Golden Gate University

What you'll study

This PhD centres on advanced, original research into the intersections of gender, international law and comparative legal systems. Students build a bespoke programme of advanced seminars and directed readings that typically includes:

• Research methods in law – qualitative and quantitative methods, comparative legal methodology, archival and fieldwork techniques relevant to doctrinal and socio-legal scholarship.
• Feminist and critical legal theories – theoretical frameworks for analysing gendered norms, identity, intersectionality and structural inequality in law.
• International human rights law – treaty-based and regional systems, gender-specific protections, litigation strategies and monitoring mechanisms.
• Comparative constitutional and family law – comparative study of constitutional protections, family law regimes, and the interaction between domestic law and international obligations.
• Transnational governance and migration – law and policy on migration, labour, trafficking, and asylum with a gendered lens.
• Practice and policy seminars – engagement with NGOs, international agencies and public-interest litigation to connect research to practice.
• Dissertation – sustained, original research under supervision culminating in a doctoral thesis that contributes new knowledge to the fields of gender, international and comparative law.

Programme structure typically combines coursework and seminars in the early years, comprehensive or qualifying examinations, the preparation and defence of a dissertation proposal, followed by concentrated dissertation research and writing under faculty supervision. Candidates may also have opportunities for teaching experience, publication workshops and interdisciplinary collaboration with other departments.

Entry requirements

Successful applicants usually hold a professional law degree (JD, LLB or equivalent) and a master’s degree in law (LLM), international relations, gender studies or a closely related field, though exceptionally qualified applicants with substantial relevant professional experience may also be considered. Typical requirements include:

• A strong academic record in previous degrees.
• A clear and feasible research proposal showing fit with the supervision capacity and thematic strengths of the department.
• Academic writing sample or publications demonstrating research ability.
• Two or more academic references (professional references may also be requested for practice-based applicants).
• Evidence of English language proficiency where the applicant’s prior study was not in English.

Admissions committees look for applicants who demonstrate the capacity for sustained independent research, clarity of research questions, and a commitment to advancing scholarship and practice in gender and international/comparative law.

Career prospects

Graduates of this PhD go on to careers in a range of sectors where deep expertise in law, gender and comparative systems is valued. Common career paths include:

• Academic positions in law schools and multidisciplinary departments, including tenure-track teaching and research roles.
• Research roles in policy institutes, think tanks and university research centres focusing on gender, human rights and comparative law.
• Senior legal and policy positions in international organisations (United Nations bodies, regional human rights courts and commissions), intergovernmental agencies and international NGOs.
• Public-interest litigation, strategic advocacy and consultancy on gender equality, human rights and migration law.
• Advisory roles for governments, ombudspersons and equality bodies developing law and policy reform.

Graduates are also well placed to lead collaborative research projects, secure grants, and publish monographs and articles that influence law and policy internationally.

Why study at Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University Law School has a long-standing commitment to public interest law, social justice and professional practice, offering a doctoral environment that emphasises applied scholarship and engagement. Located in a major global city, the university provides access to diverse courts, human-rights organisations, NGOs and legal clinics—valuable for research, fieldwork and professional networking.

The programme is characterised by small cohorts, close faculty supervision and interdisciplinary collaboration across law, social sciences and gender studies. Students benefit from faculty expertise in human rights, international law and social justice, opportunities for teaching and publication mentorship, and practical connections to advocacy organisations and policymakers active in gender and comparative law.