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The harvard law school interview: questions & how to prepare.

Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 09/08/23

If you’re preparing for your Harvard Law Interview, read on to learn how to create effective answers to wow the admissions committee.

An invitation to interview with Harvard in and of itself is a major milestone. Less than 1,000 candidates are interviewed each year out of a pool of around 10,000 students.

Fortunately, your Harvard interview will be more casual than most. It will be conducted virtually and last about 15 minutes. The tone will be friendly and conversational but still formal, hopefully easing some of your interview anxiety.

Harvard Law suggests you reflect on three main questions when brainstorming responses to their interview questions: Why you? Why Harvard?, and why now? While these questions are a good place to start, you should also prepare for more specific Harvard Law interview questions, which this guide will cover!

Harvard Law Interview Questions and Answers

Two people shaking hands after an interview

Considering your interview will only last about 15 minutes, you’ll only be asked a handful of questions.

There are obviously your typical interview questions that you should prepare for, such as the classic “Tell us about yourself” and “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” but Harvard has some more unique questions they like to ask their candidates.

Here are some of their favorite interview questions :

1. Why Did You Pursue “X” Experience?

You’ll be required to submit a resume with your Harvard application, which will highlight various meaningful experiences and projects. At least one will stand out to the admissions committee and will likely be brought up during your interview.

The main traits you want to demonstrate when answering this question are thoughtfulness and enthusiasm. The committee wants to know that you put thought into your extracurriculars and didn’t just pursue them to build your resume.

You should also demonstrate a clear passion for the experience and state your reasons for pursuing it. Some questions to consider when you brainstorm your answer are:

What passion motivated you to pursue this experience?
What did you hope to learn or gain through it?
Did you achieve what you wanted?
How will this experience help you in your legal journey?
Will you continue this pursuit in law school or after?

The admissions committee will likely single out an experience that is seemingly unrelated to law or involves unique legal experience, such as working with underserved populations.

"I pursued an internship with "GreenEarth Advocates," a local environmental non-profit, because of my passion for sustainability and belief in grassroots impact. This internship offered a chance to advocate for responsible policies and community engagement.

One project involved implementing a successful recycling program in local schools, significantly reducing waste. This experience strengthened my commitment to environmental law, showing me the potential for legal expertise to create real change in environmental conservation."

2. Can You Give an Example of a Time You Navigated a Difficult Conversation in an Academic or Professional Setting?

As a law student and a future lawyer, you’ll encounter different opinions and views. The admissions committee wants to know that you can handle these opposing perspectives in a respectful and productive way.

Your answer to this question does not have to involve a major ethical dilemma you faced; it can be as simple as disagreeing with a peer during a group project or a time you addressed constant tardiness with a trainee. The focus shouldn’t be on the seriousness of the issue but on how you engaged in meaningful discussion to resolve it.

Here’s how you should set up your answer:

Step One: Clearly explain the situation—no need for extensive detail, just stick to the main facts
Step Two : Reiterate the differing views or opinions involved and acknowledge the validity of both sides
Step Three : Explain the outcome and what you learned through it

Ultimately, you should prove you could understand either the situation from the other party’s point of view or you helped them see it from your perspective. The main takeaway the admissions committee should have from your response is you’ve already begun developing the skills needed to handle tough conversations and situations.

"During a group project for a law course, we had differing opinions on approaching a complex case analysis. I led a conversation where we shared our views openly. When tensions rose, I suggested a balanced strategy that combined strong and cautious elements, addressing everyone's concerns.

By focusing on common goals, I helped us reach an agreement, showing the importance of working together and communicating well when faced with challenges."

3. What Are You Afraid of? What Are You Motivated by?

This is a two-part question that some admissions committee members prefer to ask together because the responses tend to be very similar—your fears typically drive your motivations.

Law school is difficult to get into but even harder to stay and thrive in. To prove you are truly dedicated to pursuing a career in law, you should demonstrate clear drive and motivation in this question. The committee will not be interested in your fear of spiders or the dark.

Think more philosophically. Are you afraid of being 70 years old and looking back on your life with regret? Are you afraid of self-sabotage or holding yourself back? Are you afraid of disappointing your young, bright-eyed and ambitious self who always dreamed of achieving greatness?

Perhaps there are certain words a parent or teacher said to you that always ring in your ears that you fear you will or will not live up to. Regardless of your fear, ensure it relates to your motivation to succeed in this field and remember the following pointers:

Avoid Clichés

Simply stating you’re motivated by a passion for law and a fear of settling for less is not specific enough to tell the committee more about your values. The committee wants to learn what really drives you, not just in your legal journey but also in your larger personal narrative. Provide specific answers that tell your story!

Answer Honestly

Do not provide the committee with an answer you think they want to hear; share your actual fears and motivations even if they seem unconventional—unconventional answers are likely to be more memorable.

Think about what your original motivations to pursue law were and how they’ve developed or changed.

Focus on You

It’s easy to Google generic answers to the question “What motivates you?” The Harvard interview committee knows this. While these searches can inspire you or help you come up with your own ideas, you mustn’t simply pick out an answer that sounds the best and roll with it.

If you simply use an answer off Google, you’ll struggle to keep up with the inevitable follow-up questions you’ll receive after your answer since this is such a complex question.

"I have a strong passion for environmental conservation. The idea of environmental degradation and its lasting consequences worries me deeply. However, on the flip side, the opportunity to contribute to this cause excites me greatly.

The thought of protecting ecosystems biodiversity, and combating climate change motivates me profoundly. Pursuing a legal education at Harvard Law School provides a pathway to use the law as a tool for positive environmental impact, and that's what fuels my determination."

4. What Are Some Things You Value in a Community as You Think About Making a Home for Yourself Over the Next Three Years?

Harvard has its own goals and values to uphold, and when considering you for their program, they want to know that you will contribute to these goals if you’re granted admission. Prove that your aspirations and principles align with Harvard’s and that you will thrive in their community.

Harvard is known for its collaborative, diverse, and dynamic community, so you may want to mention that you value environments where people with differing perspectives but similar goals can work together to create real change. Do your research, see what draws you to Harvard, and prove you’ll fit in!

“As I consider my next three years and finding my place within a community, I hold certain values close, particularly in environmentalism. I value diversity and inclusivity, as addressing environmental challenges requires a global perspective.

Collaboration and support are essential, as environmental issues demand collective efforts and learning from one another. Safety and a nurturing environment matter, allowing for open discussions on ecological solutions. Intellectual exchange is key too, fostering conversations on sustainability and conservation.

Lastly, a commitment to environmental stewardship aligns with my values, and I look for a community that shares this dedication.

In essence, I aim to find a community at Harvard Law School that embodies diversity, collaboration, safety, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to environmentalism. These values shape not only my academic journey but also my role in promoting environmental awareness and action.”

5. Do You Have Any Questions for Me?

At the end of your interview, you will be asked if you have any questions for the interviewer. As eager as you might be to simply say no and end the Zoom call as soon as possible, you should seize this opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the school and your eagerness to join it.

Prepare a few questions about what you want to learn about Harvard Law and pick whichever seems most fitting on interview day. Use student blogs, Harvard’s website, and previous students’ opinions on the school to learn more about its resources and accomplishments.

If there’s a clinic of particular interest to you, ask more about it. If there is a professor you’re eager to work with, explain why and ask about the courses and projects they’re planning for the upcoming year.

The committee will spend the better part of your interview getting to know you, so now it’s time to learn more about them. Ask a genuine and insightful question that proves your excitement to join Harvard Law.

“Yes, I appreciate the opportunity to ask a few questions. Could you please provide more insight into the ways in which Harvard Law School supports students' engagement with environmental law and advocacy?

I'm also curious about the opportunities for collaboration with local environmental organizations or initiatives. Finally, I'd like to know more about the extracurricular activities or student groups focused on environmental issues within the law school community.”

Words of Wisdom

While we’ve suggested several tips and considerations to keep in mind as you prepare for your interview, we discourage you from formulating full responses to memorize and reiterate on interview day. Instead, create jot notes for each question so there is natural flow in your response, and you do not sound robotic.

Harvard Law emphasizes that the way you speak is as important as what you say. Try to be relaxed and enjoy the conversation.

You should know what points you’d like to highlight and the information you’d like to share with the committee without tailoring them to one or two specific questions. By having more general jot notes that can be applied to various questions, you will feel more comfortable during the interview and will not feel caught off guard.

Tips How to Prepare for Harvard Law School Interview

There are a number of things you can do to set yourself up for success for your Harvard Law School interview. Keep reading for some helpful tips.

Researching the Employer

Before your Harvard Law School interview , do your homework about the organization or office where the interview will happen. Check their website, recent news, and learn about your interviewer if you can.

Talk to OPIA advisers, alumni, professors, or classmates who know about the place. This will help you understand their goals and what they do. With this knowledge, you can confidently demonstrate your understanding during the interview.

Crafting Your Story

Think of the interview as a chance to talk about yourself and how you fit with the organization. Use what you learned to show you're a good match and excited about the job.

Make a list of things you want to say during the interview. These can include why you want the job, your experiences that connect with the job, your skills, and what you're good at.

Mock Interviews

Practice is important, so try a practice interview with an adviser or a friend. This helps you get used to answering questions and getting feedback on your work. Make a list of things you want to talk about and practice using them in your answers. This makes you more confident for the real interview.

Understanding the Interview Format

Know what kind of interview you'll have. Will it be on the phone, on Zoom, or in person? Also, consider if it's for an internship or a job after graduation. Internship interviews are usually short and might be on the phone or online. Post-graduate interviews are longer and might have different rounds, like talking on the phone, online, or in person.

Telephone Interviews

For phone interviews, talk clearly and show you're excited. Prepare for it like a regular interview. Don't rely too much on notes. Use a good phone and pick a quiet place for the call. Make sure you know who will call whom and when.

Zoom or Virtual Interviews

Use a professional username and picture if you're doing a Zoom interview. Dress well and find a clean, quiet place with good light. Test your equipment before the interview and make sure your internet works well. Remember, they can see you, so stay focused.

Materials to Bring

For in-person interviews, bring extra copies of your resume and a list of people who can say good things about you. You might also want to bring other things you sent with your application, like your grades or writing samples. During the interview, don't look at notes too much.

By doing these things, you set yourself up for success for your Harvard Law School interview. If you need any extra support, our expert Harvard admissions team can help you prep.

FAQs: Harvard Law Interview

For any remaining questions on how to ace your Harvard Law interview, read on to find your answers.

1. Does Harvard Law Interview All Applicants?

No, Harvard Law only interviews a small percentage of their applicants. They interview candidates on a rolling basis, meaning they send interview invites out as they review applications.

If your application stands out and the committee is intrigued to learn more, you will be asked to interview.

2. How Many People Get Interviews at Harvard Law?

Less than 1,000 applicants in the 2021 admissions cycle were invited to interview.

3. Is it Rare to Get an Interview With Harvard?

Considering less than 10% of applicants are extended interview invitations, it is rare to be interviewed. However, if you submit a memorable personal statement , a stellar resume, and have high scores , it’s likely you will be asked to interview.

4. How Do I Prepare for My Harvard Law Interview?

Go over the most common interview questions and the ones listed in this guide. Abide by the suggestions we’ve made and avoid memorizing full responses. Think of the main points you want to bring up so that you can incorporate them into various types of questions.

5. How Long Is the Harvard Law Interview?

The Harvard Law interview will take around 15 minutes to complete.

6. What Should I Do After The Harvard Law School Interview?

Sending thank-you notes after individual interviews is a good idea. It's best to write them within 24 hours, either by email or hand. Thank the interviewer for their time, mention what you talked about, show your interest in the organization or position, and invite further communication.

Just remember not to send thank-you notes to government employers as they might experience delays in receiving them.

7. When Does Harvard Law Send Interview Invitations?

As your application goes through the review process, there's a chance you'll receive an interview invitation from the Admissions Committee. These interviews take place starting in November and continue throughout the admissions cycle.

8. What's the Average Waiting Time for a Response Following an Interview at Harvard Law School?

Harvard law school lets applicants know about their post-interview decision approximately six weeks, although there's no need to worry if it takes a bit longer.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to answer Harvard’s favorite interview questions should hopefully make this nerve-wracking step of the application process more manageable! Do your best to stay relaxed, provide insightful answers, and let your personality shine through!

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Ph.D. Program Details

Why a Ph.D. in Law? • Course of Study • Placement and Support on the Law Teaching Market • Tuition and Financial Aid

Why a Ph.D. in Law?

In addition to offering an opportunity to study and contribute to the evolution of law as an academic field of study, the Ph.D. in Law program provides an excellent pathway to a career in legal scholarship and law teaching. Whether it is right for any individual candidate depends on a variety of factors. If you are trying to decide between the Ph.D. in Law program and a fellowship or a visiting assistant professorship (VAP), you should keep in mind a number of considerations, including that the Ph.D. in Law program is a three-year course of study beyond the J.D. and that it provides a more structured program—including coursework, qualifying exams, and close faculty supervision—than do most fellowships or VAPs. The Ph.D. in Law program requires coursework, a written and an oral comprehensive exam, a dissertation—which may take the form of a traditional monograph or three law review articles—and teaching experience. You should also consider the availability of appropriate mentors in different programs. At Yale Law School, you will have a three-member faculty committee advising you throughout your time in the Ph.D. program, and you will have an opportunity to work closely with a wide range of Yale faculty in your courses and in your research and writing. In addition, you will have the opportunity to engage fully in the intellectual life of Yale Law School and Yale University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences .

If you are trying to decide between the Ph.D. in Law and a Ph.D. in another discipline, many of the same considerations come into play. Please keep in mind that Ph.D. programs in economics, political science, history, and other fields train scholars to produce research responsive to the questions central to those disciplines. The scholarship produced by law faculties—and expected of candidates for teaching positions at law schools—is largely motivated by different sets of questions. While many students are able to apply their training in other disciplines to the study of law, a significant advantage of the Ph.D. in Law program is that it is designed specifically to prepare students for careers in legal scholarship, rather than in scholarship in another field. We should also stress that the Ph.D. in Law program welcomes applications from candidates with interdisciplinary research interests—significant advanced training in other disciplines as a part of the Ph.D. in Law program is encouraged, where appropriate.

Course of Study

Applicants to the Ph.D. in Law program should know the area of law in which they would like to specialize and should be prepared to articulate that interest in a research proposal. Applicants’ research proposals, however, are not expected to be as refined as a dissertation prospectus, and it is anticipated that the nature of students’ projects and interests will evolve over their time in the program. Each student will have a faculty Advisory Committee, which will work with the student to develop the research project into a dissertation prospectus and, eventually, a dissertation—which may take the form of three significant, publishable articles that might appear in a leading law review, or a single, book-length manuscript.

The First Year

Most students will dedicate much of their first year in the program to coursework. Students will work with their Advisory Committees to select as many as six courses that will best prepare them to carry out their research projects. In cases where students have already completed relevant graduate training, their Advisory Committees may waive up to four of the six required courses.

All first-year Ph.D. candidates will be required to take a two-semester pro-seminar on legal scholarship and methodologies. The first semester of this pro-seminar will be dedicated to reading and discussing canonical works of legal scholarship. The second semester will be devoted to the presentation and discussion of student papers in a workshop format. The pro-seminar, required of all Ph.D. candidates, will be the cornerstone of a genuine intellectual and professional community, serving as well as an opportunity for students working in different areas of law to interact with and to learn from each other and from the faculty leading these and other seminars and workshops.

During their second semester, all Ph.D. candidates will complete the first of two qualifying examinations. The pro-seminar will constitute the primary preparation for this first, written, examination. During their second semester and first summer in the program, students will also work with their Advisory Committees to prepare for a second qualifying exam in their area of specialization. Unlike the first qualifying exam, which measures the breadth of a candidate’s knowledge, the second is an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the candidate’s area of specialization. The second qualifying exam will be conducted orally by the candidate’s Advisory Committee members and ordinarily will be administered at the beginning of the third semester in the program.

The Second Year

After passing the second qualifying exam, candidates will assemble a faculty Dissertation Committee. This committee often will—but does not have to—include the same faculty members who served on the candidate’s initial Advisory Committee. In their second year, students will work with their Dissertation Committees to bring their dissertation prospectus to fruition. The dissertation itself is expected to take the form of either a book-length manuscript or three publishable law review articles; it will usually constitute a portfolio of writing which students can use on the job market. Once the dissertation prospectus is approved, students are expected to spend the remainder of their time in the program, including summers, researching and writing the dissertation.

