endowed prizes for student papers and essays. There are currently 16 different writing prizes. See this complete descriptive list with links to lists of winners from 2009 to present. Note that there is not always a winner each year for each award. Prize winners are announced each year in the commencement pamphlet.

The Library has not specifically collected prize papers over the years but has added copies when possible. The HOLLIS record for the paper will usually indicate its status as a prize paper. The most recent prize paper was added to the collection in 2006.

Addison Brown Prize Animal Law & Policy Program Writing Prize Victor Brudney Prize Davis Polk Legal Profession Paper Prize Roger Fisher and Frank E.A. Sander Prize Yong K. Kim ’95 Memorial Prize Islamic Legal Studies Program Prize on Islamic Law Laylin Prize LGBTQ Writing Prize Mancini Prize Irving Oberman Memorial Awards John M. Olin Prize in Law and Economics Project on the Foundations of Private Law Prize Sidney I. Roberts Prize Fund Klemens von Klemperer Prize Stephen L. Werner Prize

• Harvard Law School Prize Essays (1850-1868) A historical collection of handwritten prize essays covering the range of topics covered at that time. See this finding aid for a collection description.

The following information about online repositories is not a recommendation or endorsement to participate.

• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses HLS is not an institutional participant to this collection. If you are interested in submitting your work, refer to these instructions and note that there is a fee required, which varies depending on the format of submission.
• EBSCO Open Dissertations Relatively new, this is an open repository of metadata for dissertations. It is an outgrowth of the index American Doctoral Dissertations. The aim is to cover 1933 to present and, for modern works, to link to full text available in institutional repositories. Harvard is not one of the institutional participants.
• DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard

Sponsored by Harvard University’s Office for Scholarly Communication, this is an open repository for research papers by members of the Harvard community. See more information about the project. 

Some HLS students have submitted their degree paper to DASH.  If you would like to submit your paper, you may use this authorization form  or contact June Casey , Librarian for Open Access Initiatives and Scholarly Communication at Harvard Law School.

• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (Harvard Login) Covers dissertations and masters' theses from North American graduate schools and many worldwide. Provides full text for many since the 1990s and has descriptive data for older works.
• NDLTD Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations Union Catalog Worldwide in scope, NDLTD contains millions of records of electronic theses and dissertations from the early 1900s to the present.
• Law Commons of the Digital Commons Network The Law Commons has dissertations and theses, as well as many other types of scholarly research such as book chapters and conference proceedings. They aim to collect free, full-text scholarly work from hundreds of academic institutions worldwide.
• EBSCO Open Dissertations Doctoral dissertations from many institutions. Free, open repository.
• Dissertations from Center for Research Libraries Dissertations found in this resource are available to the Harvard University Community through Interlibrary Loan.
• British Library EThOS Dissertation source from the British Library listing doctoral theses awarded in the UK. Some available for immediate download and some others may be requested for scanning.
• BASE from Bielefeld University Library Index of the open repositoris of most academic institutions. Includes many types of documents including doctoral and masters theses.

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• Last Updated: Sep 12, 2023 10:46 AM
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Program on Law and Political Economy

The Program on Law and Political Economy at Harvard Law School

Examining how law structures power, productivity, and justice in market societies.

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: 2025-27 LPE Academic Fellowship

2025-27 LPE Academic Fellowship (DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2024) The Program on Law and Political Economy at Harvard Law School is pleased to be accepting applications for an exciting postdoctoral fellowship beginning in summer 2025! The Academic Fellowship in Law and Political Economy is a two-year, residential postdoctoral program specifically designed to identify, cultivate, and promote promising scholars early…

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: 2024-25 LPE Student Fellowship

2024-25 LPE Student Fellowship (DEADLINE: July 15, 2024) The LPE Student Fellowship is a year-long program intended to foster research in the field of law and political economy. Fellows receive grant support of $2,500 per semester and are expected to make a significant commitment to writing a paper in law and political economy. Eligible students include…

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The Wall Street Consensus and Bidenomics (virtual workshop w/ Daniela Gabor)

LPE@HLS and and Just Money are pleased to host Professor Daniela Gabor (University of the West of England, Bristol) on Monday, May 20 at 1pm ET for a special virtual workshop presentation of her forthcoming book, The Wall Street Consensus. In this much-anticipated scholarly work, Professor Gabor examines the public-private partnerships at the heart of modern finance…

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IGLP Visiting Researchers

The following scholars are affiliated with the IGLP for all or part of the 2023-2024 academic year.

2023-2024 Researchers

Yifeng Chen

Yifeng Chen joins the IGLP as an Associate Professor at Peking University Law School. His research aims to develop a historical account of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in its promotion of industrialism as both a desired form of economic life as well as a legitimate institution for labour governance. By focusing on labour protection through regulating the industrial conditions and industrial relations, the ILO invented itself profoundly an industrial, economic organization, as much as a humanitarian one.

His project mainly employs historical studies including research into the archives of the ILO as well as its official documents. In addition, the project, being interdisciplinary by nature, will also look into sociological studies, economics and political philosophy.

Petter Danckwardt

Petter Danckwardt is a PhD student in international law at Örebro University. His doctoral project focuses on recognition of states and governments in international law. He has taught international law and constitutional law at Stockholm and Uppsala University and has previously worked as a law clerk at Södertörn District Court and as a case officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He holds an LLM from Stockholm University and a master’s degree in political philosophy from Södertörn University.

Javier Garcia Amez

Javier Garcia Amez joins the IGLP as an Assistant Professor in Criminal Law at Oviedo University. He holds a Bachelor in Law (Oviedo University, 2005) and PhD in Law (Oviedo University, 2014). He has been a visiting researcher at Harvard Law School, Konstanz University (Germany), and Yale Law School (USA). He has published two books, book chapters (23), and articles (26) in topics such as Environmental Law, Criminal Law, and Gender Violence. At this moment, his research is focused on psychological harm to women and coercive control.

Anaïs Mattez

Anaïs Mattez is a PhD candidate and researcher at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), School of Law. Her research explores the restitution of cultural objects and the decolonisation of heritage more generally. In her doctoral dissertation, she analyses the ideological undertones and political influences surrounding the implementation of the 1970 UNESCO Convention. During her stay at IGLP, she plans to explore critical approaches to cultural property.

Claudia San Martin Rodriguez

Claudia San Martin graduated in Law at the Complutense University of Madrid and holds an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from the Carlos III University of Madrid. She is a researcher and PhD student at Complutense University of Madrid and has been a legal consultant in the Digital Transformation department at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), working on the IP Register in Blockchain project. Previously, she has been a legal consultant at Grant Thornton Madrid and training manager at the Santander Financial Institute (Banco Santander), in projects related to Blockchain.

