A Ph.D. in Law is a great option that is becoming popular amongst law graduates in India recently. A Ph.D. in Law degree helps students prepare to gain an in-depth knowledge in their field of specialization by conducting a research. The graduates of this course become legal scholars and teachers in most cases. During the course, they write their dissertation with the help and guidance of a supervisor who is assigned to them and a faculty dissertation committee. They can use various perspectives in analyzing different aspects of the law. It is a great opportunity for young law professionals and scholars to contribute to the ongoing research and development in the field of law. With changing times, new fields and specializations are emerging within law providing huge scope for students to explore various research options.
Eligibility
Again, the eligibility for this course may vary depending on the target country and university. You definitely need to have a degree in law or a related discipline. It is often thought that a person can pursue
Basic eligibility includes a first class honors degree in Law or an upper second class with a good grade in masters in Law.
However, there are some schools who also accept lower scores when backed up with a good work experience.
How to Apply
Most universities have an admission cycle in the fall semester so the applications usually open around August or September and the deadline ranges around Mid-December or January. It varies between universities but they are usually around this time.
For the documents, you need to submit a personal statement which is perhaps the most important document because it tells the admission committee about you and your achievements. So you need to be very comprehensive in this document. This is followed by two or three academic references who can boast about your achievements. It is also better if they can vouch for your research skills.
Also, transcripts of your university degrees are required when you submit the application so you must keep them handy.
A good GRE or GMAT score can always boost your chances of getting an admission, so start preparing for it well in advance.
Program Duration
Duration may vary from 3 years to 5 years depending on which country or university you choose.
Fee for the program
Most Ph.D. courses are funded through the university. You also have the option to apply for external funding. On an average without funding, the fee is usually around 5000-10,000 dollars per annum depending on the university you choose.
Research topics
Research topics can be anything of your interest. There is no restriction on choosing the topic as long as it is related to law. Some of the examples can be cyber crime and the role of law, stronger laws to stop human right abuse etc.
Jobs after PhD
After a Ph.D. in Law, you can either choose to continue to teach or continue with fellowship or other advanced degrees or clerkships. This is a great time for Indian students to go abroad to pursue a Ph.D. in Law to increase their expertise and specialization.
Salary after PhD
Again, it depends on which profession you choose after your Ph.D. But most Ph.D. graduates earn at least 10,000 dollars per annum if carry out research with firms and apply for fellowships regularly.
| JOBS | Average salary ($) per annum |
| Technical Advisor | 95,000 |
| Assistant professor in Law | 96,410 |
| Professor in Law | 1,77,000 |