Each candidate in the Ph.D. in Law program also will gain training and experience in teaching, and will be required to participate in two semester-long teaching experiences. There will be a number of ways in which students may fulfill the teaching requirement. These may include (1) serving as a teaching assistant for a Law School course; (2) serving as a teaching assistant for a course in Yale College or another school at Yale; (3) co-teaching a class with a Yale Law School faculty member; (4) leading a Yale Law School Reading Group course; (5) teaching an independent seminar in one of the Yale Residential Colleges; or, (6) in unusual situations, teaching their own course. In all cases, students completing their teaching requirements will have faculty supervision, as well as close contact with and feedback from their advisors. The particular teaching assignment and the timing of this requirement will be determined by the candidate in consultation with his or her Advisory and/or Dissertation Committee, but ordinarily candidates will complete the first of their teaching requirements in the second semester of the second year of the program.

The Third Year

Those students interested in pursuing a career as a professor of law generally should expect to go on the job market during their third year in the program. Ph.D. candidates will be offered access to the same wide range of support in this endeavor as Yale Law School currently provides to its students, alumni, and fellows who enter the law teaching market. Students will otherwise devote the third year to completing their dissertation and, in many cases, completing a second teaching experience. Students will generally be expected to complete the program after three years, but requests to extend the course of study beyond three years will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, funding may be limited.

Placement and Support on the Law Teaching Market

Yale Law School has enjoyed tremendous success in helping its students secure law teaching positions. The Law School often places 25-40 of its graduates in tenure-track positions at law schools each year. Despite its relatively small size, Yale Law School has produced approximately ten percent of all professors currently teaching in American law schools. A recent study found that of the 189 faculty at the top sixteen law schools who had received their J.D. in the preceding fifteen years, a plurality—80 professors—graduated from Yale Law School. Many deans at law schools across the country and around the world also are Yale graduates.

The Law School provides comprehensive support to all its students, alumni, and fellows, guiding them through all stages of the legal teaching job market. Ph.D. in Law candidates enjoy access to the full range of support services currently available to Yale Law School students, alumni, and fellows.

For more information, consult the Law Teaching Program’s website .

Tuition and Financial Aid

Ph.D. in Law candidates will receive a full-tuition fellowship and a living stipend at an amount set by the Graduate School, Yale Basic Health coverage, and a Health Award covering the cost of hospitalization and specialty coverage. Financial support is conditioned on the student's making satisfactory academic progress. The Ph.D. in Law program is administered jointly by the Graduate School and the Law School. More information on financial aid and the cost of living in New Haven can be found on the Graduate School's website .

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Formulating a research question.

Last update: April 21, 2022

The start of any research project lies with whatever it is you are interested in. It could be a specific topic, an event, a piece of legislation or any collection of facts and phenomena that puzzles you and triggers questions. The key is then to determine the research question that will guide your research. As with many parts of the research process, the research question can change and develop as you engage with the relevant literature and data. You don’t have to form a fixed research question at the very beginning of the research process. Nonetheless, it is essential to never lose sight of your research question. Your research question has implications for which methods will be used during the analysis and which central goals the study is set up to accomplish.

There are three main reasons why the formulation of the research question is essential for the research process and has to be done with great care:

Condensing the topic, you are interested in into a single question forces you to really get to what exactly it is you want to know and which key variables are involved.
Every research question requires a justification as to why it is being posed. Has this question not yet been answered definitively? Why is this question significant for the field?
The research question has to fit what you are actually doing in your work. A question that is too broad will make it impossible for you to sufficiently answer it. If your question is too specific, the answer might be uninteresting.

Research questions are often sorted into different categories. As with most categorizations, these types of questions differ depending on the field of study. The biggest fault lines when it comes to the different types of research questions lie (1) between normative and descriptive research, (2) within the latter between theoretical and empirical research, and (3) within empirical research between descriptive and explanatory questions. Toshkov (2016) differentiates descriptive, predictive, and explanatory research while Chui (2017) categorizes them as descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory. No matter which exact typology of research question you are working with, it is always helpful to reflect on these key fault lines. Is the goal of your research to determine what ought to be or study the world as it is ? Will you be doing theoretical or empirical work? If you are working with empirics, are you focusing on the collection of facts surrounding a phenomenon (What is happening? What has happened?) or are you trying to determine causal mechanisms and structures (Why is this happening? How has this happened?)?

If your research topic constitutes a lack of information on a phenomenon, a type of legal proceeding or a specific event for example, a descriptive research question underlines the objective of your research of collecting facts that would be necessary to set-up further analyses or theory building. Descriptive research can utilize a number of methodologies ranging from archival work, ethnographic participant observation to conducting large-N surveys examining one or multiple cases.

If you want to determine the how or why of a phenomenon or event, then you are aiming to uncover causal mechanisms or structures and hence require an explanatory research question. For a more detailed outline of the set-up of explanatory legal research, please refer to Jaroslaw Kantorowicz’s entry on “ Causality in Research Design ”.

Finally, a few guiding questions to keep in mind when (re)formulating your research question:

Is the question concise and grammatically as well as structurally formulated in a way that is easily understood?
Is the question open-ended?
Does the question reflect your research goal?
Is the question making use of normative language (and should it)?
Is the question researchable and can be feasibly answered within the scope of the study?
Does your research address everything mentioned in your research question?

Chui, W. H., & McConville, Michael. (2017). Research methods for law (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: Edinburgh Univ. P.

Dunleavy, P. (2015). Authoring a PhD: how to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan education.

Halperin, S., & Heath, O. (2020). Political research: methods and practical skills (Third edition.).

Toshkov, D. (2016). Research design in political science.

Wellington, J., Bathmaker, A.-M., Hunt, C., McCulloch, G., & Sikes, P. (2005). Succeeding with Your Doctorate. In Succeeding with Your Doctorate. London: SAGE Publications.

Ph.D. Program in Law & Economics

Student Profiles

Program Overview

Vanderbilt Law School's Ph.D. Program in Law and Economics is unlike any other. Dual-degree students pursue a J.D. and a Ph.D. concurrently in a fully integrated curriculum that combines economic theory and methodology with the study of law. The program is designed so that students complete both degrees in just six years. Admitted students receive a full funding package , including tuition for both degrees and a competitive annual stipend, for all six years of study.

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About our Program

Applicants must complete separate applications to Vanderbilt Graduate School and Vanderbilt Law School. Each applicant's Law School and Graduate School applications will be considered together in a collaborative admissions process.

Program faculty guide students through an innovative law and economics curriculum in which students pursue policy-relevant research. The program offers four primary research fields: behavioral law and economics, labor markets and human resources, law and economics, and risk and environmental regulation.

Program graduates are in tenured or tenure-track positions at University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University at Buffalo, Florida State University, George Mason University, University of Texas, Vanderbilt University, and Western Kentucky University, as well as in positions in government, legal practice, and consulting.

The Law & Economics/Applied Microeconomics Seminar Series brings scholars from around the world to Vanderbilt to present research spanning a variety of fields and topics. The program also hosts a variety of conferences, including the biennial Frontiers in Law and Economics (FILE) conference.

Application Closed for Fall 2024

How to Apply

August 15, 2024

Applications open for Fall 2025

January 15, 2025

Deadline for priority consideration

April 1, 2025

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The Graduate Program attracts lawyers of demonstrated intellectual and academic excellence from all over the world. The LL.M. and S.J.D. programs expose students to American modes of legal education (which emphasize critical thinking and self-inquiry) as well as to substantive law, and enhance our students’ ability to do advanced scholarly work. The Graduate Program also hosts the Visiting Scholar/Visiting Researcher program, which accommodates a small number of legal scholars and researchers from around the world who are engaged in major research projects for which the Law School’s outstanding library resources may be of assistance.

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Learn about all aspects of the admissions processes for our LL.M., S.J.D., and Visiting Scholar/Visiting Researcher programs, as well as financial aid and billing.

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PhD Interview Questions and Answers – 12 Things You May Be Asked

PhD Interview Questions and Answers

Written by Mark Bennett

Your PhD interview will be an important part of your postgraduate research application. This is your chance to meet your prospective department, discuss your project and show your potential as an academic researcher.

Of course, it’s also when that potential is going to be assessed.

You’ll need to show an awareness of what’s involved in a PhD project and prove that you have the right aspirations and approach to work on one for three (or more) years. You’ll also need to make it clear that this is the right university , department, research group or laboratory for you.

None of this has to be especially intimidating. Putting some thought into your project and your choice of institution can make answering PhD entrance interview questions quite simple.

On this page we’ve put together a list of the questions you might be asked at an interview. We’ve also explained why the university might be asking each question, and provided some tips on how to answer them

You won’t necessarily be asked all of these questions – and you almost certainly won’t be asked them in the order here. Some of them also overlap with each other. But they’re all topics that you should prepare to discuss at a PhD interview .

We’ve also included a selection of questions to ask during a PhD interview .

Let's get you PhD ready

Interview questions about you

Your qualities as a researcher, team-member and individual are some of the most important factors in a university’s decision to accept you for a PhD.

Regardless of your subject area, you need to be the kind of person who can dedicate themselves to a three-year project. You also need to be able to work alongside other students and academics in a positive and successful research environment.

The interview is the best way for a university to assess this. Just as there’s more to doing a PhD than research and writing, there’s more to a prospective candidate than their academic record.

#1 Tell us about yourself…

This popular opener can feel like an awkwardly open ‘question’.

You’ll be prepared to explain your project, to say what a great fit it is for the university, perhaps even reference some current research. But how do you ‘answer’ an invitation to introduce yourself?

By introducing yourself.

Your interview panel isn’t trying to catch you out here. They’re offering an icebreaker to help ease you into the rest of the interview.

Obviously your response should be relevant to the occasion. But it doesn’t just have to be a presentation of your academic achievements, interests and goals (the interview will get to those in time!).

Say a little about your background, where you’re from and what your interests are. Don’t be afraid to relate these to your academic specialism and your choice of university.

If something specific inspired you to consider a PhD, mention it. If there’s something that’s attracted you to this city as well as the university, say so. (There’ll be plenty of time to talk up the institution and its research later).

I’ve always been interested in discovering how things work, but my time as an undergraduate opened my eyes to the excitement and wider benefit of science. I had the chance to do some original research on my Masters and that’s inspired me to take up the challenge of a PhD. I’m also a keen hiker and amateur naturalist, so I’d love to combine my studies here with the chance to visit the local area.
I was born in a house next to the local post-office. My first cat was called Timothy and he liked chasing string. At school my best friend was Kevin. My favourite colour is blue and my favourite flavour of ice-cream is raspberry ripple…

#2 What made you choose to do a PhD?

At some point in your interview your interviewers are going to want to know why you decided to do a doctorate.

This may seem like a simple question, but be wary of giving an overly simplistic answer. Just pointing out that you’re good at your subject and a PhD seemed like the logical next step won’t be enough – especially if there’s a funding decision to be made.

The panel is already satisfied that you’re academically capable and interested. You’ve demonstrated that by getting an interview (and turning up for it).

Now they want to assure themselves that you’ve got the motivation and drive to see you through three or more years of hard work on a PhD project.

I’ve enjoyed my academic work so far, but I really feel I’ve got more to offer as an independent researcher. I’m also passionate about this subject and don’t feel enough attention has been paid to the questions I’m looking to address.
I can’t think of anything to do with my Masters, but my current tutor says I’m clever enough for a PhD.

#3 What do you plan to do after you complete your PhD?

It might seem strange for your panel to ask about your post PhD plans. After all, those don’t have any really impact on your ability to do a PhD, do they? And graduation is at least three years away in any case; should you have thought that far ahead?

The answers to which are ‘yes’ and ‘of course you should.’

Universities want to make sure you’re doing a PhD for the right reasons (as above). Asking about your future plans is a great way to check this.

Students who ‘sleepwalk’ into a research project are much more likely to come unstuck or lose motivation when the going gets tough later on.

This doesn’t mean you have to have everything worked out, or that your ambitions have to be unique. If you're planning to apply for a post-doc after your PhD, say so. But demonstrate an understanding of academic career paths – and show that you’ve put some thought into alternatives.

It’s also the case that not everyone who gains a doctorate will go on to an academic job. Universities want to recruit PhD students responsibly and provide the kinds of skills and training they actually need.

So, don’t feel that you have to want to be a scholar to be accepted for a PhD. Research training can prepare you for a range of career paths . An appreciation of these will impress your interview panel. (Particularly if you’re applying for a professional doctorate ).

I feel my PhD project can open up new lines of inquiry for this field and want to use it as the foundation for a fruitful research career. But, I’m also interested in the wider development opportunities included in this doctoral programme. I want to be an academic, but I’m happy to keep other options open.
I expect someone will give me a job doing more research. That’s what PhDs do, right?

#4 What are your strengths and weaknesses?

A well-worn question, but a great opportunity to reflect on your abilities - as well as opportunities for further development during your PhD.

What your panel is really interested in is not so much what your strengths and weaknesses actually are , but your ability to identify them.

In practice, this means giving solid examples for strengths and showing how they relate to the PhD project you have in mind.

Don’t just say you’re a good time-keeper. Point out when you’ve had to be well organised and show that you understand the importance of self-directed study to a successful PhD.

When it comes to weaknesses, maintain the right balance.

A PhD interview probably isn’t the best time to wallow in existential self-doubt (unless you’re applying for a very specific topic in Philosophy). Equally though, answers like ‘my only downfall is excessive perfectionism’ can sound a bit contrived. If the panel is asking you about strengths and weaknesses, they want you to identify and reflect on both.

Be honest about the things you find challenging, but identify them as training needs and discuss how you expect to improve upon them as part of your PhD.

I feel that I’m a good written communicator. My existing academic and professional work demonstrates an ability to put forward ideas clearly and concisely. I think this will help me manage the weight of information my PhD research needs to cover and the challenge of producing an effective thesis. But, I’m not always as organised as I’d like to be. I want to address this as part of my postgraduate training and hope to take advantage of classes and development opportunities early in my doctorate.
My greatest strength is that I have no weaknesses! And my only weakness is that I have no strengths. Hang on...

#5 Are there any training needs you can identify ahead of your PhD?

This question (and its answer) can be part of an invitation to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses (as above).

But, you may be asked about training needs more specifically. This is likely if you’re applying to a more structured programme, within a Doctoral Training Partnership or similar.

Either way, this is a great opportunity to reflect on your aspirations as a researcher and show that you’ve read up on the project you’re applying to. If the university offers a series of training modules, mention them. Say what you hope to gain from them and how you think they’ll help you succeed in your PhD.

You might also want to refer to any discussion of your aims and aspirations with a doctorate. If you’re keeping an open mind about non-academic career paths, show an awareness of the transferrable skills this PhD can give you.

And don’t worry about revealing a few gaps in the core skills required by your discipline. A PhD is a training process, not a three-year exam.

I’m really interested in communicating my research to a wider audience, but don’t know how best to go about doing this. I think the training module on public engagement will be a big help to me, both academically and more generally.
I’m really bad at interviews. Do you have a class for that?

Interview questions about your PhD project

This is the university’s chance to further assess your suitability for an advertised PhD position, and the likely fit between your planned project and the expertise it has available.

It’s also your chance to expand on your research proposal and show that you have the skills, experience and understanding to complete a doctorate. For funded places (or other competitive projects), this is the time for you to prove that you are the best student for this PhD.

It’s a good idea to reference your research proposal (or other appropriate parts of your application) when answering these questions. But expand upon what the panel has already read. (And make sure there isn’t anything in that proposal that you aren’t confident enough to ‘back up’ in your interview!)

#6 Why this project?

The exact focus of this question will depend on whether you’re applying for an advertised PhD project (more common in Science, Engineering and Medicine) or proposing your own research within a department's PhD programme (more common in Arts, Humanities and some branches of the Social Sciences).

If you’re being considered for a pre-defined project, make sure you know it inside out. Say what it is that interests you about it. Compare it to similar projects (if appropriate) and explain your particular choice.

If you’re proposing your own project, this is your chance to show some passion and enthusiasm for it. Refer to your research proposal and take the opportunity to discuss and expand upon it.

In both cases you should point to some existing scholarship and show an awareness of the field you’ll be entering. You’ll also want to re-iterate what makes your project distinctive. After all, the PhD is defined as offering ‘an original contribution to knowledge.’