Claudia is specialized in data protection and intellectual property, and has been lawyer for the brands Hackett, Tommy Hilfiger and Pepe Jeans London in Spain and Portugal. She is currently focused on research on this matter and Blockchain and during her stay at the IGLP she will analyze its applicable regulations in the US and Europe.

Adriane Sanctis de Brito

Adriane Sanctis is a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School’s IGLP (2023-2024). She is a co-founder of LAUT, a Brazilian think tank focused on authoritarianism. She holds a PhD from the University of São Paulo (USP) and was previously a professor (adjunct) at its International Relations Institute. She taught critical legal theory, comparative constitutionalism, and international law.

She researches the international histories of legal imagination related to peace, humanitarianism, and the suppression of the slave trade. Her book Seeking Capture, Resisting Seizure: An International Legal History of the Anglo-Brazilian Treaty for the Suppression of the Slave Trade (1826-1845) is forthcoming in the Max Planck Institute’s “Global Perspectives on Legal History” series. She worked on the research that led to her book while she was a Kathleen Fitzpatrick Fellow at the University of Melbourne, and a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Luxemburg and at the University of Helsinki. At LAUT, she has headed projects examining how contemporary reactionary movements reimagine and reconfigure legal language and human rights.

Adam Strobejko

Adam Strobeyko is a Visiting Researcher working on the topics of R&D for biometric devices and the regulation of Genomic Sequencing Data (GSD) sharing platforms. He holds a PhD in International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute (with distinction), a MA degree in International Public Management from Sciences Po Paris, and an LLB in European Law from Maastricht University.

Prior to joining IGLP, Adam was a Global Fellow at Guarini Global Law & Tech, NYU Law, and a doctoral researcher at the Global Health Centre, Geneva Graduate Institute, where he worked on issues related to countermeasure R&D, One Health, Access and Benefit Sharing and the Pandemic Treaty negotiations. Adam’s research focuses on the relation between public policy and innovation, and he is particularly interested in the role of expertise and novel regulatory approaches in global health law.

Nicole Stybnarova

Nicole Stybnarova is an Assistant Professor of International Law at Leiden University (Faculty of Global Governance and Affairs). Her PhD, completed at the University of Helsinki (Erik Castrén Insitute), addressed the regulation of marriage in Migration Law and Private International Law and its functioning in the global structure of wealth accumulation. Prior to joining Leiden University, she was a lecturer in International Law and Forced Migration at the University of Oxford (Refugee Studies Centre).

Nicole published multiple articles addressing topics at the intersections of migration law, IHRL, private international law, feminism, and political economy. She came to the IGLP to work on her current project which focuses on International Law and women’s social movements. She will study how women and their advocates used historically economic, feminist and international legal arguments to formulate their objectives for social emancipation and to have those advanced with international regulation.

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Top 10 Best PhD in Law Programs [2024]

A PhD in law is an advanced qualification that will make you a true legal expert. You can use that credential to work as a legal research scholar or teach at a post-secondary level. This is not only a prestigious career path but also a lucrative one — today’s law PhD holders have an average salary  of $93,000.

Today’s law schools emphasize an interdisciplinary approach to legal education, equipping students to work in a diverse range of fields.

Interested in an advanced criminal justice  career? Below we’ll cover the top PhD in law programs, universities, and what you need to know before pursuing a doctorate in law.

Table of Contents

Top PhD in Law Programs

Yale university, law school.

Yale University’s Law School ranks first  in the nation, with its 20 legal clinics offering an immersive experience for students. This PhD program has a purely academic focus. To qualify for admission, you’ll need to already have a JD (Juris Doctor) degree. If accepted, you’ll be able to benefit from Yale Law School’s acclaimed “Yale Teaching Program.”

• Courses: Criminal law & administration, international human rights, and complex civil litigation.
• Duration:  3 years
• Delivery: On-campus
• Tuition: Fully funded
• Financial aid: Full tuition coverage, health insurance, and stipend.
• Acceptance rate:  7%
• Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Stanford University

Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD)

Stanford University is another highly acclaimed institution in the field of law education with a tough admissions process. Only a few exceptionally gifted students with an international JD or LLB or a SPILS (Stanford Program in International Legal Studies) qualification are accepted into this program every year. The program has an emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach to law.

• Courses:  Advanced antitrust, current issues in business law, and reinventing American criminal justice systems.
• Credits: 44 units
• Duration: 4 years
• Tuition : $64,350 per year
• Financial aid: Scholarships, fellowships, grants, assistantships, federal work-study, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 5%
• Location:  Stanford, California

The University of Chicago, The Law School

Doctor of Jurisprudence (JSD)

The Law School of the University of Chicago is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach to teaching and cross-lists its courses with other departments. The faculty include philosophers, political scientists, historians, and law scholars. Students also have the option to pursue a Doctorate in Comparative Law (D.Comp.L.) instead of a JSD if they wish.

• Courses: Antitrust & intellectual property, civil rights clinic: police accountability, and American legal history.
• Duration: 5 years
• Tuition : $7,647 per year
• Financial aid: Full tuition scholarship, fellowship, and health insurance.
• Acceptance rate: 7%
• Location: Chicago, Illinois

Columbia University, Law School

JSD Program

The Columbia Law School emphasizes experiential learning with law clinics, moot courts, and externships, offering opportunities for innovative education and valuable intellectual exchange. Students can conduct independent research with the help of their faculty advisors and they need to submit a DPR (Dissertation Progress Report) at the end of each year.

• Courses:  Intellectual property & technology, international & comparative law, and law of the workplace.
• Duration:  5-6 years
• Tuition : $75,572 per year
• Financial aid: Grants, loans, and first child allowance.
• Location:  New York City, New York

Harvard University, Law School

Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)

Harvard University is one of the world’s most famous centers for education, and its Law School  is equally renowned. The school has a unique grading system that uses the classifications honors, pass, low-pass, and fail. This flexible SJD program allows students to design their own study plan and choose faculty supervisors for independent research.

• Courses: Advanced comparative perspectives on US law, environmental justice, and strategic litigation & immigration advocacy.
• Duration:  4 years
• Delivery:  On-campus
• Tuition : $67,720 per year
• Financial aid:  Scholarships, grants, and loans.
• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

The University of Pennsylvania, Carey Law School

Doctor of Science of Law (SJD)

Carey Law School’s curricula cut across disciplinary and international lines to create law experts in every field, including business, health, technology, education, and social work. For admission to the Carey Law School PhD, you must already hold an LLM or JD from the same school or an institution of similar standing.

• Courses: Privacy & racial justice, appellate advocacy, and disability law.
• Tuition : Refer tuition page
• Financial aid: Full tuition, stipend, health insurance, and scholarships.
• Acceptance rate: 9%
• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law

The University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law is one of the country’s most affordable top-tier law schools. This PhD law degree offers the choice of two concentrations: International Trade & Business Law, and Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy.

