Emory University

What you'll study

Coursework and research training are tailored to each student’s project but commonly include:

• Theoretical foundations: feminist and queer legal theory, critical race theory, postcolonial approaches and theories of rights.
• Comparative law: methodology for cross-jurisdictional analysis, comparative constitutionalism and legal transplantation.
• International law: international human rights law, refugee and migration law, international criminal law and transnational governance mechanisms affecting gendered harms.
• Empirical and doctrinal methods: qualitative methods (interviewing, ethnography, archival research), quantitative approaches where relevant, and advanced doctrinal/legal analysis.
• Specialist topics: reproductive rights and law, gender-based violence, family law across jurisdictions, labour and social protection, and law and development.
• Professional development: pedagogy seminars, grant-writing workshops, publication and conference presentation training.

Students typically combine structured seminars with independent reading, research practica and teaching opportunities, culminating in a substantive dissertation defended before a faculty committee.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a first professional law degree (such as a JD or LLB) or a relevant postgraduate degree (such as an LLM or MA) and to demonstrate strong academic performance. Typical admissions materials include:

• A detailed research proposal outlining the intended doctoral project and its contribution to gender, international or comparative law;
• Transcripts from prior degree programmes showing academic credentials;
• Letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees who can speak to research potential;
• A writing sample that demonstrates analytical ability and command of legal scholarship;
• A curriculum vitae and a personal statement describing academic motivations and fit with the programme.

International applicants for whom English is not a first language will need to meet the university’s English proficiency requirements. Admissions decisions also consider fit with faculty expertise and the availability of appropriate supervision.

Career prospects

Graduates from this PhD pathway pursue a range of careers where advanced research and subject-matter expertise are valued, including:

• Academic careers as tenure-track or research faculty in law schools and interdisciplinary departments;
• Research and policy roles in international organisations, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organisations focused on human rights, gender equality and development;
• Positions in think tanks, policy institutes and advocacy organisations conducting comparative or international legal research;
• High-level advisory or consultancy roles for governments, foundations and multi-lateral agencies working on gender-sensitive law and policy reform;
• Editorial and scholarly leadership roles in legal publishing and research centres.

Why study at Emory University

Emory offers a research environment that supports cross-disciplinary work between the law school and other faculties, enabling doctoral candidates to draw on resources across gender studies, international affairs and humanities. Students benefit from strong library collections, dedicated research centres and regular seminar series that bring leading scholars and practitioners to campus. The university’s location in Atlanta provides access to a vibrant legal and policy community, regional courts, NGOs and international organisations, offering opportunities for collaboration, field research and professional networking.