This doesn’t mean preparing a comprehensive list of key works or current research projects (that ‘literature review’ will be one of the first things you do on the actual PhD). At this stage the panel just wants to see that you understand your proposed project and are enthusiastic enough to see it through.

Depending on how the question is phrased, you may also discuss your choice of university at this stage – or explain why your previous work makes you a good fit for this particular PhD (see below).

This PhD appeals to my existing research interests. But I’m also attracted by the opportunity to specialise and develop new expertise. Other projects didn’t seem to offer the same possibilities to pursue the questions that really interest me.
To be honest, I’ll do anything if it’s funded.

#7 What makes you the right candidate for this PhD?

If you’re applying for a pre-defined PhD project , you’ll almost certainly be asked why you are the best candidate to undertake it (especially if there’s funding available).

Remember too that some of these projects aren’t automatically funded. Their financing can depend on the quality of the student they attract, so your panel will be very keen to make sure you’re going to be ‘Dr Right’.

You might still be asked about your suitability for a self-proposed PhD (in Arts or Humanities, for example). This is another way for your interviewers to assess those all-important motivation and commitment factors.

Whatever your situation, this is a good place to talk a bit about your previous work at undergraduate or Masters level. The panel already knows the grades you received, but now you have the chance to talk about what you actually did on those degrees. Show passion and give examples.

If an undergraduate module on gothic literature inspired you to propose a PhD on an under-researched aspect of eighteenth-century culture, say so. If your Masters has given you skills in exactly the kind of statistical analysis required by this doctorate, mention that.

I’ve been interested in this topic since the final year of my undergraduate degree. This lead to my choice of Masters and helped me pick my dissertation topic, which I really enjoyed. I’m really excited to now go on and do some sustained research in this area as a PhD student.
Well, I really like books…

#8 What difficulties do you expect to encounter during this project?

This is another fairly popular question topic. It might form part of a discussion of your strengths, weaknesses and training needs. Or you might be invited to speak more specifically about the challenges involved in your project.

The panel isn’t trying to catch you out here, so don’t be afraid to speak frankly. All projects involve their own potential pitfalls and complications.

Overcoming them will be part of completing a PhD; recognising them will show that you're ready to begin one.

Show that you’ve put some thought into the approach necessary for your research and the methodology you might use.

Don’t be afraid to identify problems you aren’t yet certain how to solve (the best way to organise some data, the authors to include in your initial survey of texts, etc) but suggest how you might go about investigating them.

This is also a good time to mention any training needs (if you haven’t already) and speak about how you plan to take advantage of development opportunities within your programme.

I can see that some of the archival material I’ll need to examine for this project may be difficult to access. My first task will be to request permissions, arrange visits and develop a system for recording my findings. I’m hoping to undertake training in archival practices and seek advice from my supervisor as I develop these key skills early in my project.
Yeah, I know a PhD is hard, but I’m just going to see how I get on.

#9 What would you like the impact of this project to be?

‘Impact’ is an increasingly important factor in academic work and this applies to PhD research too – especially if you’re funded.

Even if your panel doesn’t explicitly ask about impact, it’s a good idea to mention what you hope the wider outcome of your project might be. If you are asked this question – and are prepared for it – this is a great chance to get a leg up on the competition.

Impact essentially refers to the measurable effects of research outside academia. It’s a given that your PhD will have an effect on future work in your field. But universities are increasingly focussed on the benefits of their work beyond the ‘ivory tower’ of higher education and research.

This is particularly important if your project is funded. The money supporting your studies will probably have come from public revenues (via a Research Council studentship) or from a large charity or trust. Those organisations will want to make sure their investment is worthwhile.

Examples of impact differ a bit between fields.

If you’re in the Social Sciences you may already have some idea of the ‘outputs’ from your project. These could be educational workshops, policy guidance, etc.

If you’re in Science, Medicine or Engineering you’ll hope to provide economic benefits to industry or to healthcare.

Arts and Humanities PhDs can have impact too. Think about the ways in which you could take part in public engagement, such as teaching people about local history or archival resources. You could partner with local schools, or even media companies producing documentary work.

I’m keen to share my passion for this subject with a wider audience. I’m hoping to maintain a public-facing blog documenting my research. I would also be keen to approach local schools and museums to discuss educational events.
To be honest, I can’t really see how my work on medieval manuscript preservation has any benefit outside the university. I’d still like some funding though.

#10 How will you fund this project?

This question is obviously more likely in interviews for non-funded PhDs. (It would be somewhat strange for a university to ask you about funding for a project that carries a full studentship).

However, you might still be asked about contingency plans if funding falls through (particularly if funding hasn’t been secured at this stage) or if your project over-runs.

Self-funding students will obviously need to go into more detail here. It’s not the responsibility of your university to ask for a complete breakdown of your finances (or for you to provide one). Yet the panel will want to be sure that you understand the cost involved in doing a PhD and have some kind of plans in place.

It’s fine to say that you’ll be looking for extra funding and part-time work as you start the project. But make it clear that you’ll still have enough time to apply yourself to the actual research.

I’ve shortlisted external funders and would be keen to investigate any small bursaries or other forms of support through the university. I’ve also made arrangements to work part-time, with the option to adjust this if my funding situation improves.
I have no idea how I’m going to afford this. Are you sure I can’t have a scholarship?

Interview questions about your choice of university

Unsurprisingly, your interview panel will be interested to know why you’ve chosen their university for your PhD.

If proposing your own project you’ll be asked about the fit between your research aims and the expertise of the department you’d be entering.

If applying to a pre-defined PhD, you’ll be invited to explain why this laboratory or research group particularly appeals to you and what you yourself can contribute to them.

Preparing for these kinds of questions is actually quite easy. Read up on your prospective university, department and supervisors. Show that you’re aware of the kind of work they do and give examples.

Feel free to mention other aspects of the university that appeal to you – its reputation, its alumni, even its location – but keep the main focus on the fit between your work and their research environment.

#11 Why have you chosen to study a PhD at this university?

Whatever else your panel asks, you can be pretty sure a question about your choice of university and department will crop up at some point in a PhD interview.

Your answer gives you the opportunity to do several important things.

Most obviously you can talk about the university and its research. Explain why you’d like to study with these supervisors in particular, when you’ve used their work during your Bachelors degree or Masters (if relevant) and how you can contribute to their future projects.

This is also an opportunity to reiterate your awareness of the wider research context for your project. If other departments or laboratories are undertaking related work, mention that. Say what attracted you to this university in particular and what you hope to achieve as one of its students.

If your PhD is part of a structured Doctoral Programme (as is increasingly likely) you can touch on any training and development opportunities it includes. You may mention these elsewhere in your interview, but make sure to include them when speaking about the university’s appeal to you.

Finally, show an awareness of any relevant research facilities, resources or collections.

Does the university hold a unique archive? Suggest how it might support your investigations. Has the laboratory you’re working in been equipped with any new facilities? Show that you know about them and are interested in using them (as relevant).

Universities spend a lot of money on facilities and resources. They want students – particularly postgraduate researchers – who will make use of them.

I’ve looked at lots of opportunities in this area. I feel that this project is the best of its kind, combining a unique research angle with a training programme that will meet my professional needs. I was already familiar with the work of my prospective supervisor and their research has greatly informed my own development as a scholar. I’m eager to combine my work with theirs and make use of the facilities the university has put together for this project.
I did my Masters here and already have a flat in the city.

#12 What can you bring to this research group?

PhD candidates are more than just students. You’ll function, in many ways, as a junior academic working within a wider research environment.

You’ll network with other students and academics. You’ll probably teach undergraduates. You may even publish some of your research (independently, or alongside your supervisor).

This means that your potential contribution to a department or laboratory is, in many ways, just as important as what it can offer you.

If you’re asked a question about this, take the opportunity to sell yourself a little.

Talk about your experience (academic or professional) and outline your ambitions. Make it clear that you will provide a return on the time, money and resources that the university is considering investing in you.

I’m eager to take advantage of the facilities and expertise this university has to offer. But I also want to contribute with my own expertise and enthusiasm. My previous work has given me the skills to make the most of the material involved in this project and I’m motivated to participate in new training. I’ll be proud to be a part of this department and would actively seek to represent it through my own publications and other research outputs.
I have a Bachelors and a Masters in this subject so I’m quite clever.

What to ask in a PhD interview

Your PhD entrance interview will probably end with an invitation for you to ask your own questions of the panel. This part of the interview is as important as the answers you'll have already given.

Asking good questions demonstrates your motivation. It also shows that you’ve given some genuine consideration to the project and / or programme you’re applying to.

Don’t just ask questions ‘for effect’ though. This is your chance to find out more about the project you’ll be doing, the people you’ll be working with and the expectations of you as a PhD student.

Remember: you’re a good student, with lots of potential. You’re considering at least three years of hard work with this university. You need to know that you’ll get on with your supervisor, that your work will be appreciated and that there are good prospects for your project.

You’re here to be interviewed for a PhD, but nothing’s stopping you from doing a little interviewing of your own.

Here are a few good questions to considering asking at your PhD interview. They include ways to express enthusiasm for your project, as well as some useful inquiries to make for yourself:

What will the supervision arrangements be for the project?

This shows that you’re thinking practically and looking ahead to the process of actually doing the PhD. It’s also something you’ll probably want to check for yourself.

What kind of training and skills sessions are offered as part of the PhD programme?

This shows that you’re interested in the development opportunities that form part of a modern PhD. It’s also a good way to address any concerns you have about your own skills. Be careful though. Avoid asking simple questions about material that’s already covered in the PhD project description, or in the university’s postgraduate prospectus.

Will I have opportunities to teach / present / publish?

This is something else you’ll want to know for yourself, but it also demonstrates a practical approach to your PhD (and future career). A good PhD programme should offer some opportunity to teach or demonstrate towards the end of your project. Equally, you should be encouraged to communicate your research and supported in doing so.

How many other PhD students has this supervisor seen to completion?

Don’t be afraid to ask about previous students and what they’ve gone on to do. You may also want to know if you’ll be working with or alongside other students and what the arrangements for that will be.

Are there likely to be any changes to the funding arrangements for the project?

A good practical question. If you’re applying for a funded place, make sure you understand the terms of that funding (its duration, whether you can combine it with any other income, etc). If you’re currently self-funding, it won’t hurt to ask if the university anticipates having any support available for you in future.

Is the university or department likely to run any events or other associated projects during the period of my PhD?

This might not seem like an obvious question, but it’s worth asking. The university might be in the early stages of planning a major hosted conference, external partnership or outreach project. Asking about these shows a genuine interest in your university and its research and suggests that you’ll be the right sort of PhD student to help deliver them. Needless to say, these kinds of projects are also excellent opportunities to gain experience and build your CV.

Other questions will probably occur to you according to your specific circumstances and the nature of the project you’re applying to.

Focus on the things that would concern you as a student actually doing the PhD in question, but avoid trivial topics. Your panel will be happy to talk about library resources and lab facilities. They’ll be less keen to advise on the best local pubs or say how often the bus runs between campus and town.

Also try to avoid asking for information that’s readily available elsewhere. This suggests you haven’t done your research – which is never a good sign when applying to do research.

Still looking for that perfect PhD project?

While you're preparing for the interview stage of applications, it's a good idea to keep searching as many PhD projects are advertised throughout the year .

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100 Law School Interview Questions and Answers

Featured Expert: Aaron Schulze, JD

Practicing with law school interview questions and answers is essential if you want to be prepared. Given how intimidating law school acceptance rates can be, it is normal to be nervous, and you have to make sure to do everything possible to increase your chances of success. If you are not sure where to start, our law school admissions consulting experts have prepared a list of 60 common and challenging interview questions with example answers!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 15 min read

Quick guide to preparing for your law school interviews.

It’s important to know that not all law schools interview. Most law schools in the US and law schools in Canada leave the decision to interview an applicant up to the admissions committee – in other words, it is not a mandatory step in the admissions process. So the admissions committee can choose to invite someone to an interview or simply reach out to a student via phone. This is exactly the experience of our admissions expert Aaron Schulze, JD:

“I actually did not have any interviews. I applied a bit later in the application cycle and did not get any interviews. I was waitlisted by one of my top choices and had a very informal call a few days before decisions were made. However, it was primarily to determine if I was still interested and to inform me that I had been accepted.” – Aaron Schulze, JD, University of Texas School of Law

Some of the top tier law schools among the T14 law schools interview by invitation only, which means that not all the applicants who get accepted have to go through an interview. Getting an interview invite from one of these schools may mean that the admissions committee wants to get to know you a little better or to give you a chance to clarify some of their questions for you and your application. This can happen in a formal interview, or via phone like it happened to Aaron.

This is one of the most common categories of law school interview questions. And it is no surprise. Ultimately, what the admissions committee wants to see from your application is what motivated you to become a lawyer, and what steps have you taken to prepare yourself for this career. As already mentioned, in some cases if you are invited for an interview, the admissions committee did not fully understand your drive to pursue law. Use the interview to demonstrate your suitability and readiness for law!

Law school interview prep includes researching the school you're applying to before your interview. You should be able to state the reasons why you like the institution and its specific program and convince the interviewer that you didn't just randomly end up sitting in front of them. At the end of the day, only the candidates who demonstrate a genuine interest in becoming a part of the program will be admitted, and the only way to prove that is by naming particular aspects of what they offer that attracted your attention. Here’s how our expert Aaron Schulze prepared for each application and interview:

“I applied to about four or five law schools. [I] absolutely modified [my application and interview answers for each school]. Though the stories remained relatively constant, each school has its own [traits]. I tailored [my application and interview answers] to fit each school.” - Aaron Schulze, JD, University of Texas School of Law

It is likely that you already mentioned this in your law school personal statement, or your law school diversity statement, so make sure your answer is consistent with that as well. It does not mean that you have to repeat what you included exactly but do stay consistent with your goals and aspirations.

Check Out Our Podcast for More Free & Useful Content ","buttonText":"Go to Podcast","buttonColor":"#ff6600","trustpilot":false}" :url=""https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/ca\/podcast\/bemo-admissions-experts-podcast\/id1642349082"" code="bannerpodcast" background-color="#000000" button-color="#ff6600" banner-image> Saying that you chose their school because of its academic prestige won't be enough, as you can say the exact same thing about any other school. You must be specific. Start by mentioning what you look for in the perfect school. What features, programs, or extracurriculars do you value the most? Secondly, state what makes this school competitive for you. Think of what makes this school different from other schools, and what it has to offer to you specifically. Lastly, highlight what you think you will learn at this school. Secondly, this type of questions is your opportunity to brag and talk about what makes you special – while remaining humble! Law schools typically want their candidates to bring them recognition and have a positive impact on their academic reputation. Admissions committees, therefore, aim at finding candidates who are likely to surpass the others and become successful after they graduate. Your answer should make you memorable. Think of your skills, experience career goals, and strengths, and figure out how they fit into what the school values in their matriculants. Use those traits to convince them that you are a good fit. Here’s an example of how our expert Aaron Schulze, JD, convinced the committee of his suitability for Criminal Law: “I had a nontraditional major for law school (Theater & Dance). I explained how my fine arts education created a foundation for truthful storytelling and how to perform authentically. I was interested in Criminal Defense so I explained how a degree in Theater allowed me to understand and relate to different characters in different circumstances.” - Aaron Schulze, JD, University of Texas School of Law

And remember, storytelling is the only strategy to convince the admissions committee that your motivations are genuine. Tell the story of how you became interested in law as a career. Make it detailed, engaging, and convincing. Choose 2-3 talking points or examples of what got you interested in this particular law school and law in general. Think of the qualities of a good lawyer and explain why you believe you have the potential to become one.

Here's a few good examples of this type of law school interview questions, and expert responses prepared by our admissions experts!

Why Did You Choose Our School?

\u201cWhen I think of my ideal school, I think of an institution that offers students excellent career-placement opportunities, which is something not every school has. That is why I was thrilled to discover that X school offers an internship program, which I consider an ideal first step in any professional career. While academic achievements and learning inside the classroom are the backbone of becoming a successful professional, I strongly believe that all law schools should give students the possibility to acquire first-hand work experience to fully prepare them for what comes next. Additionally, an aspect of the program that I greatly value is the fact that it has some amazing top-class professors, such as [a certain professor], who I admire greatly, especially after attending his seminar on environmental law. In fact, I believe this school encourages students to get involved in current issues that go beyond the scope of traditional law education, such as racial discrimination, gender equality, and exploitation of natural resources, which are topics I expect to be able to learn more about if I get accepted.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Why Should We Choose You of All Candidates?