• Courses:  International business & investment structuring, federal Indian law, and trusts & estates.
• Duration:  3-5 years
• Tuition and fees : $26,000 per year
• Financial aid:  Scholarships, federal work-study, loans, veteran benefits, and fellowships.
• Acceptance rate: 85%
• Location: Tucson, Arizona

The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology

The University of Texas’ School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences creates professionals capable of dealing with modern issues like risk management, political violence, social inequality, healthcare, and international trade & conflict resolution. You’ll need a bachelor’s in criminology or a related discipline to apply for this PhD in criminology.

• Courses: Advances in criminology theory, evidence-based crime prevention, and regression & multivariate analysis.
• Credits: 75 semester credit hours
• Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 79%
• Location:  Richardson, Texas

Abraham Lincoln University, School of Law

Juris Doctor (JD)

This school was founded with to provide affordable education to working professionals who cannot attend regular law school. This doctorate in law is a flexible JD degree that can be completed entirely online through the university’s high-level education technology.

• Courses:  Criminal law, civil procedure, and wills & trusts.
• Delivery: Online
• Tuition : $10,100 per year
• Acceptance rate: 90.3%
• Location:  Glendale, California

Walden University

Online PhD in Criminal Justice

Walden University aims to help working professionals pursue advanced degrees and has been ranked #1  in research doctorates for African-American students. This program was one of the first online doctorates in criminal justice and allows students to explore national and international issues in criminal justice administration with a dual emphasis on contemporary theory and practice.

• Courses: History & contemporary issues in criminal justice, policy & analysis in criminal justice systems, and research theory, design & methods.
• Credits: 77 quarter credits
• Tuition : $636 per quarter hour
• Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, loans, and veteran benefits.
• Acceptance rate: 100%
• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

What Do You Need to Get a PhD in Law?

The exact requirements vary depending on the program, but you’ll typically need a LLB, LLM, or JD as a basic prerequisite.

As part of the admission process, you usually need to submit:

• Academic transcripts from previous studies
• Personal essay and/or research proposal
• Recommendation letters

To earn your doctorate, you’ll have to complete coursework, qualifying examinations, and usually a dissertation to a high standard.

Preparing for a Law Doctorate Program

The best PhD in legal studies programs are competitive, so it’s important to start preparing early. Keep up to date on developments in the field and research the best universities that offer your preferred specialization.

Look into leading faculty members in your areas of interest, and network by joining relevant professional communities. Once you’ve decided on your dream program, check admission requirements to prepare the strongest possible application.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Law PhD Program

Choosing the best law PhD program will depend on a range of factors, including your passions and interests. However, there are a few general factors that are essential for everyone deciding on a law school for their PhD to consider:

• Location:  First, a school close by could save you on accommodation costs. But that’s not the only location consideration. You should look at your school destination for evidence of a booming legal or education industry. For example, New York is a hub for business, while Boston is known as a center for technology.
• Cost and funding:  Ensure the program costs align with your budget and explore financial aid opportunities.
• Specialization:  Some schools offer unique specializations like social justice, law and economics, and international law. Choose a program with a focus on your preferred specialization.
• Faculty:  The university’s reputation is important, but its faculty credentials are equally critical. Explore faculty backgrounds by researching published papers and social media profiles like LinkedIn.
• Class sizes:  Smaller class sizes mean better one-on-one attention; however, a larger cohort offers better networking opportunities.
• Placement support:  What happens after graduation? Are you on the hook for finding a job on your own, or does the school offer placement options? Find out where alumni are employed to get an idea.

Why Get a Doctorate in Law?

A doctorate degree in law will allow you to pursue roles in the legal field as a scholar, researcher, or academic, and build a worthwhile career.

Several candidates apply for admission to PhD in jurisprudence programs every academic year, but top law schools have low acceptance rates, and only a few are accepted. For example, Harvard only has around 70 SJD students  while hundreds or thousands may apply. Therefore, with this qualification, you’ll belong to an exclusive group of in-demand professionals.

Jobs for PhD in Law Degree Holders

Here are some common roles for PhD holders in law with the average annual salaries for each:

• General Counsel ($170,183 )
• Staff Attorney ($71,106 )
• Professor of Law ( $131,926 )
• Project Manager ( $76,264 )
• Senior Research Associate ( $75,029 )

Course Costs

The cost greatly depends on where you study, but prestigious law schools can charge annual tuition of around $65,000. Once you factor in living expenses, books, and facility fees, the total cost can add up to around $100,000 a year. However, you can find programs with tuition and fees for as little as $7,500 a year. Moreover, most top institutions offer full-tuition scholarships, stipends, and similar financial aid that cover almost all of your expenses.

Course Length

Typically, a PhD in law takes 3-5 years to complete. However, most programs will give you extra time to complete your doctorate if needed.

Skills You’ll Gain through a PhD in Law

Aside from giving you in-depth and expansive legal knowledge, PhD in law programs can also help you develop the following skills:

• Communication
• Presentation
• Critical Thinking
• Project Management
• Problem Solving

Key Takeaways

A PhD in law is an excellent choice for legal professionals seeking a career in research or academia. While a JD or Juris Doctor is equivalent to a PhD, the former equips you to become a law practitioner.

On the other hand, if you want to teach at a post-secondary level or conduct further legal research, you will need a PhD. Prepare early and choose a program that will best help you to achieve your career goals.

For more law education advice, take a look at our guide on the best master’s in criminal justice programs , or weigh up your options with the highest-paying PhDs .

PhD in Law FAQs

What is a phd in law called.

A PhD in law is usually called a Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws. Some universities offer a JD (Juris Doctor or Doctor of Jurisprudence) degree, while others offer SJD (Doctor of Juridical Science) or JSD (Doctor of Science in Jurisprudence) programs.

Is a PhD in Law the Same as a JD?

A JD (Juris Doctor) degree is suitable for anyone who wants to practice as a licensed legal professional. These programs usually take three years to complete and are mostly coursework-focused.

On the other hand, a PhD in law may take 5-6 years to complete and usually involves a dissertation or major research project. If your aim is professional research or a job in academia in the discipline rather than practicing law, a PhD is better for you.

What is the Highest Degree in Law?

A PhD in law is generally considered the most advanced law degree. While some universities call it by other names, such as SJD (Doctor of Juridical Science) or JSD (Doctor of Jurisprudence degree), this is essentially the same thing.

How Long is a PhD in Law?

PhD Law programs typically take 3-5 years to complete. You may take longer for individual reasons, such as if you choose to study part-time.

What Does a PhD in Law Do?

A PhD in law will equip you to work in legal research or academia.

Lisa Marlin

Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.

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How a PhD in Sydney can take researchers to Harvard Law School

Ravi Prakash Vyas

Ravi Prakash Vyas, a PhD researcher at Sydney Law School, will be heading to Harvard for six months in August to complete his studies.

