Law and Philosophy J.D. Specialization
This specialization explores the philosophical foundations of law and often attracts students interested in graduate studies or careers in academia.
Students in the interdisciplinary Law and Philosophy Specialization delve deeply into material on the nature of law and legal systems, and on the theoretical underpinnings and justifications of particular doctrinal areas such as constitutional law, criminal law and contract. Students need not have any prior background in philosophy, but a strong interest in the subject is recommended.
Specialization Requirements for Law Students and Curriculum
To earn a specialization in Law and Philosophy, students must finish a course work requirement and a written work requirement in their second and third years as detailed below.
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2025-2026 Law and Philosophy Class Schedule
Course schedule to be announced soon
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Course Work Requirement
- Students must complete four qualifying courses (of at least two semester units each) with a grade of B or better in each course.
- At least two of the courses must come from the Core List. (These lists may be updated by the faculty affiliated with the Program as new courses are added.). Courses on the Core List will be frequently offered. They will usually be taught by members of the faculty who have special expertise in the area of Law and Philosophy, drawing on foundational materials and methodologies of the subject.
- The other two courses may come from the Core List from the Other Qualifying Courses List or students may petition the Faculty Director of the Program to have other relevant courses or independent studies counted toward the specialization.
- Courses from the Core List need not be taken before other qualifying courses. Coursework need not be complete before the student tackles the written work requirement.
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Core Courses
LAW 217
Legal Philosophy
LAW 418Contemporary Philosophy of Law: The Cutting Edge
LAW 524Legal Philosophy - The Nature of Law: Ground, Essence, and Analysis
LAW 533The Philosophy of Prisons and Punishment
LAW 551Philosophy of Punishment
LAW 555Legal Theory Workshop
LAW 563The Foundations of Legal and Moral Responsibility
LAW 587Free Speech Theory
Philosophy 166 - Philosophy of Law
(strongly recommended)
(This course is not part of the standard Law School curriculum and hence not subject to priority enrollment. Interested students should contact the instructor in the fall to request enrollment and notify the faculty Director. Be aware that the course runs on the quarter system and starts in January term, running for 10 weeks.)
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Other Qualifying Courses
LAW 266
Critical Race Theory
LAW 273International Human Rights Law
LAW 376Law and Dissent
LAW 389Prison Law and Policy
LAW 411Liberty & Equality: LGBTQ & Reproductive Rights
LAW 511A/BSocial Media and the Future of Democracy
LAW 543UCLA Colloquium on Tax Policy and Public Finance
LAW 567Direct Democracy
LAW 612Reproductive Rights and Justice
LAW 616Theories of International Law
LAW 649Religious Legal Systems: Jewish Law
LAW 655Feminist Legal Theory
LAW 666The Law and Political Economy of Debt
LAW 668The 8th Amendment Punishments Clause
LAW 699Freedom of Speech: Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives
LAW 928Religious Liberty
LAW 967Statutory Interpretation in The Roberts Supreme Court: The New Textualism
Philosophy M257 - The Ethics and Politics of Communication
Philosophy 156 - Topics in Political Philosophy
(This course is not part of the standard Law School curriculum and hence not subject to priority enrollment. Interested students should contact the instructor in the fall to request enrollment and notify the faculty Director. Be aware that the course runs on the quarter system and starts in January term, running for 10 weeks.)
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Written Work Requirement
To earn the specialization, students must also complete a substantial research paper (20 to 35 pages) on a topic in law and philosophy with a grade of B+ or better.
To discuss the specialization, students may contact Faculty Director or the Law and Philosophy Program Manager.
For detailed information about the specialization including other courses and methods of fulfilling the specialization, please visit the Law and Philosophy Specialization page in MyLaw (login required).
General Information
Admission
Any student in good standing may apply to be admitted into the Specialization. Interested students should complete the Specialization Add/Drop Form. Please email Program Coordinator Ben Austin-Docampo austin@law.ucla.edu once you have completed the form letting him know you have signed up for the Specialization.
Certification
The Specialization is not a separate degree program, but rather a specialization within UCLA School of Law. A student who completes the Specialization with a B or better in each qualifying course and a B+ in the writing requirement, will receive a transcript notation indicating successful completion of the Specialization.
Course Enrollment Preferences
Students enrolled in the specialization have priority enrollment for Core List courses but not for the courses on the qualifying list. The Registrar will provide pre-enrollment information for each semester.
Law & Philosophy Specialization for Philosophy Graduate Students
Enrolling in Law Courses
Subject to approval by the Graduate Advisor in Philosophy, the Faculty Director of the Program, and advance consultation with the law school Registrar, philosophy graduate students in their third year or beyond who have academic interests in law and philosophy will be permitted to take up to four law school courses, including courses in first year subjects. Enrollment in any law school course or seminar will require the consent of the instructor.
Graduate students taking law school courses may be permitted with instructor consent to write a paper in lieu of taking an exam and, in any case, would not be subject to the curve applied to law students. These courses will not, typically, be counted toward Ph.D. course requirements, although students may petition the Graduate Advisor for an exception.
Philosophy students who complete four law school courses (only one of which may be the legal theory workshop) each for a grade of B or higher, and who write a substantial research paper on law and philosophy will receive a notation on their departmental transcripts that they have completed the specialization in law and philosophy.
More Information
Graduate students interested in completing the specialization should review the law school’s offerings and email Ben Austin-Docampo austin@law.ucla.edu and Wil Jones at wjones@humnet.ucla.edu to be added as a specializer. To sign up for classes outside of philosophy, please contact Seana Shiffrin, Faculty Director, shiffrin@law.ucla.edu.