\u201cI grew up in a family of lawyers. Both my parents and two of my grandparents have had outstanding careers in the field of law. Legal cases were often discussed at home, and I witnessed what the daily life of a successful lawyer entails. As I grew up, I started developing an intense curiosity for law, and my parents didn't hesitate to feed that curiosity. At a certain point, I had become so involved in my parents' jobs, that they decided it wasn't healthy for me at such a young age and banned case discussion in the house. It was then that I started researching famous cases, defense strategies, and growing a genuine interest in becoming a lawyer myself. I was never that kid who was told \u201cyou are going to be a great lawyer\u201d, and unlike what you might be thinking, my family never pressured me into following a family tradition, but even quite the opposite. If you are looking for candidates who are truly determined, I believe you should choose me because I am aware of what a career in law consists of. I have been convinced for years that I have what it takes to take on this challenge, not only because I am passionate about law, but also because I have a deep understanding of it.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Why Do You Want to Become a Lawyer?

\u201cBelieve it or not, I grew up convinced that one day I was going to become a successful athlete. I believed that was my fate and never even considered anything else. I started swimming when I was practically a baby and never stopped since. I had become so good that I actually had a chance of qualifying for the Olympics. But my training was intensive and expensive. I had full support from my mom, but my dad disapproved of me focusing on sports instead of academics. Arguments at home became an everyday thing and my parents decided to get divorced. Apparently, it was too hard for them to reach an agreement and they started a legal war that went on for way too long, partly because their lawyers were more interested in getting more money out of the case than in representing the interests of their clients. A good lawyer is supposed to be ethical and act in their client's best interest. Even though I fully understood the divorce hadn't been my fault, I always felt stuck in the middle. I felt so powerless I even started researching how divorces work, legally speaking, and getting involved in the resolution of this conflict. This experience made me realize how much damage an unscrupulous lawyer can bring to a family, and I decided to go to law school make it my life mission to become the lawyer my family needed in such a difficult time; a professional with principles, empathy, and solid communication skills.\" ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

What Do You Hope to Do in Law School?

\u201cOne of the things I am excited for, and one of the reasons I chose to apply to Georgetown, is the experiential learning program. Something I hope to do is sit in on legal proceedings in the highest courts in the country and witness many levels of the law, from small court cases to criminal law to lawmaking. With your program's experiential learning focus, I feel I would get the real-world taste of law in action rather than only classroom setting. I hope to use the experiences I witness and participate in to help me shape the kind of lawyer I want to be.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

What's One Thing That You Might be Scared or Hesitant About in Law School?

\u201cLaw school requires a great deal of reading and reading of sometimes dry subjects. As a student who always struggled with reading comprehension and was a slow reader, I know this will be more of a challenge for me. However, during my undergraduate years I had access to better resources and more information about my reading challenges. I discovered I actually had an undiagnosed learning disability, a mild form of dyslexia which made it difficult for me to recognize words on the page. I was able to utilize study strategies to improve my reading comprehension and speed, and by using particular fonts or wearing reading glasses, I could read most texts with much more ease. The success of these strategies was reflected in my grades also improving. I also had help from tutors, which helped me gain confidence and implement new strategies. I know that reading is still difficult for me, but it is an obstacle I am confident I can overcome.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab5" template="BlogArticle">

Here's some more law school-focused questions you can practice with for your interview:

How will you contribute to this program?
What attracts you about law?
What are the qualities of a good lawyer?
Is there a famous lawyer that you admire? Why?
Is there a famous lawyer that you disagree with? Why?
What areas of law interest you the most?
What would make you a good lawyer?
What is your dream law job?
How did you investigate a career in law?
Are there any lawyers in your family?
What do you wish to accomplish as a lawyer?
Why are you applying to law school now?
What’s one thing that intimidates you about law school?
What makes you a competitive applicant to this school?
Are you also applying to other law schools?
If you get accepted into multiple schools, how would you make your decision?
What do you think are the pros and cons of this school in particular?
What specific aspect of our program called your attention?
Do you have any questions for us?
Do you know what type of law you want to practice? Why?
What two or three things are most important to you in a law school?
What’s a personality trait/characteristic that will serve you well in law school?
What changes would you make in our law school curriculum?
What mark do you want to make or what do you hope to accomplish in your career as a lawyer?
How have you begun preparing for law school?

Here are some more law school interview questions to review!

Personal Law School Interview Questions

Remember, the objective of the interview is to get to know you better. They already have your law school CV and law school personal statement , so you do not give a rote answer, or list off your GPA and LSAT score. While these are important, the admissions committee is aware of your stats. Most law schools try to follow a holistic approach in admissions, so use the interview to show them your strengths! Our admissions expert Tyler Chiasson reflects on his own admission to law school:

“My GPA was very strong and my LSAT score was high at 165. I was accepted to University of Toronto (generally the hardest law school in Canada to get into) and the acceptance letter mentioned my superior academic record was the main reason for this. After choosing to go to Dalhousie, I could also see I was accepted due to my academic record – Dalhousie classified the students they accept based on the strongest part of their application (academics, community involvement, etc.) and you can actually see what they classified you as once you start attending. This showed me that applications are scored holistically. If you are very strong in a certain area like I was, weaknesses in your application will be overlooked. Many of my classmates had much lower LSAT scores than me (in mid to low 150s) but were accepted due to their extracurriculars or volunteerism or other factors.” – Tyler Chiasson, JD, Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University

What this shows us that your interview can really act as a compensation for anything that raised questions for the admissions committee (maybe the reason why you are having this interview!) You want to talk about what makes you interesting, or in other words, why you are NOT like every other applicant. Your interviewers want to get to know you personally, so try to infuse your answer with some personality, not only what you’ve done, although that’s important too.

Personal questions are about telling a story of triumphs, failures, and other experiences, that helped you grow as a human being and as a future lawyer! Whether these questions are about your past experiences or your future goals, try to paint a picture of what you can do now! And our admissions expert Tyler reminds:

“Most [of your stories and experiences] can be discussed in a way that highlights some aspect or skill that will be applicable to law school. [Make sure to approach this question with this mindset].” - Tyler Chiasson, JD, Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University

And remember that answering negatively-charged law school interview question can be tricky. You have to walk a fine line between being honest and forthright without being self-defeating. Here’s a quick answer structure you can use to answer personal law school interview questions about past behaviors and experiences:

Provide a very short context about the situation you are talking about.
Use one or two sentences to demonstrate specific actions, behaviors, or tasks you performed in the situation. Use concrete examples.
Write one sentence about what you learned from dealing with this situation.

Most personal-type questions can be answered with this structure, but if you are asked about future goals and plans, consider the following:

You've probably thought a lot about your future while deciding whether a career in law is the right path for you to follow. The more specific your answer is, the better. It will show your determination to pursue this challenging career. Your answer to personal law school interview question about your goals should include a detailed description of how your chosen program is going you help you get to where you want to be. The sky is the limit! No answer will be too ambitious here. Moreover, admissions committees love applicants who can dream big.

Describe a Time When Telling the Truth Was Difficult.

\u201cSeveral years ago, I had to confront a long-term friend of mine about their actions. I found out they had plagiarized another student's essay, from another class, in order to make a grade and pass a class. After speaking to the friend about their academic dishonesty, they refused to follow my advice and come clean. When I realized it was now on me to tell the truth and report my friend's plagiarizing, since they would not, it was a difficult decision for me to make, since it would affect my friendship with this person. Before this incident, it had never occurred to me that my friend would plagiarize anything, and I knew there would be severe consequences for their actions if I reported. Ultimately, I did speak to the class instructor in question and was honest about what I knew. My telling the truth did end a long-term friendship for me, as my friend felt I was unsupportive and should not have reported them. Losing their friendship was hard for me, since I had known them for so many years, but I felt I had a duty to tell the truth and to protect the other student whose essay had been plagiarized.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab6" template="BlogArticle">

What is something that you think differently about or has changed about you personally as you have matured?

\u201cFor me, personally, the biggest change I've noticed in myself as I've matured is self-confidence. I used to be a \u201cfollower\u201d, having low self-confidence and assuredness in my opinions and decisions. This changed after I was elected captain of the girls\u2019 volleyball team at college. Though I was chosen for my athletic skills, I learned how to be a leader in more than just sports. As a captain of my team, I have learned to rely on my own judgments and observations and trust my decision-making abilities. I've taught myself to consider the voices of others instead of automatically accepting them, and to weigh the options of a decision instead of relying on someone else to direct me all the time. Most importantly, I think, I've learned to accept the consequences of any bad decisions or mistakes I've made. I've learned how to find opportunities for growth in making a mistake and how to accept that mistakes will sometimes happen. This has been a significant improvement in my life, as the resulting boost in self-confidence has meant I am much better at making those tough decisions and being a leader when I need to be instead of defaulting to follower.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab7" template="BlogArticle">

What is something that you have learned from [activity/hobby]?

\u201cGolfing has taught me precision and patience. Golf is a very technical game, and it requires considering all the factors on each and every swing to be a superb player. Failing to consider even one factor or not double-checking your grip, position, sightlines or angles can throw off a swing. It's important to go slow, be considerate and not jump ahead or skip any steps in the name of saving time . Precision and consideration are important skills I will need as I become a lawyer, since not doing my due diligence or being careless could impact clients' lives and businesses. The careful checklist I go through before every golf swing has taught me how important it is to do the same when evaluating a case, considering my strategies and analyzing small details.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab8" template="BlogArticle">

Tell me about yourself.

These experiences at CRLA were not just about applying legal principles; they were about connecting with people's lives and making a tangible difference. They strengthened my resolve to pursue law, particularly to advocate for those often forgotten in policy discussions about healthcare and housing. As I apply to Berkeley Law School, I carry these stories with me, aspiring to be a voice for the underrepresented in our society.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab9" template="BlogArticle">

Tell me something that is not on your resume.

\u201cOne thing that's not on my resume is my passion for astronomy. Ever since I was a child, the night sky has fascinated me. Last summer, I collaborated with a local astronomy club to bring telescopes and arranged for a few amateur astronomers to guide us. We set up the equipment and invited community members to join us in observing the night sky. The event was a hit! People of all ages came and were thrilled to see the rings of Saturn and the craters on the Moon up close. It was incredibly rewarding to share my passion with others and to see their excitement and curiosity about space.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab10" template="BlogArticle">

What do you like to do in your spare time?

\u201cI love to cook. I love sharing meals with people and I try to host at least one person over for dinner every month because I\u2019m always learning new recipes I want to try out. I wasn\u2019t always interested in cooking, but one of my best friends is a chef and I think they inspired me \u2013 their passion was contagious. I\u2019ve taken cooking classes, such as learning how to make different types of Italian noodles such as gnocchi and tortellini, but Asian noodles, as well, such as Soba and Udon noodles. I am very diligent about everything I do, including my hobbies, so I aim to continue to improve as a cook while I am studying to become a lawyer.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab11" template="BlogArticle">

What was your biggest accomplishment?

\u201cIt may not be as life-altering as a substance addiction, but I struggled with an addiction to technology for around five years. As with any addiction, it started off innocuously; I justified it by telling myself I needed to be online for my studies. However, over time, it escalated to the point where I was constantly glued to screens, neglecting my health, relationships, and responsibilities. Whenever my partner and friends told me they were worried about how much time I was spending online, I used my studies and getting into law school as my justification. But when my partner told me she felt like she was alone in our relationship, I took that to heart. I locked myself out of all my devices, and bought a flip-phone with only the most basic services. I set a limit to how much time I spent online and engaged in real-life activities such as hiking, and spending time with my partner. This experience taught me the importance of moderation and self-awareness, and has made me more empathetic towards others' struggles.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab12" template="BlogArticle">

What was your biggest mistake?

This experience was a hard lesson in responsibility and attention to detail. It taught me the importance of double-checking critical information and maintaining a well-organized schedule. I learned to take proactive steps in managing my time and commitments, ensuring that such an oversight would not happen again.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab13" template="BlogArticle">

What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?

To further enhance my skills, I enrolled in an online course offered by Coursera, focusing on data analytics. This course provided me with a comprehensive understanding of how to use data analytics tools effectively, enabling me to draw meaningful insights from complex datasets.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer 2","title":"Sample Answer 2"}]" code="tab14" template="BlogArticle">

Where Do You See Yourself in 10 Years?

\u201cGiven my deep interest in international law, I see myself following that path in the future. In 10 years, I would like to be working overseas, becoming involved in cases that have to do with human rights and international relations. Diplomacy is a field that I have always found extremely attractive and that I think will suit me well, given my strong communication skills and engaging personality. One of my greatest ambitions is to be able to defend my country's interests while helping maintain peace with the rest of the world. This school offers an exchange program that I found extremely attractive when I first started working on my application. Completing a semester abroad to study law here would help me get a realistic sense of what a career in international law looks like. I strongly believe [school name] can help me achieve my academic and professional goals in the long term.\u201d ","label":"Sample Answer","title":"Sample Answer"}]" code="tab15" template="BlogArticle">

Test yourself with these personal law school interview questions:
What’s the one thing about yourself that you’re the proudest of?
What has been your biggest challenge so far?
What academic accomplishments are you the proudest of?
Do you consider yourself to be a leader or a follower?
Describe a leader you’ve worked with and what you learned from them.
How would you describe your experience at your undergraduate university?
What were your favorite and least favorite undergraduate courses?
What was the toughest class you’ve taken and why?
What kind of student do you consider yourself to be?
Tell me about a time you overcame an obstacle.
Tell me about a time you showcased leadership.
Tell me about a time you solved a conflict with a classmate or colleague.
Tell me about a time you successfully worked as part of a team.
Are you a team player or do you prefer to work on your own?
Tell me about a time you faced a moral dilemma and how you solved it.
What was the biggest obstacle you were able to overcome in your life?
How do you handle stress?
What legal skill do you struggle with?
Tell me about a time you made a mistake, and how you dealt with it.
Tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team with diverse perspectives and/or backgrounds.
Tell me about an ethical work situation you had to deal with. How did it turn out?
Describe a situation in which a detail you thought to be unimportant turned out to be very important.
How would you go about building a trusting relationship with a client?
What would make you a good trial advocate?
Imagine you represent a client has stolen several pieces of equipment. She has two people who will supply her with an alibi, but you think they might be lying. Do you put these people on the stand?
What have you seen in court that you want to emulate? Avoid doing?
What did you do the last time things didn’t go according to plan?
Discuss a situation where you had to make an unpopular decision
Tell me about a time when you agreed to work on too many projects and had to prioritize.
Do you think that your grades are a good indication of overall abilities?
How have your prior positions helped prepare you for a legal career?
In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
When has a failure turned into a success?
Name a time that you were not happy with your performance. What did you do to address it?
What is one time someone told you that you had good judgment?
How do you work under pressure?
How do you feel about research? Writing? Client contact?
What is a passion of yours? Tell us about it.
Explain to us a little more about your multiple attempts on the LSAT.
Which student organization(s) would you be interested in?
Why did you choose [undergraduate university]?

While they might seem completely unrelated to the main point of the interview, quirky questions do come up and are famously hard to answer. In many ways, because there are no right answers to these questions. But that’s the point – these questions are meant to make you think on your feet and demonstrate your decision-making abilities and your judgment.

Here’s how to approach these: if a question totally stumps you, tell the interviewer you have to take a moment to think – this is good decision-making! The purpose of these questions is to see how you adapt, how you interact with people and how self-aware you are.

What Book Are You Currently Reading?

“I haven't had much time for books, unfortunately, but the last book I read was To Kill a Mockingbird. I had read it in high school, like most people, but I believe good books should be read more than once, as they teach you different lessons at each stage of your life. As a matter of fact, I was right. This novel talks about an attorney's attempt to prove the innocence of a black man who has been wrongly accused of raping a white woman in 1930s Alabama, seen from the innocent eyes of his 6-year-old daughter. The first time I read it, I would focus on the children and their conflicts, while the second time I read it I automatically stepped on the shoes of their father, Atticus, the lawyer defending the innocently accused black man. I was able to understand why he decided to defend him, even when his chances of success were incredibly low. Atticus' actions throughout the book taught me a lot about ethics and made me realize the kind of lawyer I want to become. I'd like to give it a third read once I start my professional career in a law firm, as I believe I'll have a totally different perspective.”