This unique opportunity stems from his pursuit of a PhD at Sydney Law School, which not only opens many different career pathways but also allows him to participate in the prestigious partnership with Harvard Law School.

Ravi's journey began with his decision to pursue his PhD at Sydney Law School.

“I chose Sydney Law School to pursue my PhD in International Law as it is one of the top-ranked law schools with leading academics in the world," he says.

“With Professor Ben Saul, Jeanne Huang, and Emily Crawford as my supervisory team, I could not have found a better place to pursue my research.”

When asked about the benefits of completing a PhD program at Sydney Law School, Yane Svetiev, the Associate Dean (Research Education), says,

“The PhD at Sydney Law School is a long-standing advanced research degree, which opens up many different career pathways. We have trained not only many academics in Australia and internationally but also practitioners working in legal practice and in national and international institutions, as well as judges. It has the added advantage of a rich network of alumni around the world.”

The HDR Partnership with Harvard

The HDR partnership allows one Sydney Law School PhD candidate per year to spend a semester at Harvard Law School during their doctoral degree.

This opportunity enables candidates to discuss and expose their research, test ideas before finalising their thesis, audit classes, attend seminars, and learn from other researchers. This structured exchange provides invaluable immersion in another institution, enhancing the doctoral experience.

Ravi explains that the application process involves two stages.

“First, HDR students must submit a statement of purpose detailing their research project, reasons for applying, the planned activities at Harvard Law, and how this experience will benefit their research and support timely degree completion,” he said.

“Additionally, they need a support letter from their supervisors endorsing the application. If selected by Sydney Law School, the student then applies to Harvard Law School, which is very competitive and accepts only one candidate per year from Sydney Law School.”

Ravi’s journey to Harvard

Ravi's research focuses on the convergence and divergence in China’s and India’s approaches to governing international peace and security and their impact on the future of international law, and therefore he is very excited about the opportunity to study at Harvard.

“An exchange at Harvard is an excellent opportunity for me, as it will provide me with new insights and fresh perspectives in my research area, exposing me to leading scholars and contemporary debates. It will also enable me to utilise one of the best libraries in the world for my research,” Ravi shares.

He plans to write his final chapters at Harvard, focusing on regional security and benefiting from Harvard's academic environment.

Advice for Researchers

Ravi strongly encourages future and current research scholars at Sydney Law School to take up this unique opportunity to undertake the HDR program at Harvard Law School.

“Discuss your plans with your supervisors early to decide the optimal timing for the exchange. Ensure your applications clearly demonstrate how your research aligns with Harvard's strengths and how you can both contribute to and benefit from the exchange,” he advises.

Additionally, he recommends applying for the Walter Reid Scholarship, which offers substantial support for research overseas, significantly facilitating the exchange experience.

“The support from the Walter Reid Scholarship at Sydney Law School has been instrumental. My time away will give me a break from my teaching and administrative commitments, which will be highly beneficial for my PhD progress and timely completion” he shares.

Professor Simon Bronitt, Ravi Prakash Vyas, and Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karisson

Expanding Opportunities

While the structured Harvard HDR exchange is unique, Sydney Law School encourages PhD candidates to seek opportunities to spend time at other institutions, either in Australia or internationally.

The Sydney Law School provides scholarships and funding to enable these experiences for researchers. Yane Svetiev expresses that the law school is actively seeking to join the University’s joint PhD programs with other international universities, such as Glasgow and Copenhagen, to further enhance exchange opportunities for their PhD candidates.

Ravi's journey from Sydney Law School to Harvard Law School is just one example of the opportunities available to researchers who choose to complete their PhDs at the Sydney Law School.

Explore the partnership

Walter reid scholarship, related articles, law school academics take home prestigious research awards, celebrating legal excellence: the justice peter hely scholarship, celebrating exceptional students at 2024 prize giving ceremony.

Universities

Harvard University

PhD in Law And Legal Studies

Harvard University, Massachusetts

Harvard Law School

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Law and Legal Studies

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PhD in Law And Legal Studies at the prestigious Harvard University is a prestigious degree that offers in-depth learning in Law and Legal Studies. Being a renowned university, Harvard University receives enough funds to ensure the best education facilities for its students across all programs. This doctorate program offered full-time primarily focuses on the practical implementation of fresh ideas through rigorous study and research. The students are encouraged to add new aspects and findings to the existing area of knowledge. PhD in Law And Legal Studies at Harvard is ranked globally by estimated organisations. Such recognition speaks volumes about the course’s importance and effectiveness in the present scenario. The top-notch faculty, modern facilities, and the aura of creativity and innovation in the Harvard campus is a life-changing experience for the students looking forward to kickstarting or upgrading their careers. Overall, a PhD in Law And Legal Studies at Harvard University is an excellent opportunity to grow into a learned professional and bring new developments in the world.

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7 months ago

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New Vice President and General Counsel

Dear Members of the Harvard Community, I am delighted to announce that Jennifer O’Connor will serve as Harvard’s next vice president and general counsel, starting July 29. Jennifer is a nationally recognized attorney and leader with decades of experience in both the public and private sectors. She will join Harvard from Northrop Grumman, where she is currently Vice President of Technology and Information Law and Policy. Over the course of her career, she has gained extensive experience within large and complex organizations that are subject to close public scrutiny. She came to Northrop Grumman after serving as General Counsel for the Department of Defense, where she was both the chief legal officer of the Department and the principal legal advisor to the Secretary of Defense. She has served in numerous other high-level roles in the White House Counsel’s Office, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Labor. A  magna cum laude  graduate of Harvard College, Jennifer received her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and her M.P.A. from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. As the University’s chief legal strategist, Jennifer will serve as a member of my senior leadership team and will lead an outstanding group of attorneys and legal professionals in the Office of the General Counsel. I look forward to working with her to advance the University’s interests at a time when higher education faces many legal, regulatory, and political challenges. Widely admired among her colleagues for her collaborative style, strategic insight, and dedication to public service, she brings with her an abiding commitment to Harvard and its mission. Her unique combination of talent and experience will serve the University well at a pivotal moment for higher education. I am grateful to the many members of the Harvard community who offered their advice during the search. I am particularly appreciative of members of the search advisory committee, co-chaired by Catherine Claypoole, Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the Harvard Law School, and Manuel Cuevas-Trisán, Vice President for Human Resources, for the great care and attention they brought to the search process. I also want to recognize and thank Eileen Finan, who has served as interim general counsel since March 1. I am immensely grateful for Eileen’s wise counsel, dedication, and generosity toward our entire community over these past months. We will continue to benefit from her service as she resumes her role as a University Attorney. Please join me in congratulating Jennifer and in welcoming her back to Harvard.

Sincerely, Alan M. Garber P.S. For more on Jennifer and her appointment, please see the  Gazette .

