Ph.D. in Law and Economics
Vanderbilt Law School’s Ph.D. Program in Law and Economics is unlike any other. Dual-degree students pursue a J.D. and a Ph.D. concurrently in a fully integrated curriculum that combines economic theory and methodology with the study of law.
Vanderbilt Law School's Ph.D. Program in Law and Economics is unlike any other. Dual-degree students pursue a J.D. and a Ph.D. concurrently in a fully integrated curriculum that combines economic theory and methodology with the study of law. The program is designed so that students complete both degrees in just 6 years. Admitted students receive a full funding package, including tuition for both degrees and a competitive annual stipend, for each year of study.
About our Program
Applicants must complete separate applications to the Vanderbilt Graduate School and Vanderbilt Law School. Each applicant's Law School and Graduate School applications will be considered together in a collaborative admissions process.
Program students pursue policy-relevant research within three primary research fields developed specifically for this program: behavioral law and economics, labor markets and human resources, and risk and environmental regulation.
Program graduates hold academic positions at University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University at Buffalo, Florida State University, George Mason University, University of Texas, University of Texas Southwest Medical Center, Pace University, Vanderbilt University, and Western Kentucky University, as well as positions in government, legal practice, and consulting.
The Law & Economics/Applied Microeconomics Seminar Series brings scholars from around the world to Vanderbilt to present research spanning a variety of fields and topics. The program also hosts a variety of conferences, including the biennial Frontiers in Law and Economics (FILE) conference.
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August 1, 2025
Applications Open for fall 2026
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January 15, 2026
Deadline for Priority Consideration
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March 1, 2026
Applications Close