How Would You Describe Yourself Using Three Words?

“I think, I would say I’m idealistic; curious; and resilient. Idealistic because I’m a member of the Green Party of Canada and volunteer for Green Party candidates in provincial and federal elections even though they rarely get elected, just because I felt strongly about the party’s values. Curious because I’ve learned basic Japanese in a year because I’ve always loved Japanese culture; and resilient because I donated a kidney to my brother, who was suffering from kidney disease.”

These are tough to prepare for! But here’s some more examples of quirky law school interview questions you can practice with:

Who’s your hero/heroine?
Who is your favorite author?
Tell me about a book that has influenced the way you think.
If you could have dinner with a person, living or dead, who would it be?
What journals do you read on a regular basis?
What is your idea of success?
What can you do to become successful, following your own criteria?
Is there any crime that you would have trouble defending?
If you had a year off, what would you do with this time?
Name a bias that you overcame.
If you could go back to any time in your life and tell yourself something, what would it be?

This type of law school interview questions may seem to invite an opinion and it does in some way, but your “disagreement” with a court case should be formed on the basis of jurisprudence - the theoretical side of the law - not necessarily whether the decision was “right” or “wrong” based on your own politics. Take this question as a mini-essay and support your argument. Here’s a quick structure you can use to approach any policy law school interview question:

Opening sentence . In your opening sentence, shortly summarize the policy or the decision to demonstrate your awareness.
1 or 2 points about the decision or the law . List a couple of advantages and disadvantages of the policy. Not only will this further demonstrate your awareness of the problem, but it will also demonstrate your ability to stay objective, informed, and open-minded.
Last sentence . The last part of your answer should include your personal opinion about the policy and the reasons behind your stance. If you disagree with the policy, give a short sentence with an alternative solution to the problem.

Tell Me About a Recent Supreme Court Case that You Disagreed With and Why.

"One recent Supreme Court decision that I’ve followed with interest was the recent ruling that struck down affirmative action and race-based admissions in US colleges. Affirmative action, in various forms, has been a part of college admissions for decades, shaped by previous legal judgments. This decision could be seen as inconsistent with past interpretations of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. But I am mostly concerned about the broader implications of this ruling on other aspects of educational policy and equal opportunity. This decision not only impacts affirmative action but also sets a precedent that could affect future rulings on educational policies and equality in the educational sphere."

Here's more policy law school interview questions for you to practice with:

Are there any social issues or legal topics that concern you at the moment?
What is one social issue or law you’d change?
If you were a court, how would you rule on the following issue…?

A law school admissions process is challenging, and you need to learn things like how to study for the LSAT, how to write an impressive personal statement, and how to answer interview questions. Your law school interview won't be impossible to tackle if you prepare yourself with a good list of law school interview questions and answers. Go over it as many times as you need and rehearse with a friend. Additionally, make sure to research the school and stay up to date on current social issues that might come up during the interview. If you dedicate enough time to come up with thoughtful answers to the most challenging and personal questions beforehand, you will leave the interview feeling accomplished and satisfied with your performance.

Some of the most common law school interview questions are basic questions like “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” and “why do you want to go to law school?”. Other common questions might center on your experiences with law, what kind of law you want to practice, why you’ve chosen a particular law school or you may be asked your opinion on a legal issue.

A Kira talent interview is an online interviewing tool some law schools use to remotely interview law school applicants.

Some of the hardest law school interview questions might be the “open-ended” questions like “tell me about yourself” or “what is your greatest weakness”. These types of questions often stump students because they are not sure how to begin or what details they should include. A good way to tackle these is to have an answer to these common questions prepared ahead of time or a list of talking points to refer to.

The key to acing your law school interview is good practice. Try practicing with a mock law school interview. You can ask a law school advisor , trusted friend or mentor to act as your mock interviewer so you can practice your responses and get feedback on your performance. You can also check out common questions law schools ask potential students.

Using a mock interview can help you prepare strong answers ahead of time, as well as know how to highlight your strengths, skills and knowledge of the legal profession. You can help yourself stand out by providing insightful, self-reflective answers to personal questions, demonstrate a thorough understanding of legal topics for questions about the law, and highlighting your top skills and experiences in your answers.

In interviews, it’s best to relax and be yourself, but you should practice being calm and confident in your responses. A mock interview is a good way to practice your comportment in the interview room, eliminate any nerves you might have and know your answers to common questions. Mock interviews also allow you to practice our strategy for different types of questions, i.e. scenario, policy and personal. Having a structured approach to each type of question helps you keep your answer concise and avoid any rambling.

Not all law schools require interviews, or may not choose to interview all applicants. So it is possible to get into law school without attending an interview. However, if you are invited to interview, take this as a great opportunity to practice your interviewing skills and make a positive impression on the admissions committee!

Yes. Law schools typically use interviews as a way to learn more about potential students or to evaluate applicants in-person. If a law school invites you to an interview, it’s a good indicator that you are being seriously considered for admissions and a law school admissions committee wants to see how you perform in the interview.

Sources: Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, Georgetown Law School, Northwestern Law School, Cornell Law School, Texas A&M School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Duke Law School, University of Virginia Law School

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School of Law

Ph.D. Admissions

The application for autumn 2025 Ph.D. admission will open on Sept. 1, 2024, and the deadline is April 1, 2025. Submitted applications that are not complete by the April 1 deadline may be denied without review. Admissions for entry to autumn 2024 have closed and late applications will not be accepted.

The Ph.D. Program at the University of Washington School of Law is highly competitive. Only a handful of applicants may be admitted in any given year.

Eligibility Requirements

Entry to the Ph.D. program requires an LL.M. degree or equivalent advanced degree in exceptional circumstances. The LL.M. degree may be counted toward the credit necessary for the Ph.D. program.

Preference will be given to:

University of Washington School of Law students who want to continue their studies with an identified faculty member who agrees to serve as chair of that student’s committee; or
Extraordinary students from other institutions with strong support by a UW Law faculty member who agrees to chair the student’s Ph.D. committee, provided their application is as competitive as those from UW Law candidates.

Application Process

The application process to the Ph.D. Program is online through the University of Washington Graduate School. Fill out an online application , upload the following documents, designate recommenders, and pay the application fee.

To be considered complete by the admissions committee, an application must contain:

A letter of recommendation from a UW Law faculty member in which they commit to chairing the Ph.D. committee and supervising the applicant for the duration of their Ph.D. studies, including information about the novelty and significance of the proposed topic as well as other committee members chosen ahead of time and with sufficient and continuous connection to the law school.
Letters of recommendation from committee members who have already agreed to serve. To identify the chair and committee members in the application, applicants are provided instructions within the application to designate them.
Statement of Purpose (1–2 pages). Please state the reasons for wishing to undertake Ph.D. studies, your area(s) of research interest and future career plans.
Writing Sample . The writing sample should be an original piece of legal scholarship (an LL.M. paper or a published article), authored solely by the applicant and no more than 30 pages in length. An excerpt from a longer essay or article may be submitted.
Dissertation Proposal (8-10 pages). The proposal should be detailed enough to show your understanding of your field of interest and the need for new, original research and must include a topic that is novel and significant, as detailed in a written prospectus, to include research questions, significance of topic to existing literature, and methodology.
Study Plan . A mapped-out plan for academic study, including specific courses across UW departments that provide the requisite body of knowledge for the proposed dissertation topic, and estimated timeline.
Resume listing educational qualifications, work experience, date of admission to legal practice (if applicable) academic honors and awards and any other professional affiliations relevant to the application.
Transcripts and Degree Statements (including date of graduation and title of academic degree awarded) from all colleges and universities attended. This includes transcripts for in-progress degrees and also for degrees that were attempted but not completed. Admitted students will be required to have one of their official transcripts with degree statement (usually LL.M.) sent directly to the UW Graduate School from the degree granting institution for verification.
Admissions interviews may be required to determine if the topic is novel and significant; if the prospectus is complete; and if the proposed methodology will get the project from questions to answers.

LANGUAGE ABILITY

International and foreign-educated applicants are expected to have a high level of ability in reading, writing and delivering presentations in English.

Applicants whose native language is not English:

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit English Language Proficiency scores or documentation that satisfies the UW Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements . Please self-report your scores in the application and electronically submit your test scores to the UW using the following instructions. Offers of admission cannot be made until the UW receives the official scores electronically :

Have ETS send your official TOEFL score electronically using Institution Code #4854.
Have Duolingo electronically report your score to the UW.
Have IELTS electronically report your score to the UW via the IELTS system (E-TRF), using the University of Washington’s organization ID 365.
For the full details of the English proficiency requirement, please see the UW Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements .
Minimum scores: TOEFL 80, Duolingo 105, IELTS 6.5. Scores required to clear AEP requirement : TOEFL 92, Duolingo 120, IELTS 7.0
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Where Will Postgraduate Study in Law Lead You?

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Sydney Law School equips you for careers in advanced research, policy development, public service, tertiary teaching or professional leadership. You will benefit from a vibrant and dynamic research culture and engage with internationally renowned School members who are experts across a range of fields.

Subject areas

Shared pool, entry, fees, funding & how to apply, your entry requirements, english language proficiency.

For academic requirements check the ‘Admission requirements’ section on this page.

How to apply

Please apply by 15 September for commencement on 1 March and 15 March for commencement on 1 July. If your application cannot be assessed in time for commencement, it will be considered for the next possible start date.

If you intend to apply for an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship, please submit a full admission application by the relevant RTP scholarship closing date .

Starting date

Research Period 2: 1 March and Research Period 3: 1 July

Research areas

Doctor of Philosophy researchers perform original research in an area of law or regulation involving legal or interdisciplinary methodologies under the supervision of a member of the University of Sydney Law School who is an expert in the subject matter.

Learn more about Sydney Law School research

What you'll study

The Doctor of Philosophy (Law) is awarded on the basis of a supervised thesis of a maximum 80,000 words. The thesis must make a substantially original contribution to the knowledge of the subject concerned. Students are also required to complete the compulsory research-support coursework units, LAWS6077 Legal Research 1 within the first 12 months of their candidature and LAWS7001 Legal Research 2 within the first 24 months.

This research degree includes some coursework curriculum to support research success. Masters students will complete 6 credit points of coursework.

Unit of study code	Unit of study name	Course	Course stage	Advice
LAWS6077	Legal Research 1	Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Juridical Studies, Master of Laws (Research), Master of Criminology (Research)	Year 1	Semester 1
LAWS7001	Legal Research 2	Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Juridical Studies	Year 2 for full-time students	Semester 2

There is no separate tuition fee cost for the coursework units of study you will undertake, it is part of the tuition fee for the course .

See the ‘Your Fee’ section for fee information. Additional non-tuition course costs vary depending on the units of study.

You will be able to see and enrol in any of the units available, subject to capacity constraints and your own background. Note that your faculty may elect to make certain units compulsory for a given PhD degree pathway.

Applying for admission

To apply for admission to a Doctor of Philosophy (Law) degree, you must submit a formal application for admission.

Expression of Interest (Optional)

While you are not required to submit an Expression of Interest before applying, Sydney Law School recommends that you do so before submitting a formal application, especially if:

· you are seeking funding assistance;

· have not identified a potential supervisor ; or

· you are an international applicant.

Submitting an Expression of Interest will allow the School to support you in presenting a formal application and provide you with feedback on whether your application is likely to succeed.

The Expression of Interest form includes information about your intended research topic, academic and professional qualifications, and publications.

To allow the School to consider your information and provide you appropriate and timely guidance, applicants are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest as early as possible and no later than:


30 June	15 September*	1 March
31 December	15 March*	1 July

*Note: If you intend to apply for an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship, please submit a full admission application by the relevant RTP scholarship closing date .

Formal Application for Admission

To apply for a Doctor of Philosophy (Law) degree, you will submit a formal application through the University's Online Application portal.

You must ensure that all required supporting documents are submitted with your application, including the following documents requested by Sydney Law School:

. expression of interest acceptance (if submitted one), otherwise please include evidence of consultation/comments from potential supervisors. The nomination of supervisors is determined by the Law Postgraduate Research Education Committee.

· full research proposal (approximately 10 pages) which outlines:

- a ims of the proposed research thesis

- background to the research, including a brief reference to the relevant iterature and law (including case law where appropriate)

- a clear statement of the area to be researched

- rationale for the research and a statement of why it is significant

- working hypotheses or research questions

- research methodology including theoretical and empirical considerations for the research

- statement indicating how you will be able to sufficiently fund your proposed field work or overseas study/research. Explain why this work is essential for completion of your thesis.

· motivation statement

· time availability statement

· curriculum vitae

· list of publications (if available)

· timeline for completion of the thesis and the two compulsory units of study (LAWS6077 Legal Research 1 and LAWS7001 Legal Research 2)

· two referee statements in support of your application (in addition to the referee forms)

Before you apply, please check the University of Sydney’s eligibility criteria for admission to a research program at Apply for Postgraduate Research .

To Apply now

Scholarships

To be considered for a RTP scholarship, you must select “Yes” in the “Scholarship Details” field on your application form and apply by the relevant RTP scholarship closing date . Information about the Sydney Law School Postgraduate Research Scholarships in available here .

Completion requirement

To satisfy requirements of the degree students must:

complete any specified probationary requirements;
complete LAWS6077 Legal Research 1 and LAWS7001 Legal Research 2;
conduct research on an approved topic; and
write a thesis of a maximum 80,000 words embodying the results of the research.

Admission requirement

There are three main conditions of admission, namely:

(i) Academic qualifications

(ii) Research and publication experience and

(iii) Suitability of the proposed course of study and research. If you are not academically qualified to undertake a research degree, you may consider pursuing your research interests through coursework study before progressing to a research degree.

The coursework program provides you with an opportunity to enhance your expertise in the proposed area of research by allowing you to complete research projects in related units of study. Applicants require a Master's degree and/or Bachelor's degree with first or upper second class honours.

Careers & future study

Career pathways.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of Sydney Law School is a pathway to a number of careers, including tertiary education, policy development, advanced research, and specialisation for employment in government, inter-governmental and international organisations, and civil society organisations. You will conduct a research project that makes a substantial and original contribution to knowledge and will have a highly developed knowledge base, with strong written, oral, and critical analytical skills.

Important fee information

Domestic students, international students.

The course information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

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PhD Programme in Law

The opportunity to undertake advanced legal research at one of the world's best law schools.

The London School of Economics is a world centre for advanced research and teaching with an outstanding reputation, with a campus situated in the heart of London, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Only a short distance from Europe's financial, legal and cultural centres, LSE stands at the crossroads of international debate, a location that is fundamental to our identity as an outward looking institution with an active involvement in UK and world affairs. Each year the School attracts many influential outside speakers. Regular events and seminars involving politicians, regulators, practitioners and academics take place to complement your studies.

LSE Law School is one of the UK's pre-eminent research institutions for law. Our academics are the authors of influential and often path-breaking scholarship, and many have globally leading reputations. LSE Law is also one of UK's largest law schools, with over 70 academic members of staff. It is a uniquely cosmopolitan academic community, with staff and students coming from all over the world. Our academics draw on a wide range of literatures and traditions, and pursue analyses that seek to situate the law within the political, social and economic context within which it is formed and operates.

PhD Programme

The PhD programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science offers the opportunity to undertake advanced legal research at one of the world's best law schools. Students in our PhD programme receive excellent training and work under the supervision of leading scholars with strong international, comparative and interdisciplinary commitments. Our doctoral students become members of a lively academic community which is at the cutting-edge of legal scholarship and which plays a major role in the education of lawyers and law teachers from around the world.

We hope that the questions you have about our PhD programme will be answered in these web pages. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us , or see our Frequently Asked Questions ...

PhD Funding

PhD Current research

PhD placements What do our PhD students do after leaving LSE?

FAQs Your questions about the PhD programme

PhD completions Browse our completed PhDs

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Careers Our careers information and resources

Visiting research students How to apply as a visiting student

PhD Academy A dedicated space for PhD students

LSE Life Academic, personal, professional development

Law MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

UCL Laws has one of the most selective MPhil/PhD programmes in the UK, and produces graduates of internationally recognised quality. Ranked the top UK Law institution for research quality in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), UCL Laws attracts leading figures in the field to our extensive programme of events, informing debate on critical legal issues.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Applications closed

Entry requirements

A minimum of a good upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in an appropriate subject, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. We have a strong preference for a recognised LLM or equivalent Master's degree and would normally expect a distinction overall, with evidence of first-class ability (or equivalent) in extended written work/dissertation.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3 Further details are available on the Faculty of Laws website .