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PhD Students in the Natural Sciences, Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Medical Sciences

Phd students in the humanities and social sciences programs of the faculty of arts and sciences, phd students in humanities and social sciences programs offered in partnership with other harvard schools, acceptance of financial support.

The Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS) offers incoming PhD students full financial support—including tuition, health insurance fees, and basic living expenses—for a minimum of five years (typically the first four years of study and the completion year). This funding package includes a combination of tuition grants, stipends, traineeships, teaching fellowships, research assistantships, and other academic appointments.

Each student is provided a Notice of Financial Support at the time of admission and is assigned a financial aid officer who administers this funding and is available to assist with financial concerns. Each spring, continuing students supported by Harvard Griffin GSAS-administered funding sources are required to activate their funding for the upcoming academic year using the Student Aid Portal, an online financial aid management system.

A typical funding package* includes:

• grants toward tuition and the Harvard University Student Health Program  paid in full for years G1 through G4 and the dissertation completion year
• a combination of stipend, teaching fellowships, and/or research assistantships during years G1 through G4
• summer research support from Harvard Griffin GSAS or faculty grants following the first four academic years.
• subsidy payments to defray dental insurance and transportation costs.

*In some programs, the timing and structure of living expense support may vary from this pattern.

The initial Notice of Financial Support assumes continuous enrollment as a full-time resident student; students not enrolled are not eligible for Harvard Griffin GSAS financial aid programs. Students may find that their actual enrollment patterns necessitate adjustments to the timing of their funding. Students wishing to defer Harvard Griffin GSAS-administered funding indicate this in the Student Aid Portal during the annual financial aid acceptance process. The options for deferring financial support vary by type of aid; please refer to the applicable sections of the financial aid policy web pages for details. Students who are considering deferring financial support are strongly encouraged to contact their financial aid officer to review how such actions may impact their funding in future years.

While funding packages vary by program, PhD students in the sciences typically receive full funding until they complete their programs of study. Contact your department administrator or financial aid officer for details.

See more detailed information about funding for students in humanities and social sciences programs of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Humanities and Social Sciences Programs in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

• Celtic Literatures and Languages
• Comparative Literature
• East Asian Languages and Civilizations
• Film and Visual Studies
• Germanic Languages and Literatures
• History of Art and Architecture
• Inner Asian and Altaic Studies
• Linguistics
• Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
• Romance Languages and Literatures
• Slavic Languages and Literatures
• South Asian Studies

Social Sciences

• African and African American Studies
• American Studies
• Anthropology
• History of Science
• Human Evolutionary Biology
• Middle Eastern Studies
• Social Policy

A number of humanities and social sciences PhD programs are offered in partnership with Harvard's professional schools. While funding packages vary by program, PhD students in these interfaculty programs generally receive at least four years of financial support for tuition, health fees, and living expenses; most programs provide dissertation completion fellowships as well. For more information, refer to your Notice of Financial Support or contact your financial aid officer .

Interfaculty Programs in the Humanities and Social Sciences

• Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning
• Business Administration
• Business Economics
• Health Policy
• Organizational Behavior
• Political Economy and Government
• Public Policy

Each student is provided a Notice of Financial Support at the time of admission and is assigned a financial aid officer who administers this funding and is available to assist with financial concerns. Students are required to formally accept their financial aid offers and acknowledge their understanding of financial aid policies. Students should also consult their academic programs to determine whether program-specific conditions apply.

Each spring, continuing students supported by Harvard Griffin GSAS-administered funding sources are required to activate their funding for the upcoming academic year using the Student Aid Portal, an online financial aid management system. Continued eligibility for financial aid is contingent upon an annual report by the faculty that the student is making  satisfactory progress toward the degree.

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PEG PhD Dissertations and Job Placements

In this section.

• Degree Requirements
• Current Students
• Dissertations & Job Placements
• Faculty & Research

Learn about the dissertations of our PhD in Political Economy and Government graduates and their job placements directly following graduation.

2023-present

Salvador ascencio pastora (government track).

Dissertation Title: Essays in Environmental Economics Advisor:  Torben Iversen Job Placement: Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard Kennedy School

Caterina Chiopris (government track)

Dissertation Title: Essays in Political Economy Advisor:  Jeffry Frieden Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies; Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Columbia University

Antonio Coran (Economics track)

Dissertation Title: Essays in Public Economics and Labor Economics Advisor:  Stefanie Stantcheva Job Placement: Economist, Bank of Italy

Francesca Miserocchi (Economics track)

Dissertation Title: Essays on Gender Inequality and Migration Advisor:  Amanda Pallais Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Harvard Business School; Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Tilburg University

Clara Sievert (Economics track)

Dissertation Title: Essays on the Economics of Culture and Health Advisor:  Nathan Nunn Job Placement: Assistant Professor, Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education-Economics Institute (CERGE-EI)

Kevin deluca (government track)

Dissertation Title: Newspaper Endorsements, Candidate Quality, and Election Outcomes in the United States Advisor:  James M. Snyder Job Placement: Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Yale University

josé Ramón Enríquez (government track)

Dissertation Title: Essays on the Political Economy of Development Advisor: Jeffry Frieden ,  Rema Hanna Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Digital Economy Lab & Golub Capital Social Impact Lab, Stanford Graduate School of Business

casey Kearney (government track)

Dissertation Title: Essays in International Finance and the Political Economy of Capital Flows Advisor: Jeffry Frieden Job Placement: Assistant Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science

casey Petroff  (government track)

Dissertation Title: Essays in Political Economy Advisor: Jeffry Frieden Job Placement: Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Rochester

Awa Ambra seck  (economics track)

Dissertation Title: Essays in Economic Development and Political Economy Advisor:  Nathan Nunn , Emily Breza Job Placement: 

• Assistant Professor, BGIE Unit, Harvard Business School
• Post-Doctoral Fellow, Harvard Academy

Sarah Armitage

Dissertation Title: Essays in Environmental Economics Advisor: Joseph Aldy Job Placement: Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Boston University

Kevin Connolly (economics track)

Dissertation Title: The Economic, Social and Health Effects of America's Two-Year Public College Advisor:  Edward Glaeser Job Placement: to be confirmed

alley Edlebi (economics track)

Dissertation Title: Essays in Applied Economics Advisor: Crystal Yang Job Placement: to be confirmed

Michael-David Mangini

Dissertation Title: How Commerce Becomes Compromised: Economic Coercion and Credibility in the Age of the Global Economy Advisor: Jeffry Frieden Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance

Hillary Stein

Dissertation Title: Essays on International Finance and Political Economy Advisor:  Kenneth Rogoff Job Placement: Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Augustin Bergeron

Dissertation Title: Essays in Development and Public Economics Advisor:  Nathan Nunn Job Placement:

• Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Southern California
• Post-Doctoral Fellow, Stanford King Center on Global Development

