Yale Law announced earlier this week that is was going to launch a Ph.D. in Law. The announcement has picked up buzz in the legal community because this would be the first legal program in the United States to offer a doctorate program in Law. The program endeavors to appeal to students who seek to stay in academia often building careers as Law Professors.
This is a smart move for Yale. Believe it or not, there are many law students who don't want to be big law attorneys after earning their legal degrees. Moreover, law school has traditionally been used by some students as a stepping stone to other fields, attending law school with no intention of staying the legal field after graduating. There is a small group of law students, however, who enter law school with the specific goal of becoming a law professor.
Yale's program recognizes that it is difficult to transition from legal practice to teaching. The program will focus "in-depth scholarly training." I personally know one of these students whose goal is to become a law professor. He has expressed frustration in the lack of resources available to him at the law school level with most of the attention going to students who are planning on entering firm life upon receiving a J.D.
Yale has developed a program to serve and unmet need. There is no question that with this program, Yale's great reputation and prestige will accompany its graduates as they enter the world of legal academia after completing this program. As the school itself recognizes, “Yale Law School’s Ph.D. in Law will offer a new, alternative route into a career in law teaching and legal scholarship,” said Dean Post. “Some students will no doubt seek advanced degrees in cognate disciplines, but for those who wish to concentrate on law, we expect that the Ph.D. in Law will provide an attractive option.”
Only time will tell how many more programs will develop a doctoral degree, admittedly some will wait to see how Yale's new program is received.
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