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

UCL Laws has a strong international and multidisciplinary research environment, focused around all sixteen of our research centres, institutes and groups. Bringing together outstanding researchers from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and jurisdictions, our research centres and institutes nurture individual research, but also actively encourage and support collaboration and partnerships that expand cross-disciplinary research.

Who this course is for

This programme provides specialist training on research methods in law. Specialised research centres ensure that the doctoral study experience is collaborative, while UCL Faculty of Laws provides opportunities and support for doctoral students to achieve real impact with their research.

What this course will give you

UCL Laws has been one of the leading centres of legal education in the world for almost 200 years. Rated as being Number 1 for research quality in the UK compared with all other Law Schools in the country by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), UCL Laws' community of intellectually dynamic scholars responds to today's global challenges. Through our research, we help to shape government policy, national and international law and practice.

Combining a strong theoretical foundation in the law with world-leading expertise in empirical legal studies and interdisciplinary research, UCL Laws offers an outstanding educational experience to our doctoral students, with special work-in-progress workshops, dedicated conferences, and teaching experience.

All students benefit from a year-long research methodology seminar series in their first year and will join a vibrant and active MPhil/PhD student community which, for example, runs its own weekly seminar series in term time.

The foundation of your career

A graduate from the UCL Laws PhD programme will have developed advanced skills in legal research, analysis and writing, public presentations and in almost all cases teaching at university level. Our graduates are well placed to pursue careers in the global academic world, but the research, analytical and writing skills obtained during the PhD also transfer easily to high level work in government, non-governmental organisations and the commercial sector.

Employability

Our PhD graduates have entered a wide range of careers including top academic positions in the UK and overseas, international organisations, private sector, NGOs and government. 'The international reputation and expertise of the Faculty is well known and is what first attracted me to UCL. I found the faculty to be a vibrant academic community in which to undertake research, with invaluable support to develop personal research skills, pursue cross-disciplinary research and to engage in empirical activities. After my doctoral studies I was delighted to join the faculty as a Lecturer. The community of support at UCL Faculty of Laws undoubtedly enhanced my research and enabled me to pursue avenues that may not otherwise have been possible'. Dr Anna Donovan Lecturer, UCL Laws

The Faculty has a longstanding reputation for high-quality legal research with real world impact. We have long-established links with the judiciary, the legal, public and private sector. This is reflected in the outstanding quality of our extensive annual programme of seminars, lectures, debates and conferences on a wide variety of critical legal issues. Through this programme our PhD students have the opportunity to engage personally with leading members of the judiciary, legal profession, commercial and financial sectors, government, NGOs and leading international academics.

Teaching and learning

A PhD from UCL Laws is essentially an independent piece of substantial work, making an addition to current knowledge, but you will receive support in various ways this endeavour. Firstly, through expert supervision, which will include regular meetings, feedback on your progress and your written work, and advice on your development as a researcher. You will also undertake research skills training in the Faculty of Laws, through which a supportive environment among the PhD cohort and your fellow research students is fostered. There will the opportunity to engage with the wider UCL community in training bespoke to your research and career aims too. Dissemination of your work, and building networks in your field of research, will be actively supported and encouraged by the Facult y . There is financial support available to engage with the wider academic community, to present your work to and receive feedback from scholars and academic events, such as conferences, nationally and internationally.

The PhD programme is examined by a thesis of up to 100,000 words, which should demonstrate your capacity to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline.

Full-time students can expect to meet their PhD supervisors at least once a month for progress meetings throughout their PhD (once every two months for part-time students). In year 1 of the PhD, there will be fortnightly research skills seminars. There will be research skills seminars in years 2 and 3 (for full-time students, years 2-5 for part-time students) too, but these will be less frequent. The majority of the PhD will be spent on independent research.

Research areas and structure

Antitrust, Regulation and Competition Law
Comparative and Foreign Law
Contract, Restitution and Tort
Corporate, Finance and Insolvency
Criminal Justice
Empirical Legal Studies
Environmental Law
European Law
Family Law and Bioethics
Human Rights, Employment and Equality Law
Intellectual Property
International Business, Insurance and Trade
International Commercial Law
Judicial Studies
Jurisprudence and Legal Theory
Law and Economics
Law and Ethics
Law and Religion
Law of the Sea
Legal Education
Legal History and Roman History
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Medical Law
Property and Trusts
Public, Admin and Constitutional
Public International Law

Research environment

UCL Laws is a world-leading community of intellectually dynamic scholars responding to today’s challenges. The Faculty was rated as the leading Law institution in the UK for research quality in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). As a Laws MPhil/PhD student, you will have the opportunity to learn from, and contribute to, this research culture.

The Faculty attracts the leading figures in the field to our extensive programme of events, informing debate on critical legal issues. Events we have held in the past include a series of seminars from the former President of the European Court of Human Rights and Judge of the General Court of the European Union. Our events reflect the diversity of teaching and research at UCL Laws, and our programme of lively seminars, lectures, debates and conferences cover a wide variety of engaging legal topics. Many events are CPD accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board and Intellectual Property regulation board (IP Reg).

A PhD at UCL Laws will allow you to pursue original research and make a distinct and significant contribution to your field. We are committed to the quality and relevance of the research supervision we offer and as an MPhil/PhD candidate; you could work with academics at the cutting edge of legal scholarship. Furthermore as a research student, you will be an integral part of our collaborative and thriving research community. Student-run ‘work in progress’ forums and an end-of-first-year PhD workshop will give you the opportunity to present and discuss your research with peers and academic colleagues. Tailored skills seminars will provide you with a supportive research environment and the critical skills necessary to undertake your research. To foster your academic development we also offer additional faculty funds, which can assist you with the costs of conferences and other research activities.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is 3 years for full-time students.

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 9- 18 months after initial registration.

In your first year, you will be required to take part in a mandatory Skills Seminar Programme. Within three months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research method and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback. We hold a PhD workshop at the end of your first year, which provides you with an opportunity to present your research before an audience of UCL Laws Academic staff and fellow PhD students.

In your second year you will be expected to upgrade from an MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the faculty who acts as an independent assessor.

The PhD programme is expected to be completed within three years for full-time students.. If you are not ready to submit at the end of the third year, you may be permitted a further year to complete the PhD in the 'Completing Research Status' phase of the programme.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is 5 years for part-time students. You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 15- 30 months after initial registration. In your first two years, you will be required to take part in a mandatory Skills Seminar Programme. Within six months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research method and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback. We hold a PhD workshop at the end of your first year, which provides you with an opportunity to present your research before an audience of UCL Laws Academic staff and fellow PhD students. In your second or third year you will be expected to upgrade from an MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the faculty who acts as an independent assessor. The PhD programme is expected to be completed within five years for part-time students. If you are not ready to submit at the end of the fifth year, you may be permitted a further two years to complete the PhD in the 'Completing Research Status' phase of the programme.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£6,035	£3,015
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£25,900	£12,950

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

There are no programme-specific additional costs.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

There are a number of different scholarships available to fund your PhD. All are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and are competitive.

Full information about funding may be found on our website - www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/study/mphilphd/applying scholarships page. The Faculty also provides financial support to current students in the form of an annual Research Allowance, and there is a PhD Research Impact and Innovation Fund (PRIF) that students may apply to for funding for exceptional items such as delivering a paper at an international conference.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship (ROS)

Deadline: 12 January 2024 Value: UK rate fees, a maintenance stipend, conference costs and professional development package (3 years) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: UK

Detailed information on the application process may be found on the Faculty of Laws website .

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

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MD-PhD Mock Interview Questions

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MD-PhD Interview

Describe your research.
Why are you interested in a combined program, versus one or the other?
How do you feel you are prepared to enter an MD-PhD program?
If you had to choose between the MD and the PhD, which one and why?
What aspects of our MD-Phd Program are you interested in?
What sort of career do you envision yourself having in the future?
Is there a faculty member and/or research center on campus you’re particularly interested in?
Tell me about your research?
Have you had any leadership positions? Please describe your experience.
Why did you use this technique?
What would you do next if you were to continue this project?
What kind of medicine do you want to do in the future?
How do you hope to combine your research interests with your clinical interests?
Why did you choose to work on this project/lab?
How did you choose your major?
Please tell me about 2 articles in the past year that were most exciting to you.
What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?
If there were no MD/PhD programs, would you go to graduate school or medical school?
How do you feel about healthcare, managed care, and the impact it may have on doctor’s salaries?
How do you feel about the length and commitment required of an MD-PhD candidate?
What kind of patient care do you want to do?
Who have been some of your mentors?

MD Interview

Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Tell me about a significant experience you have had in your life?
What are your positive qualities and what are your shortcomings?
Who/what influenced you the most in becoming a doctor?
What do you think are the most important qualities a physician should have?
What are your thoughts about working with “sick” people everyday?
What are some current topics in the world of medicine that interest you?
Medicine has made several advances throughout the centuries. In thinking about the changes over the last 200 years, what do you consider to be the biggest advance? (Think broadly on this one)
What do you think about the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) and the changes taking place in medicine?
Do you feel your academic transcript adequately reflects your ability to be successful in medical school? If not, why?
Do you think you could live in this city?/Why are you interested in X school?
Discuss a book that you have recently read for pleasure. Why does this book interest you?
Why would you convince someone not to pursue medicine? Despite these reasons, why are you pursuing medicine?
What will you do if you don’t get into medical school?
Why should we choose you over other applicants?

Find other interview resources here .

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Law Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at January 9th, 2023 , Revised On May 29, 2024

Law dissertations can be demanding because of the need to find relevant regulations, cases, and data to address the research problem successfully. It is of utmost importance to critically examine facts before framing the research questions .

Selection of the most appropriate legal terms and legal authorities, whether online or in print, can be challenging, especially if you have not tackled a law dissertation project before.

To help you select an intriguing law dissertation topic, our expert writers have suggested some issues in various areas of law, including trust law, EU law, family law, employment and equality law, public law, tort law, intellectual property rights, commercial law, evidence, and criminal law, and human rights and immigration law.

These topics have been developed by PhD-qualified writers of our team , so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

Review the step-by-step guide on how to write your own dissertation here.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting a brief research proposal from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an introduction to the topic, research question , aim and objectives , literature review along the proposed methodology of research to be conducted. Let us know if you need any help in getting started.

Check our dissertation examples to get an idea of how to structure your dissertation .

Review the full list of dissertation topics for 2024 here.

Law Dissertation Topics & Ideas

Topic 1: the role of international criminal laws in reducing global genocide.

Research Aim: This study aims to find the role of international criminal laws in reducing global genocide. It will be an exploratory study identifying the explicit and implicit effects of international criminal laws on the worldwide genocide. It will analyse different incidents of international genocide and find out how international criminal laws played a positive role in reducing these incidents. Lastly, it will recommend possible changes in international criminal laws to effectively mitigate global genocide. And it will be done by comparing criminal laws of world-leading powers to reduce genocide.

Topic 2: Impact of Anti-Racism Employment Laws on Organisational Culture- A Comparative Study on the Anti-Racism Employment Laws in the US and Canada

Research Aim: This research aims to find the impact of anti-racism employment laws on the organisational culture in the US and Canada in a comparative analysis. It will identify the change in employees’ behaviour after implementing anti-racism laws. Moreover, it will find whether employees gleefully welcomed these laws or showed resistance. And how do these laws affect the organisations’ performance that strictly implemented them?

Topic 3: Globalisation, international business transactions, and commercial law- A perspective from literature.

Research Aim: Students and practitioners can find the law of international business transactions as a subfield within a broader field of international commercial law to be somewhat amorphous.

This study will explain the impact of globalisation on international business transactions and commercial law by establishing some necessary links between the study of transnational business law and related fields of international studies. This study also aims to address theories about foreign business regulation, such as the idea that it is free of power politics. For the collection of data existing literature will be studied. The methodology of this research will rely on existing previous literature.

Topic 4: Investigating the impact of competition law on the businesses in the UK- Post Brexit

Research Aim: This study aims to investigate the impact of competition laws on businesses in the post-Brexit UK. The proposed study will not only analyse the performance of the businesses with the current competition laws. But also analyse the impact of possible changes in competition laws on the businesses in the post-Brexit UK. It will also incorporate the possible difference of changes in competition laws in deal, no-deal, hard deal, and soft deal scenarios. This way of individually analysing the difference in competition laws due to the status of the UK’s deal with the EU will give better insights into how businesses will be affected by these laws in the post-Brexit UK.

Topic 5: A comparison between Islamic and contemporary laws against rape. Which law is the most effective in preventing this horrific crime?

Research Aim: For several years, marital and non-marital relations in Muslim-majority countries have been a source of controversy. Under Islamic law, it is strictly forbidden for a Muslim, or even non-Muslim, to engage in illicit sexual relations with the opposite gender under any situation. The current study will help us understand the concepts presented in Islamic laws about rape cases. In this context, a comparative analysis of Islamic and contemporary law will be explained. It will also identify efficient and effective strategies to prevent this horrific crime.

Law Dissertation Topics for the COVID Crisis

Topic 1: the legal implications of the covid-19 pandemic on canadian immigration and the way forward..

Research Aim: This study will focus on how the Canadian government benefits from resources accrued from immigration, the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Immigration, the current legislation on immigration, the effects of COVID-19 on the immigration law, the possible amendments that could help cushion the impact and the way forward.

Topic 2: Effect of COVID-19 on the United States Immigration policies; an assessment of International Legal agreements governing pandemic disease control and the way forward.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the pandemic’s effect on immigration policies in the United States. It also suggests the required steps based on the laws that regulate government acts during an outbreak of a pandemic.

Topic 3: Creating legal policies in preparedness for the global pandemic; lessons from COVID-19 on Canadian immigration policies.

Research Aim: This research will focus on how the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and how most countries seemed unprepared. Historical background of the flu pandemic can also be made to assess how the world overcame the pandemic. And the need for the Canadian government or any other country you wish to choose can prepare for a global pandemic by creating legal policies that could help prepare ahead for such a period, such as policies on scientific research and funding.

Topic 4: The need for uniformity of competition law and policy in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries; An approach to the European Union standard.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the Gulf Cooperation Countries and their current legislation on competition law and its implications. Countries under the European Union’s competition law, the legal implications, and the need to consider such a part.

Topic 5: The need for competition law and policy enforcement; An analysis of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.

Research Aim: This research focuses on the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries’ competition laws and their enforceability. It analyses the benefits of enforcing the competition law and looks at the European Union’s uniformed laws and their benefits. It looks into the various countries, how the competition law currently works, and how it can affect each country’s economy in a better way or adequately enforced.

Topic 6: Provisions of the law on rape, the need to expand its coverage on the misuse of its provisions, and false accusations.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the law’s present provisions on rape and rape victims and the recent false accusations.

Topic 7: Summary dismissal of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the legal implications under the labour law, and the way forward. The Case Study of Nigeria

Research Aim: This research will focus on the statistics of people who were summarily dismissed during the COVID-19 pandemic based on natural occurrences, provisions of the law against summary dismissal, and its enforcement, and how this can be cushioned against future events. The labour law needs to be expanded to cover similar situations to protect workers.

Topic 8: A legal assessment of the settlement of international disputes through the peaceful process and its effectiveness

Research Aim: This research focuses on the mode of dispute settlement in the international community, assessment of international laws and treaties on peaceful settlement of conflicts among countries of member states, the methods of dispute settlements, its strengths and weaknesses, and the need to improve the current mechanisms of peaceful settlement in the international community.

Topic 9: The protection of minority shareholders and the majority shareholders' power in Companies, a critical analysis of the Nigerian Companies and Allied Matters Act provisions.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the law’s provisions for protecting minority shareholders in companies and the majority shareholders’ power. How effective are these provisions in protecting the minorities against the management of the majority shareholders, and what is the way forward

Topic 2: The right to bear arms: Rethinking the second amendment

Research Aim: Gun control and the right to bear arms has been an ever-evolving web discourse in the United States. The research aims to analyse how gun control laws have changed in the USA since specifically focusing on the 2nd Amendment and its original framework.

Topic 3: Rethinking the international legal framework protecting journalists in war and conflict zones.