Enrico Di Gregorio

Dissertation Title: Essays in Public Finance and Political Economy Advisor:  Stefanie Stantcheva Job Placement: Economist, International Monetary Fund

Felipe Jordán

Dissertation Title: Essays on the Influence of Western Institutions on Indigenous Societies Advisor: Rema Hanna Job Placement: Assistant Professor, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Brian Wheaton

Dissertation Title: Essays on Political Economy and Macroeconomics Advisor: Robert J. Barro Job Placement: 

• Assistant Professor, Anderson School of Management, University of California Los Angeles
• Hoover Fellow 2021-2022, Hoover Institution  

Andrea Passalacqua (economics track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays in Banking and Corporate Finance Advisor: Jeremy Stein Job Placement: Economist, Federal Reserve Board  

Juan Sebastián Galán (government track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays on the Political Economy of Latin American Development Advisors: Melissa Dell ,  Nathan Nunn Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Economics, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia

Siddharth George (economics track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays in Development Economics Advisor: Rohini Pande Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College

Soeren J. Henn (government track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays on State Building and Economic Development Advisors:  Torben Iversen ,  Nathan Nunn Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Innovations for Poverty Action, University of Chicago  

Pamela Ban (government track)

Dissertation Title:  The Changing Influence of Committees in Congress Advisor:  James M. Snyder, Jr. Job Placement: Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of California San Diego

Laura Blattner (economics track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays on Finance and Economic Policy Advisors:  Gita Gopinath ,  Jeremy Stein Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Finance, Finance Group, Stanford Graduate School of Business

John Coglianese (economics track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays on the Macroeconomics of Labor Markets Advisor: Lawrence Katz Job Placement: Economist, Research Division, Labor Markets Group, Federal Reserve Board

Andrew Garin (economics track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays on the Economics of Labor Demand and Policy Incidence Advisors:  Nathaniel Hendren ,  Lawrence Katz Job Placement: Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

Edoardo Teso (economics track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays in Political Economy Advisor:  Alberto Alesina Job Placement: Assistant Professor, Department of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences, Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

Jonathan Weigel (Government track)

Dissertation Title:  Taxation, Corruption, and Engagement With the Formal State: Experimental Evidence From the D.R. Congo Advisor: James Robinson Job Placement: Assistant Professor of International Development, International Development Department, London School of Economics and Political Science  

Marek Hlavac (Government track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays in Political Economy Advisor:  Torben Iversen Job Placement: Economics Teacher, United World Colleges (UWC) Adriatic

Danial Lashkari (Economics track)

Dissertation Title:  Essays on Innovation and Growth Advisors:  Pol Antràs ,  Marc Melitz Job Placement: Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Boston College

Sara Lowes (economics track)

Dissertation Title:  Understanding the Process of Economic Development: Essays on Culture and Institutions Advisor:  Nathan Nunn Job Placement: Assistant Professor, Bocconi University

MaliHeh Paryavi (economics track)

Dissertation Title: Essays on Gender and Decision Marking in Political Economy Advisor: Iris Bohnet Job Placement: Consultant, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, The World Bank

Guilherme Lichand

Dissertation Title:  Essays in Development Economics Advisor:  Nathan Nunn Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics University of Zurich

Mauricio Fernández Duque

Dissertation Title:  Essays on Social Influence in Political Economy: How Expectations and Identity Affect Pro-Social Leading and Following Advisor:  Michael Hiscox Track: Government

Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Harvard University

Angela Fonseca Galvis

Dissertation Title:  Essays on Political Economy Advisor:  James Robinson Track: Government

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Pontificia Universidad Javeriana 

Sabrina Howell

Dissertation Title:  Essays in Energy Economics and Entrepreneurial Finance Advisors: Josh Lerner ,  David S. Scharfstein Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Finance New York University Stern School of Business

Dissertation Title:  The Clash of Brothers: Wars to Avoid Diffusion in a Contagious World Advisors: James Robinson ,  Andrei Shleifer Track: Government

Job Placement: Economist Core Data Science Division Facebook

James Mahon

Dissertation Title:  Essays in U.S. Fiscal Policy Advisors:  Raj Chetty ,  Edward Glaeser Track: Economics

Job Placement: Manager Transfer Pricing Division Deloitte Tax

Jesse Schreger

Dissertation Title:  Essays in International Finance and Macroeconomics Advisors: Gita Gopinath ,  Kenneth Rogoff Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Harvard Business School (Post-Doc at Princeton University, Department of Economics)

Dissertation Title:  Essays in Economic Geography Advisors:  Edward Glaeser ,  Marc Melitz Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics Michigan State University (Post-Doc at Dartmouth College)

Jessica Blankshain

Dissertation Title:  Essays on Interservice Rivalry and American Civil-Military Relations Advisor: Daniel Carpenter Track: Government

Job Placement: Assistant Professor United States Naval College

Joana Naritomi

Dissertation Title:  Essays in Public Finance and Development Economics Advisor:  Raj Chetty , Michael Kremer Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Economics London School of Economics and Political Science

Arash Nekoei

Dissertation Title:  Essays on Unemployment and Labor Supply Advisor:  Raj Chetty , Lawrence Katz Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Economics Institute for Economic Studies

Hye Young You

Dissertation Title: Three Essays on Lobbying Advisor:  James M. Snyder, Jr. Track: Government

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Political Science Vanderbilt University

Paul Novosad

Dissertation Title:  Essays on Local Economic Growth in India Advisor:  Asim Khwaja Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Economics Dartmouth College

Eliana Carranza

Dissertation Title: Economics Sources of Son Preference, Sex-Differential Treatment and Household Fertility Behavior Advisor:  Lawrence Katz Track: Economics

Job Placement: Economist The World Bank

Dissertation Title:  Politics and Policy: Essays in Economics Advisor:  Andrei Shleifer Track: Economics

Job Placement: Associate McKinsey & Company

Supreet Kaur

Dissertation Title:  Essays on Labor Markets in Developing Countries Advisor:  Sendhil Mullainathan Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Economics and International Affairs Columbia University

Dissertation Title: Essays in Institutional Economics Advisor:  Sendhil Mullainathan Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Law New York University School of Law

Martin Kanz

Dissertation Title: Essays in Finance and Development Economics Advisor:  Andrei Shleifer Track: Economics

Rodrigo Wagner

Dissertation Title: Macroeconomic Recovery, Export Innovation and the Coordination of Entrepreneurs in the Global Economy Advisor: Dani Rodrik Track: Economics

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics Tufts University

Lucy Clare Barnes

Dissertation Title: Essays on the Political Economy of Redistribution Advisor:  Torben Iversen

Job Placement: Prize Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Nuffield College, University of Oxford

Magnus gustav Feldmann

Dissertation Title: Post Communist Capitalism: The Politics of Institutional Development Advisor:  Torben Iversen

Job Placement: Assistant Professor School of Sociology, Politics, and International Relations University of Bristol

