Roger Williams University

What you'll study

This doctoral programme centres on sustained, original research into legal questions that cut across gender, international human rights and comparative law. You will design and carry out a substantial supervised research project (dissertation) that makes a clear contribution to scholarship. Core academic work includes methodological and theoretical training, comparative legal analysis and an in-depth focus on gendered dimensions of law and governance.

• Research methods for legal scholars – qualitative and quantitative approaches, comparative methods, archival research, fieldwork and interdisciplinary techniques drawn from social science and gender studies.
• Feminist and gender theory in law – historical and contemporary feminist jurisprudence, intersectionality, critical race and queer theory as applied to legal institutions.
• International human rights law – substantive substantive regimes protecting women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, treaty bodies, strategic litigation and enforcement mechanisms.
• Comparative constitutional and administrative law – comparative methods in analysing constitutional protections, family law, reproductive rights and anti-discrimination frameworks across jurisdictions.
• Transnational law and governance – migration, transnational criminal law, labour and economic governance, and the role of non-state actors in shaping norms affecting gendered populations.
• Legal pedagogy and academic publication – training in scholarly writing, publishing strategies, peer review and teaching practice for those preparing for academic careers.
• Dissertation – independent, original research supervised by faculty advisers, culminating in a written thesis and oral defence.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised professional law degree (such as a JD) plus an advanced research degree in law (such as an LLM or equivalent) or to demonstrate substantial professional or academic experience that prepares them for doctoral research. Typical application materials include:

• Transcript(s) documenting prior degrees and academic performance.
• A research proposal outlining the intended dissertation topic, research questions, methodology and a brief literature review.
• A curriculum vitae detailing academic and professional experience.
• Letters of recommendation (usually two to three) from academic or professional referees who can speak to research potential.
• A representative writing sample, such as a law review article, LLM thesis chapter or comparable scholarly work.
• Proof of English language proficiency if the applicant’s prior degree was not taught in English.

Selection is based on the intellectual quality of the proposal, prior academic record, research potential and the availability of appropriate faculty supervision. Candidates may also be interviewed as part of the assessment process.

Career prospects

Graduates of the PhD in Gender, International & Comparative Law pursue a range of careers that draw on advanced research and specialised legal expertise:

• Academic careers: tenure-track and teaching positions in law schools and interdisciplinary university departments, research fellowships and postdoctoral posts.
• International organisations and NGOs: policy development, programme leadership and legal advisory roles within the UN system, regional human rights bodies and advocacy organisations focused on gender and human rights.
• Government and public policy: senior policy adviser, legislative analyst, or roles in ministries dealing with justice, equality and human rights.
• Strategic litigation and impact lawyering: roles in public interest law firms, legal clinics and organisations that bring test cases before courts and human rights bodies.
• Think-tanks and research institutes: senior researcher or director-level positions shaping public debate and policy on gender and international law.
• Consultancy and independent scholarship: expert consultancy for donor agencies, law reform commissions and international projects requiring deep comparative or gendered legal expertise.

Why study at Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University offers doctoral candidates an environment that emphasises small-cohort supervision, interdisciplinary engagement and practical legal experience. The law faculty includes scholars and practitioners with strengths in human rights, gender justice and comparative law, providing a strong supervisory base for doctoral research.

Students benefit from access to clinical and externship opportunities that connect research with practice, as well as engagement with regional legal communities in Rhode Island and nearby academic institutions. The university’s library collections and research support services are geared to sustain long-form scholarship, and doctoral candidates receive tailored mentoring in publishing and teaching to prepare for academic and policy careers.

Overall, the programme is designed to combine rigorous theoretical training with practical exposure and comparative perspectives, enabling graduates to produce scholarship that informs law, policy and advocacy on gendered issues in domestic and international contexts.