Research Question: Is the current legal framework still appropriate for protecting journalists in today’s conflict zones? Research Aim: The primary body of law that is set out to protect journalists includes the Geneva Conventions and their additional Protocols. However, since the time they were drafted and decades after, there have been conspicuous changes to the way warfare is conducted. It is imperative to examine this body of law in order to improve it, as journalists have now become prime targets in war zones and conflict areas because of their profession.

Topic 4: A critical analysis of the employment law of disabled individuals in the UK and what new policies can be integrated to increase its efficiency.

Research Aim: Employment or labour law has always been under the limelight. Many critiques and researchers have proposed different amendments to the existing law pertaining to labour and employees. The main aim of the research is to critically analyse the employment law of disabled individuals in the UK along with effective recommendations that need to be made in order to make the existing law more efficient and effective.

Topic 5: A critical evaluation of racial discrimination laws in developed countries and how they impact the workplace environment

Research Aim: Racial discrimination has always been a controversial issue in almost every part of the World. However, many developed countries (companies) face severe racial discrimination issues that directly impact their name and brand value. Therefore, this research provides a critical evaluation of racial discrimination laws, particularly in developed countries. Moreover, the research will focus on how racial discrimination laws are impacting the workplace environment.

Topic 6: A comparative analysis of legislation, policy, and guidelines of domestic abuse between the UK and the USA.

Research Aim: Domestic laws basically deal with and provide criminal rules for punishing individuals who have physically or emotionally harmed their own family members. It has been found that many domestic cases of abuse are not reported to the concerned authority. Due to this reason, the main focus of the research is to conduct a comparative analysis of legislation, policy, and guidelines of domestic abuse between the UK and the USA and how effective both countries have been in minimising domestic abuse.

Topic 7: Analysing the negative impact of technology in protecting the intellectual property rights of corporations.

Research Aim: Intellectual property has gained significant importance after the emergence of counterfeit products coming from different parts of the world. It has been found that many factors have motivated the sale of counterfeit products. Therefore, this research aims to analyse the negative impact of technology in protecting the intellectual property rights of products and corporations.

Topic 8: A critical assessment of the terrorism act of 2010 and its impact on Muslims living around the globe.

Research Aim: Since the incident of 9/11, the entire world has been under the pressure of terrorism activities, especially Muslims living around the world. Therefore, this research intends to critically assess the terrorism act of 2010 and its impact on Muslims living around the globe.

Trust Law Dissertation Topics

The trust law requires the settler to meet the three certainties, including the object, intention, and subject matter. As posted to a moral obligation or mere gift, confidence of choice can be best described as clarity of purpose. Some interesting dissertation topics in the field of trust law are listed below:

To investigate the attitude of the courts to trusts supporting political agendas.
To identify and discuss principles on which half-secret and full-secret trusts are enforced. Does a literature review highlight circumstances where it is essential to consider whether such beliefs are constructive and expressive?
The role and impact of trust law as asset portioning and fiduciary governance
From law to faith: Letting go of secret trusts
Critical analysis of the statement “Traditionally, equity and the law of trusts have been concerned with providing justice to balance out the rigour of the common law” regarding modern equity development/operation.
Should the assumption of resulting trusts and progression be abolished in this modern age? A critical review of the literature
A critical examination of the courts’ concern of financial reward in the context of “trustee powers of investment.”
Does the doctrine of cypress do justice to the intentions of the testator?
The impact of the decision of Harrison v Gibson on the law of the clarity of intention.
The approval of trustees in the Zimbabwean law of trusts

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European Law Dissertation Topics

European law has recently attracted wide attention from the academic world, thanks to the growing influence of European Law on administrative law in EU members. It should be noted that every aspect of life in European states is significantly affected by European law, and therefore, this area of research has gained tremendous popularity. Some exciting and specific research areas are given below:

A critical review of the European anti-discrimination Law
To investigate the economics and history of European Law.
An investigation of the European human rights law
Investigating the impact of “Freedom of Speech” on the German economy
Investigating the impact of immigration laws on the German economy
How the French parliamentary sovereignty has been affected by the European Union
Uniform interpretation of European patent law with a unique view on the creation of a standard patent court
The impact of European consensus in the jurisprudence of the European court of Human Rights.
The impact of the European convention on human rights on international human rights law
A critical analysis of the tensions between European trade and social policy
To investigate the European Union’s enforcement actions and policies against member countries.
European Laws amidst the Brexit process

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Family Law Dissertation Topics

A wide range of topics are covered under the field of family law and the law of children. Essentially, this area of law takes into consideration the registration of marriages, statutory rights concerning marriage, the effects of a decree, void and voidable marriages, the impact of the Human Rights Act, the legal stature of unmarried and married individuals, and the case for reform of UK family law . Other research areas include enforcing financial responsibilities in the Magistrates court, enforcing the arrears of maintenance payments, the award of maintenance, enforcing financial obligations to children or a child, financial orders for children, and the Child Support Act. An extremely intriguing area of law that has gained tremendous popularity in the modern era, some specific dissertation topics in this area of law studies are listed below:

Investigating therapeutic and theoretical approaches to deal with spouse abuse in light of the UK government’s latest research on domestic violence
Unmarried fathers’ access to parental responsibility – Does the current law enforce rights and responsibilities towards children?
To study the criminal justice process involving a child witness.
The children’s right to participation – Rhetoric or Reality? – A critical review of literature from the past two decades
To study the position of unmarried fathers in the UK.
Does the UK Family law need a major reform?
A critical review of the rights of married women in real estate
Child welfare and the role of local authorities
To study the legal and social foundations of parenting, civil partnership, and marriage.
To examine whether the Child Support Act has positively influenced child maintenance.

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Employment Law Dissertation Topics

Employment and equality law governs the relationship between the government, trade unions, employers, and employees. Employment and equality law in the UK is a body of law that prevents bias and negative attitudes towards someone based on their ethnicity or race rather than work skills and experience. Some interesting dissertation topics in this area of law are below:

A critical investigation of the right to fair labour practices in the United Kingdom
To determine the job’s inherent requirements as a defence to unfair discrimination or a claim – A comparison between the United Kingdom and Canada.
The role of the South African Labour Relations Act in providing unhappy staff sufficient protection against unfair dismissals and discrimination at the workplace
To investigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on employees’ lives with a focus on unfair dismissal and discrimination.
To assess ethnic discrimination in the European Union: Derogations from the ban on discrimination – Sexual harassment – Equal pay for equal value work.
To study the international employment contract – Regulation, perception, and reality.
To identify and discuss challenges associated with equality at work.
A study of the legal aspects of the relationship between employer and employee
How influential is the role of trade unions in English employment law?
A critical review of discrimination policies in the UK

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Commercial Law Dissertation Topics

Commercial law, also known as business law, is the whole body of substantive jurisprudence applicable to the conduct, relations, and rights of sales, trade, merchandising, and businesses and persons associated with commerce. Important issues of law covered by commercial law include real estate, secured transactions, credit transactions, bankruptcy, banking, and contracts. An intriguing area of law within the UK, specific topics for your law dissertation are listed below:

The impact of legislation for the regulation of investment services with EU economic area on the EU financial services market
Handling regulatory involvement incorporates organisational structure and strategy.
A study of convergence and complementarities concerning international corporate governance
How drafting and diffusion of uniform norms can help to harmonise the law of international commercial arbitration?
Convergence and adaption in corporate governance to transnational standards in India
A critical review of the international commercial arbitration system
Analysing the international commercial law on risk transfer
The role of the tripartite financial system in the UK on economic development
A comparative analysis of European contract law, international commercial contracts law, and English commercial contracts law
Is the European contracts law meeting the needs of the commercial community?
A critical review of anti-corruption legislation in the UK
The problems of director accountability in the UK and the impact of soft and hard law on corporate governance

Criminal and Evidence Law Dissertation Topics

Criminal law can be defined as a system of law dealing with the punishment of criminals. Criminal evidence, on the other hand, concerns evidence/testimony presented in relation to criminal charges. Evidence can be presented in various forms in order to prove and establish crimes. A wide array of topics can be covered in this subject area. To help you narrow down your research focus, some interesting topics are suggested below:

The politics of criminal law reform with a focus on lower-court decision-making
To understand and establish the historical relationship between human rights and Islamic criminal law
Investigating the rights of victims in internal criminal courts
The efficacy of the law of rape in order to prevent misuse by bogus victims and to protect rightful victims
To assess the criminal law’s approach to Omissions
To investigate the issues associated with the identification of the distribution, extent, and nature of the crime
A critical review of the Bad Samaritan laws and the law of omission liability
How international criminal law has been significantly influenced by the “war on terrors”?
The efficacy of modern approaches to the definition of intention in International criminal law
The efficacy of the law of corporate manslaughter

Company Law Dissertation Topics

Company law, also known as the law of business associations , is the body of law that deals with business organisations and their formation, registration, incorporation, governance, dissolution, and administration. Some suggestions for company law dissertation topics are listed below:

Developing equity markets in growing economies and the importance of corporate law
A critical review of English company law and its effects on member workers and creditors
To investigate the essential aspects of corporate law.
To study business responsibilities for human rights.
Identifying disparities in corporate governance – Theories and Realities
The external relations of company groups in Zambian Corporate law
To study corporate governance practices concerning minority stakeholders.
Establishing and evaluating arguments for and against “stakeholder theory.”
The importance of non-executive directors in the British corporate legal system
Investigating the regulation of the UK public company

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Intellectual Property and Tort Law Dissertation topics

All forms of legal injury are dealt with under the subject area of tort law. Essentially, tort law helps to establish the circumstances whereby a person may be held responsible for another person’s injury caused by either accident or intentional acts. On the other hand, intellectual property covers areas of law such as copyright, patents, and trademarks. Trademark dissertation topics trademark directive, trademarks act, infringement of trademarks such as revocation, invalidity, and the use of similar marks. Some interesting dissertation ideas and topics of tort law and intellectual property are suggested below to help your law studies.

The efficacy of intellectual property rights in the UK under the influence of European Law
The efficacy of UK copyright law concerning the needs of rights users and holders
The impact of intellectual property rights on economic development.
To investigate the right of confidence in the UK
Does the trademark law ensure sufficient protection in England?
The impact of European Law on intellectual property rights in the UK
The end of the road for loss of a chance?
To assess the success ratio of psychiatric injury claims in the UK
Should a no-fault system be implemented into UK law, or should the law of negligence apply to personal injury claims?
A critical review of economic loss in 21st-century tort law

Human Rights and Immigration Law

The primary objective of human rights and immigration law is to ensure and protect human rights at domestic, regional, and international levels. With the world becoming a global village, human rights and immigration laws have attracted significant attention from academicians and policymakers. Some interesting law dissertation topics in this subject area are suggested below:

To assess the efficacy of the common European Asylum system in terms of immigration detention.
A historical analysis of Britain’s immigration and asylum policies
A critical analysis of immigration policy in Britain since 1990
A critical analysis of the right of the police and the public right to protest under PACE 1984
The right of prisoners to vote under the European law of human rights
Arguments for and against the death penalty in English Law with a focus on human rights treatise
A critical analysis of the right to private life and family for failed asylum seekers
The impact of UK immigration policies on the current education industry
How beneficial the points system has really been in regards to creating a cap in the British immigration system
To study the impact of privatisation on immigration detention and related functions in the UK.

More Human Rights Law Dissertation Topics

Pandemic Law Dissertation Topics

Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has become the most trending topic in the world since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic that started in China. Here are some interesting Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic Law topics that you can consider for your law dissertation.

Co-parenting in the coronavirus pandemic: A family law scholar’s advice
How San Diego law enforcement operated amid Coronavirus pandemic
Pandemic preparedness in the workplace and the British with disabilities act
Why, In a pandemic, rumours of martial Law fly despite reassurances
Investigating About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19
Resources to support workers in the UK during the Coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic:
A legal perspective
Navigating the Coronavirus Pandemic
Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) and employment laws in the UK going forward
Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) and employment laws in the US going forward
Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) and employment laws in Australia going forward

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As a law dissertation student looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment with existing law dissertation theories – i.e., to add value and interest to the topic of your research.

The field of law dissertation is vast and interrelated to many other academic disciplines like civil engineering , construction , project management , engineering management , healthcare , mental health , artificial intelligence , tourism , physiotherapy , sociology , management , project management , and nursing . That is why it is imperative to create a project management dissertation topic that is articular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic based on your fundamental research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your case wrong: your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, and there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in writing your dissertation as you may end up in a cycle of rejection at the initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best law dissertation topics that fulfils your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalising your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Please look at some of our sample law dissertation topics to get an idea for your dissertation.

How to Structure Your Law Dissertation

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

A Title Page
Acknowledgements
Declaration
Abstract: A summary of the research completed
Table of Contents
Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
Literature Review : This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature available on the chosen research topic to address research questions . The purpose is to highlight and discuss the selected research area’s relative weaknesses and strengths while identifying any research gaps. Break down the topic, and binding terms can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
Methodology : The data collection and analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter, which usually includes research design , research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods and data analysis strategy .
Findings and Analysis : Findings of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include graphs, charts and tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
Discussion and Conclusion : The researcher presents his interpretation of the results in this chapter, and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section is establishing the link between the products and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regard to the implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
References : Make sure to complete this according to your University’s requirements
Bibliography
Appendices : Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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Main navigation, aging studies phd student reflects on cdc public health law fellowship experience.

Natalia Babenko presents her research at USF.

July 1, 2024
College News , School of Aging Studies

Natalia Babenko, MPH , a PhD student in the School of Aging Studies, is a spring 2024 fellow of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Public Health Law Fellowship. This fellowship provides on-the-job training for careers in public health law and policy.

"This fellowship has provided me with invaluable experiences and opportunities, particularly in advocating for aging policies and addressing the unique health challenges faced by older adults," said Babenko.

In her reflection on her experience as a CDC Public Health Law fellow, Babenko describes her interest in pursuing a career in public health law as stemming from her personal experience with her grandfather's Alzheimer's diagnosis. While she and her family cared for him, they ran into numerous health care and psychological challenges.

"The realization that individuals and families face incredible hardship with few resources ignited my passion for combatting degenerative brain diseases by leveraging the best research practices to implement community interventions through the legal framework," Babenko explained in the article .

Babenko has had the opportunity to learn from mentors within the program and network with experts in both law and public health. She has also contributed to ongoing legal projects, assessed policies, and proposed research-backed recommendations to enhance existing policies related to aging.

Read more about her experience in the program here .

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California lawmakers approve changes to law allowing workers to sue employers over labor violations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California Legislature approved bills Thursday that would amend a 20-year-old law allowing workers to sue their bosses over labor violations and require employers found liable to pay a fine to the state.

The legislation would reform the Private Attorneys General Act, which took effect in 2004. It has come under scrutiny by business groups that say the law has been misused. Critics also say that litigating alleged violations under the law is often time-consuming and expensive.

The bills would lower the financial penalty for some employers and compel them to correct violations. They came out of a deal between Gov. Gavin Newsom, lawmakers, business groups and labor leaders to remove a ballot measure asking voters to repeal and replace the law.

Newsom, a Democrat, touted the deal in his State of the State address Tuesday, calling reforming the law a "complicated, thorny issue that for decades eluded compromise."

"We accomplished something that was seemingly impossible," he said. "It's easier to address simple problems, but that's not the California way."

Newsom has said he will sign the bills. They would then take effect immediately.

The state Senate and Assembly passed the proposals without any lawmakers voting against them. One of the bills would give businesses with under 100 employees the right to correct violations and allow larger businesses to ask for an early evaluation of the alleged violation. The other bill would lower penalties for less serious violations of labor law and increase penalties for more serious ones.

Under the 2004 law, employers who have violated California's labor code must pay a fine. A quarter of that money goes to workers and the rest to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency for worker safety law enforcement and education.

But under the new legislation, 35% of the money would go to affected workers. The original law also doesn't allow employers to correct violations to avoid fines.

Debate over the 2004 law has raised questions about what the state does with the money it receives from businesses for fines and settlements involving violations. In 2022-2023, the state left $197 million of that money unspent, CalMatters reported earlier this month.

Democratic Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who authored one of the bills, said the deal "demonstrates how things should be done when all sides come together to resolve a longstanding issue of division."

Ashley Hoffman, a policy advocate with the California Chamber of Commerce, said at a hearing this week on one of the bills that the original law was "well-intentioned" but has become "manipulated at the expense of workers, businesses and nonprofits that serve vulnerable Californians."