Daniel Fetter

Dissertation Title: Federal Policy and the Mid-century Transformation in U.S. Housing Markets Advisor:  Edward Glaeser

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics Wellesley College

Dilyan Donchev

Dissertation Title: Essays on Corruption Measurement, Trust, and Investors in Eastern Europe Advisor: Jeffry Frieden

Job Placement: Researcher International Finance Corporation The World Bank

Joseph Mazor

Dissertation Title: A Liberal Theory of Natural Resource Property Rights Advisor: Dennis F. Thompson

Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Center for Human Values Princeton University

Sandip Suktahnkar

Dissertation Title: Essays in Development Economics Advisor:  Sendhil Mullainathan

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics Dartmouth College

Alexis J. Diamond

Dissertation Title: Essays on Causal Inference in Observational Studies Advisor: Rubin

Maria Petrova

Dissertation Title: Political Economy of Media Capture Advisor: Kenneth A. Shepsle

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics New Economic School, Moscow

Philipp Schnabl

Dissertation Title: Essays on Banking and Corporate Finance Advisor:  Sendhil Mullainathan

Gilles Serra

Dissertation Title: Why and When Do Political Parties Adopt Primary Elections? A Theoretical and Comparative Study Advisor:  Kenneth A. Shepsle

Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow Nuffield College, Oxford University

Katharine Romaine Emans Sims

Dissertation Title: Balancing Land Conservation and Economic Development: Three Essays Advisor: Robert Stavins

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics Amherst College

Gernot Wagner

Dissertation Title: Essays on Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Advisor:  Robert Stavins

Job Placement: Consultant Boston Consulting Group

Randall Kekoa Quinones Akee

Dissertation Title: Three Essays in Economic Development: Lessons from Three Small Indigenous Nations Advisor:  Sendhil Mullainathan

Job Placement: Research Associate Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Bonn, Germany

Rebecca Thornton

Dissertation Title: Incentives and Information in Developing Countries Advisor:  Michael Kremer

Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow Population Research Center University of Michigan

Shanna Rose

Dissertation Title: Essays in Institutions and Fiscal Policy in the American States Advisor: James Alt

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Political Science State University of New York at Stony Brook

Alexander Wagner

Dissertation Title: Essays on Organizational Economics Advisor: Richard Zeckhauser

Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Finance and Financial Markets University of Zurich

Shigeo Hirano

Dissertation Title: Party Labels, Institutions and Personal Politics in the United States and Japan Advisor:  James Alt

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Political Science New York University

Dissertation Title: Essays on International Price Co-Movements Advisor: Dale Jorgenson

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics Trent University

Martin Sandbu

Dissertation Title: Explorations in Process-Dependent Preference Theory Advisor: Amartya Sen

Job Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow The Earth Institute Columbia University

Jeremy Weinstein

Dissertation Title: Inside Rebellion: The Political Economy of Rebel Organization Advisor: Robert H. Bates

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Political Science Stanford University

Rachel Deyette Werkema

Dissertation Title: Access, Choice, and Opportunity: Three Studies of Educational Inequality Advisor: Katherine S. Newman

Job Placement: Deputy Research Director MassINC

Etienne Yehoue

Dissertation Title: Currency Blocs and International Risk Sharing Advisor: Jeffrey Frankel

Amanda Friedenberg

Dissertation Title: Epistemic Analysis of Games Advisor: Adam Brandenburger

Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Economics Olin Business School Washington University in St. Louis

Daniel Devroye

Dissertation Title: Essays on Inequality: Causes and Consequences of Income Differences in the American Political Economy Advisor: Richard B. Freeman

Lucy Goodhart

Dissertation Title: Moderating Passions? Coalition Government and Policy Cycles in Advanced, Industrialized Democracies Advisor:  Jeffrey Frankel

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Political Science Columbia University

Anne Joseph

Dissertation Title: Political Appointees and Auditors of Politics: Essays on Oversight of the American Bureaucracy Advisor: Christopher Avery

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Berkeley Law School

Ruben Lubowski

Dissertation Title: Determinant of Land-Use Transitions in the United States: Econometric Analysis of Changes Among the Major Land-Use Categories Advisor: Robert Stavins

Job Placement: Research Economist U.S. Department of Agriculture

Jian-li Yang

Dissertation Title: Strategic Ambiguity in Electoral Politics Advisor:  Richard Zeckhauser

Job Placement:

Mary Kay Gugerty

Dissertation Title: Savings, Sanctions, and Support: Essays on Collective Action and Community Organizations in Kenya Advisor: Merilee Grindle

Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Public Affairs Evans School of Public Affairs University of Washington

Nathaniel owen Keohane

Dissertation Title: Essays in the Economics of Environmental Policy Advisor:  Robert Stavins

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics Yale University School of Management

Raja Nazrin

Dissertation Title: Essays on Economic Growth in Malaysia in the Twentieth Century Advisor: C. Peter Timmer

Job Placement: Crown Prince Perak, Malaysia

Miriam Jorgensen

Dissertation Title: Bringing the Background Forward: Evidence from Indian Country on the Social and Cultural Determinants of Economic Development Advisor: Joseph Kalt

Job Placement: Senior Researcher Harvard Project on American Indian Development

Vladimir Klyuev

Dissertation Title: Essays on Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy in Transition Economies Advisor: Dani Rodrik

Job Placement: Economist International Monetary Fund

Kathleen O’Neill

Dissertation Title: Decentralization in the Andes: Power to the People or Party Politics? Advisor:  Robert H. Bates , Jorge I. Dominguez,  Dani Rodrik

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Political Science Cornell University

Dissertation Title: Distributional Trade-offs and Partisan Politics in the Post-Industrial Economy Advisor:  Robert H. Bates ,  Peter A. Hall ,  Torben Iversen ,  Paul Pierson

Sousan Abadian

Dissertation Title: From Wasteland to Homeland: Trauma and the Renewal of Indigenous Peoples and Their Communities Advisor:  Amartya Sen

Job Placement: Consultant Private Company

Alison Alter

Dissertation Title: The Allocation of Legislative Property Rights in Comparative Perspective: The German Bundesrat and the United States Senate Advisor:  Kenneth A. Shepsle

Dissertation Title: Investment Appraisal of Management Strategies for Addressing Uncertainties Advisor: Glenn P. Jenkins

Job Placement: Vice-Chairman Jyoti Group of Companies

Ishtiaq Pasha Mahmood

Dissertation Title: Technological Innovation in East Asia and the Role of Business Groups Advisor: F.M. Scherer

Job Placement: Assistant Professor National University of Singapore

Rosemary Fernholz

Dissertation Title: Sustained Farmer Participation in Social Forestry: Case Study in the Philippines Advisor:  C. Peter Timmer

Job Placement: Visiting Professor College of Business and Economy De La Salle University, Philippines

