博士 法学学位课程旨在通过一个博士课程为法学博士毕业生提供法律学者和教师职业的准备，该博士课程的目的是在三人组成的学位论文委员会的密切监督下进行大量的学术研究和写作。与为希望从社会科学或人文学科的学科观点学习法律的学生而设计的程序不同，博士是 法学专业针对希望从法学角度进修法学的学生。该计划为新兴学者提供了为法学作为一个学术领域做出贡献的机会，它提供了一条通向法律教学的替代途径以及现有的途径，例如奖学金，同等领域的高级学位，法律实践和文职人员。作为一个学术研究领域，博士提供了学习机会并为法律的发展做出了贡
n 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 programincluding coursework, qualifying exams, and close faculty supervisionthan do most fellowships or VAPs. The Ph.D. in Law program requires coursework, a written and an oral comprehensive exam, a dissertationwhich may take the form of a traditional monograph or three law review articlesand 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.