"What's in this bill and its companion represent historic reform to address these concerns," Hoffman said, adding "California workers can feel confident that there is robust labor law enforcement."

The proposed ballot measure, which was backed by many business groups, would have repealed the 2004 law. It would have required that the state provide resources to employers to help them comply with labor laws; that only the labor commissioner can award workers civil penalties of at least $100 per pay period, with some exceptions; that employers have an opportunity to correct violations without penalties; and that employees receive 100% of the money from penalties imposed on employers, instead of 25%.

Sara Flocks, a campaign director at the California Labor Federation, said at a hearing this week that the original law, which is often called PAGA, came in "response to a crisis in labor law enforcement." The law was created to bolster rights for immigrant workers, low-wage workers, farmworkers and other vulnerable employees, she said.

"The two bills that we have negotiated with the chamber preserve PAGA as a unique enforcement tool while updating it to improve outcomes for workers and incentivize employer compliance with the law, which is our ultimate goal," Flocks said.

The deal follows a big year for labor in which Newsom signed laws to raise wages for fast-food and health care workers, increase paid sick days, and allow lower-level legislative staff to unionize.

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A law degree’s payoff depends on your student debt, report finds.

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A new report calculates the ROI from a law degree after factoring in law school student loan debt.

Graduates of many law schools carry heavy loads of debt that substantially reduce their early-career net earnings, a new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce finds. In "A Law Degree Is No Sure Thing: Some Law School Graduates Earn Top Dollar, But Many Do Not," Georgetown CEW ranks 186 law schools based on their graduates' median earnings net of student loan debt.

Using data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the researchers calculated the return on investment for law school graduates after factoring in the amount of loan debt they incurred during their studies. Net earnings refer to median earnings four years after graduation, net of debt payments. The return-on-investment calculations do not include the additional costs of tuition, fees, and living expenses.

For all law school graduates, median earnings four years after graduation were $88,800. However, after student loan payments were subtracted from median earnings, net earnings fell to $72,000.

Four years after graduation, graduates of 33 law schools earned less than $55,000 at the median after subtracting student loan debt. At the other end of the distribution, graduates of 26 law schools earned an annual net income of at least $100,000. And annual earnings exceeded $200,000 for graduates of seven law schools: Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Cornell University, Stanford University, Harvard University, and Northwestern University.

Graduates of six law schools saw median net earnings of less than $40,000 per year — Appalachian School of Law, Faulkner University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law, Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law, and Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.

Law school graduates accumulated a median debt of $118,500 while obtaining a J.D., the researchers found. The median monthly debt payments, median annual earnings and median earnings net of debt for all 186 law schools can be found in the full report. Median earnings associated with law school degrees other than the J.D. are also included in the report.

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“When it comes to law school, the best returns are concentrated among a small number of institutions, educating approximately 20% of law students,” said CEW Director and lead author Jeff Strohl, in a news release. “Graduates earn the highest salaries from highly selective institutions. The top 26 law schools lead to six-figure salaries and a bar passage rate of 97%.”

According to the report, disparities in law school outcomes are largest for women and members of marginalized racial/ethnic minority groups, who make up a larger share of enrollments at law schools where earnings are lower and unemployment for graduates is higher. The disparities are most pronounced for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina women.

For working lawyers ages 25 to 54, the gender pay gap favors men by $28,000. Female lawyers earned a median of $113,000 while male lawyers earned $141,000. This gender pay gap is much smaller ($12,000) for entry-level lawyers, indicating that institutional barriers and attrition in the legal profession might be contributing to the unequal earnings later in lawyers’ careers.

Asian American lawyers, ages 25 to 54, have the highest median salaries ($132,000), followed by white ($131,000), multiracial ($125,000), Hispanic/Latino ($113,000), and Black/African American lawyers ($108,000).

While those median salaries are relatively high, they don’t account for the student loan payments many former law students are making years later. Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino graduates are more likely to graduate law school with higher debt than their white or Asian American peers.

The Georgetown CEW report also indicated that “prior to the pandemic-era student loan pause, law school graduates were not making significant progress in paying off student loans. At six in ten law schools, at least half of graduates held loan balances that were the same as they were at graduation, or had increased three years after completing their degree.”

“Law schools are notoriously expensive. Graduates leave law schools with a median debt burden of $118,500, and lower earnings make it harder to pay back this debt,” said Catherine Morris, report co-author and senior editor and writer at CEW. “The consequences of six-figure debt are also far-reaching for law school graduates, impacting their ability to purchase a home, start a family, and achieve other traditional markers of success.”

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Jun 27, 2024

California to add financial literacy as a requirement to graduate high school

What you need to know: California is ensuring that all high school students are taught personal financial literacy before graduating after an agreement between state leadership and NGPF Mission 2030, an affiliate of Next Gen Personal Finance was reached.

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast), Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas), and a national financial literacy non-profit — NGPF Mission 2030, an affiliate of Next Gen Personal Finance — today announced an agreement to make financial literacy required content to graduate high school.

“We need to help Californians prepare for their financial futures as early as possible. Saving for the future, making investments, and spending wisely are lifelong skills that young adults need to learn before they start their careers, not after.” Governor Gavin Newsom

Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) : “Financial literacy is a critical tool that pays dividends for a lifetime. There’s a wealth of data about the benefits of learning these valuable lessons in high school, from improving credit scores and reducing default rates to increasing the likelihood that our future generations will maintain three months of savings for emergencies and have at least one kind of retirement account.”

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) : “Ensuring our students have the skills and knowledge to thrive is paramount to California’s continued success, and financial literacy is a key part of that educational mission. Our agreement is the culmination of many robust and productive conversations with stakeholders across the state on how best to implement financial literacy into every student’s high school curriculum.”

Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of NGPF and lead proponent of the Californians for Financial Education initiative campaign: “We commend Governor Newsom, Senate President pro Tem McGuire, Speaker Rivas, and the bill’s authors and supporters for their leadership and commitment to guaranteeing access to one semester personal finance education for every California student. We look forward to supporting the implementation of this essential course.”

This agreement is reflected in AB 2927, sponsored by NGPF Mission 2030, which the Governor will sign. The legislation will require a semester-long personal finance education course available for all California high school students by the 2027-28 school year and make personal finance a graduation requirement starting with the 2030-31 graduating class.

Once the Legislature passes this legislation, proponents of the California Personal Finance Education Act initiative eligible for the November 2024 ballot have agreed to withdraw their measure.

College savings accounts

The financial literacy bill aligns with state efforts to prepare students early on for a healthier financial future. California’s CalKIDS program invests $1.9 billion into accounts for low-income school-age children in grades 1-12 and for newborn children born on or after July 1, 2022 – indicating the need for early financial literacy. All families of low-income public school students – 3.4 million across the state – are able to access college savings accounts created in their children’s names.

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Justices Limit Power of Federal Agencies, Imperiling an Array of Regulations

A foundational 1984 decision had required courts to defer to agencies’ reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes, underpinning regulations on health care, safety and the environment.

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An exterior of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

By Adam Liptak

Reporting from Washington

June 28, 2024

The Supreme Court on Friday reduced the power of executive agencies by sweeping aside a longstanding legal precedent, endangering countless regulations and transferring power from the executive branch to Congress and the courts.

The precedent, Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council , one of the most cited in American law, requires courts to defer to agencies’ reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes. There have been 70 Supreme Court decisions relying on Chevron, along with 17,000 in the lower courts.

The decision is all but certain to prompt challenges to the actions of an array of federal agencies, including those regulating the environment, health care and consumer safety.

The vote was 6 to 3, dividing along ideological lines.

“Chevron is overruled,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote for the majority. “Courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.”

In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan said the ruling amounted to a judicial power grab. “A rule of judicial humility,” she wrote, “gives way to a rule of judicial hubris.”

Justice Kagan summarized her dissent from the bench, a rare move and a sign of profound disagreement. “Courts, in particular this court, will now play a commanding role” in setting national policy, she said.

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DUET 2018 Question Paper for DU PhD in Law
Law Degree Exam Questions
(PDF) List of 20 Frequently Asked Thesis Defense Questions
LAW 102
Perfect PhD Topics in Law| Get the Best One for Your Paper
Graduate Law Interview Questions and Answers

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The best way to analyze previous PhD entrance exam
ANALYSIS OF University of Hyderabad- MA POLITICAL SCIENCE PAPER- 2021
Interview with a Harvard Law Student!
#AILET NLU Delhi PhD questions paper 2022
The 10 Most Commonly Asked Questions In A Phd Interview
LAW Admissions ll LAT process

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Ph.D. Common Questions
Ph.D. Common Questions. 1. How do you look upon practice experience in applicants? Practice experience can be a useful qualification for admission, but it is not required. Applicants must complete their J.D. degree before enrolling in the Ph.D. in Law program. This means that students may apply during their third year of law school, but most ...
Questions to Ask Before Heading to Law School
Before heading to law school, prospective law students should reflect on their motivations and determine if they'd find a legal job fulfilling, experts say. This means asking questions that ...
Our Favorite Interview Questions
During the 15-minute virtual interview, we will ask you questions based on what we have learned about you from your application. We might ask you to share more about the experiences listed on your resume, or to expand on details from your Written Statements. We also have some favorite questions we often ask prospective students to better ...
Ph.D. Program
The deadline for submission of all materials is December 15. Applicants to the Ph.D. in Law program must complete a J.D. degree at a U.S. law school before they matriculate and begin the Ph.D. program. Any questions about the program may be directed to Gordon Silverstein, Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs, at [email protected].
The Harvard Law School Interview: Questions & How to Prepare
Here's how you should set up your answer: Step One: Clearly explain the situation—no need for extensive detail, just stick to the main facts. Step Two: Reiterate the differing views or opinions involved and acknowledge the validity of both sides. Step Three: Explain the outcome and what you learned through it.
Ph.D. Program Details
Tuition and Financial Aid. Ph.D. in Law candidates will receive a full-tuition fellowship and a living stipend at an amount set by the Graduate School, Yale Basic Health coverage, and a Health Award covering the cost of hospitalization and specialty coverage. Financial support is conditioned on the student's making satisfactory academic progress.
Formulating a Research Question
Research questions are often sorted into different categories. As with most categorizations, these types of questions differ depending on the field of study. ... Research methods for law (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: Edinburgh Univ. P. Dunleavy, P. (2015). Authoring a PhD: how to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation ...
Ph.D. Program in Law & Economics
Program Overview Vanderbilt Law School's Ph.D. Program in Law and Economics is unlike any other. Dual-degree students pursue a J.D. and a Ph.D. concurrently in a fully integrated curriculum that combines economic theory and methodology with the study of law. The program is designed so that students complete both degrees in just six years. Admitted […]
Coordinated JD/PhD Program
The Coordinated JD/PhD Program is designed for students interested in completing interdisciplinary work at Harvard University and is founded on the belief that students' legal studies and their arts and sciences graduate studies can be mutually enriched through this pursuit. Students completing the coordinated program receive a JD from ...
Graduate Program
The Graduate Program attracts lawyers of demonstrated intellectual and academic excellence from all over the world. The LL.M. and S.J.D. programs expose students to American modes of legal education (which emphasize critical thinking and self-inquiry) as well as to substantive law, and enhance our students' ability to do advanced scholarly work.
PhD Interview Questions and Answers
Be honest about the things you find challenging, but identify them as training needs and discuss how you expect to improve upon them as part of your PhD. Do answer: I feel that I'm a good written communicator. My existing academic and professional work demonstrates an ability to put forward ideas clearly and concisely.
100 Law School Interview Questions and Answers
Here's a quick structure you can use to approach any policy law school interview question: Opening sentence. In your opening sentence, shortly summarize the policy or the decision to demonstrate your awareness. 1 or 2 points about the decision or the law. List a couple of advantages and disadvantages of the policy.
Ph.D. Admissions
Ph.D. Admissions. The application for autumn 2025 Ph.D. admission will open on Sept. 1, 2024, and the deadline is April 1, 2025. Submitted applications that are not complete by the April 1 deadline may be denied without review. Admissions for entry to autumn 2024 have closed and late applications will not be accepted.
PDF Ph.D. ADMISSION TEST
PHD SECTION - A Section A contains 50 Multiple Choice Questions. Attempt all questions. 1. "Catch up" rule established by the Supreme Court of india relates to which of the following Articles of the Constitution ? a) Article 14 b) Article 16(4) c) Article 15(4) d) Article16(4A) 2. in pretended bidding, sale is
Top 10 PhD Interview Questions
1. Tell us about yourself. This is a popular opener for just about any type of interview. It's meant to be an easy icebreaker, but that doesn't mean there isn't a wrong answer. Make sure to your response is relevant to the context of a PhD interview. Talk about your academic background, motivation, and interests.
Doctor of Philosophy (Law)
- working hypotheses or research questions ... The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of Sydney Law School is a pathway to a number of careers, including tertiary education, policy development, advanced research, and specialisation for employment in government, inter-governmental and international organisations, and civil society ...
PhD Programme in Law
PhD Programme. The PhD programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science offers the opportunity to undertake advanced legal research at one of the world's best law schools. Students in our PhD programme receive excellent training and work under the supervision of leading scholars with strong international, comparative and ...
Law Dissertation Topics
Example dissertation topic. Last modified: 3rd Oct 2019. This law area has 12 dissertation topics and ideas on tort, intellectual property and media law. Please use this material to help you in your law studies and to help craft your very own dissertation topic.... Browse through our latest law dissertation topics.
Law MPhil/PhD
UCL Laws has one of the most selective MPhil/PhD programmes in the UK, and produces graduates of internationally recognised quality. Ranked the top UK Law institution for research quality in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), UCL Laws attracts leading figures in the field to our extensive programme of events, informing debate on critical legal issues.
MD-PhD Mock Interview Questions
MD Interview. Tell me a little bit about yourself. Tell me about a significant experience you have had in your life? What are your positive qualities and what are your shortcomings? Who/what influenced you the most in becoming a doctor? What do you think are the most important qualities a physician should have? What are your thoughts about ...
Law Dissertation Topics and Titles
More Law Dissertation Topics. Topic 1: World Bank developmental projects and greater accountability. Topic 2: The right to bear arms: Rethinking the second amendment. Topic 3: Rethinking the international legal framework protecting journalists in war and conflict zones.
PDF National Law School of India University
Ph. D (LAW) ADMISSION TEST Total Marks: 100 INSTRUCTIONS: 1. THE QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF THREE PARTS—A, B & C. 2. Answer ALL questions in Part A, any ONE from Part B and TWO from Part C PART—A Research Aptitude (50 Marks) Attempt all Questions in Part A Question 1: Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
Questions about a Law PHD : r/LawSchool
There are a couple of different options available for you. There are Australian Universities which offer phds or sjd. The difference between the two is that a phd is purely research based with a dissertion whoosh a sjd combines both research and course work to a Australian qualification framework of 10 (the highest and which is equivalent to a phd).
Aging studies PhD student reflects on CDC Public Health Law Fellowship
Natalia Babenko, MPH, a PhD student in the School of Aging Studies, is a spring 2024 fellow of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Public Health Law Fellowship.This fellowship provides on-the-job training for careers in public health law and policy. "This fellowship has provided me with invaluable experiences and opportunities, particularly in advocating for aging ...
California lawmakers approve changes to law allowing workers to sue
The California Legislature approved bills that would amend a 20-year-old law allowing workers to sue their bosses over labor violations and require employers found liable to pay a fine to the state.
A Law Degree's Payoff Depends On Your Student Debt, Report Finds
A new report finds median earnings for law graduates are $88,800 four years after graduation. After subtracting student loan payments, those net earnings fall to $72,000.
California to add financial literacy as a requirement to graduate high
Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast): "Financial literacy is a critical tool that pays dividends for a lifetime.There's a wealth of data about the benefits of learning these valuable lessons in high school, from improving credit scores and reducing default rates to increasing the likelihood that our future generations will maintain three months of savings for ...
Supreme Court's Chevron Ruling Limits Power of Federal Agencies
Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the most cited in American law, requires courts to defer to agencies' reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes. There have been 70 Supreme Court ...
Judge orders jury to keep deliberating after it fails to reach
The Massachusetts judge presiding over the Karen Read murder trial ordered the jury to continue deliberations after the jurors sent a note Friday saying they could not reach a unanimous verdict.
What would happen if Biden decided to leave the race?
Joe Biden's spotty debate performance immediately triggered new questions from worried Democrats about whether he would leave the presidential race.