Scott c. Bradford

Dissertation Title: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis of Trade Protection in Industrialized Democracies Advisor: Robert Lawrence

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Economics Brigham Young University

Mihir A. Desai

Dissertation Title: Essays in Corporate and Public Finance Advisor: Christopher Avery

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Harvard Business School

Sven e. Feldmann

Dissertation Title: Electoral Competition, Interest Group Influence, and Direct Democracy: Three Essays in Positive Political Economy Advisor:  Kenneth A. Shepsle

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Harris School of Public Policy University of Chicago

David D. Kane

Dissertation Title: Disagreement Advisor:  Richard Zeckhauser

Job Placement: Consultant Private Investment Company

Melissa a. Thomas

Dissertation Title: Building the Rule of Law: Government Design for Legal Implementation Advisor: Robert H. Bates

Fausto Alzati

Dissertation Title: The Political Economy of Growth in Modern Mexico Advisor:  C. Peter Timmer

Job Placement: Private Law Practice

Mark S. Bonchek

Dissertation Title: From Broadcast to Netcast: The Internet and the Flow of Political Information Advisor: Sidney Verba

Job Placement: Consultant Private Software Company

Alan C. Hartford

Dissertation Title: Academic-Industry Relationships in the Biomedical Sciences: Academic Norms and Conflicts of Interest Advisor: David Blumenthal

Job Placement: Academic Researcher Beth Israel Hospital

Steven J. Kafka

Dissertation Title: Delegation and Institutional Design: Bureaucratic Structure and the Political Control of Agencies Advisor:  Kenneth A. Shepsle

Adam S. Posen

Dissertation Title: Monetary Realism: Central Banks and the Political Economy of Disinflation Advisor: Benjamin Friedman

Job Placement: Economist Federal Reserve Bank

Nicholas n. Eberstadt

Dissertation Title: Policy and Economic Performance in Divided Korea, 1945-1995 Advisor:  C. Peter Timmer

Job Placement: Consultant American Enterprise Institute

Lionel R. Ingram

Dissertation Title: Major Factors Influencing Allied Decisions Regarding the Allocation of Resources to Defense Advisor: Richard Neustadt

Lora L. Sabin

Dissertation Title: The Development of Urban Labor Markets in Contemporary China Advisor: Dwight H. Perkins

Job Placement: Researcher College of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Alexander Schuessler

Dissertation Title: Symbols, Intention and Mass Participation: The Political Economy of Non-Rational Motivation Advisor:  Kenneth A. Shepsle

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Politics New York University

Steven A. Block

Dissertation Title: Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa Advisor:  C. Peter Timmer

Job Placement: Research Associate Harvard Institute for International Development

Jeffrey R. Franks

Dissertation Title: Collective Action in the Informal Sector of Developing Countries: A Rational Choice Approach Advisor:  Kenneth A. Shepsle

G. Oliver Fratzscher

Dissertation Title: The Political Economy of Trade Integration: Welfare Implications in a Trading Block Model, Political Sustainability in a Pressure Group Model, and Effects of FDI in a Gravity Model Advisor:  Robert Lawrence

Janet C. Gornick

Dissertation Title: Women, Employment, and Part-Time Work: A Comparative Study of the United States, The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia Advisor: William Julius Wilson

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Political Science City University of New York

Robert Lowry

Dissertation Title: The Political Economy of Environmental Citizen Groups Advisor: Joseph Kalt

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Department of Political Science Michigan State University

Kalypso a. Nicolaidis

Dissertation Title: Mutual Recognition Among Nations: The European Communities and Trade in Services Advisor: Robert O. Keohane

Job Placement: Assistant Professor of Public Policy Harvard Kennedy School

Subramanian Rangan

Dissertation Title: The Pricing and Sourcing Responses of United States Multinationals to Exchange Rate Changes Advisor:  Robert Lawrence

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Corporate Strategy and International Management Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires (INSEAD)

Francois DeGeorge

Dissertation Title: Essays on Initial Public Offerings of Stock Advisor:  Richard Zeckhauser

Job Placement: Assistant Professor Hautes Études Commerciales

Catherine A. Rielly

Dissertation Title: Do Households Pool Their Savings? An Empirical Investigation of Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (RoSCAs) in Cameroon Advisor:  C. Peter Timmer

Job Placement: Consultant Abt Associates

Gangadhar P. Shukla

Dissertation Title: Taxation of Exhaustible Natural Resources with Stochastic Prices Advisor: Glenn P. Jenkins

Job Placement: Research Associate Institute for International Development Harvard University

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Harvard violated its 2021 contract with the Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Auto Workers by excluding lab-based psychology Ph.D. students from the union’s bargaining unit, an arbitrator ruled on Friday.

The decision expands the HGSU-UAW bargaining unit by 70 members and forces Harvard to retroactively repay psychology research assistants for “lost benefits and payments” since April 30, 2022, according to a photo of the award posted on X by Steven W. Kasparek, one of the Harvard psychology graduate students who filed the grievance.

University spokesperson Jason A. Newton wrote in an emailed statement that the University is “reviewing this decision and considering all options.” Harvard could still decide to appeal the ruling.

According to Kasparek, the University deemed psychology lab work not “similar enough” to the research “hard” science Ph.D. students were doing and pointed to the outside fellowships that already provided financial support for some students.

Kasparek highlighted language in his contract with the University as a counterargument.

“A research assistant is in the union and a research assistant is any full-time PhD student who is conducting research under the supervision of one advisor,” Kasparek said. “That very clearly describes the psychology department’s setup for graduate students.”

“At the end of the day, when there’s a contract with very specific language, that’s what we’re comparing against, not what either side feels is or is not labor,” he added.

Eric Cohn, the HGSU-UAW Grievance Officer for this case, attributed the victory to the large organizing effort from psychology Ph.D. students.

“I think this was really a win that was very much due to engagement of workers in that department who worked really hard on preparing evidence, risking their own names and reputations to appear in arbitration before powerful faculty,” Cohn said.

Despite the apparent win, Kasparek is unsure of the final outcome of the case.

"I don’t know when or if we will actually see any of these changes made, particularly if they decide to appeal and what the decision of that will be," he said.

According to the 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement, decisions from arbitration “shall be final and binding on the parties, although each side retains whatever rights it has under state or federal law to challenge the decision and award.”

Still, Kasparsen said he believes this decision is “going to create the best environment for psychology students in the future.”

HGSU-UAW President Bailey Plaman said that going forward, the union will be “enforcing the ruling.”

“We have some workers that are owed retroactive access to benefits and back pay,” Plaman said, so the union will be “trying to actually get the University to comply with the ruling.”

—Staff writer Aran Sonnad-Joshi can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him on X @asonnadjoshi .

—Staff writer Sheerea X. Yu can be reached at [email protected] . Follow her on X @_shuhree_ .

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