Stanford University

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M.A./J.D. Admissions

Find out how to apply for the joint degree in Law and International Policy

Combining the strengths of Stanford Law School (SLS) with the Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy (MIP), this joint degree provides students with the analytical tools and skills to function as lawyers, advocates, and policymakers on diverse international issues. Recipients of Stanford's joint J.D. and M.A. degree are prepared to practice law in the public sector as government officials, as lawyers working for nongovernmental organizations in such fields as international human rights and international environmental law, or in the private sector representing clients in transnational domains particularly sensitive to matters of public policy.

Degree Requirements

You must fulfill the degree requirements for each program as outlined in the academic policies from each school for the year in which you begin the required curriculum. 

J.D. Requirements

M.A. Requirements

Joint Degree Program Student Checklist

 

Overview

J.D. Units: 111 (80 units from SLS courses, 31 units from SLS or non-SLS courses)

M.A. Units: 54 (reduced from 80 units for the stand-alone M.A. program)
Completion of MIP Core (28 units), Area of Specialization (17 units), and Capstone (9 units)​

Time to complete: 12 academic quarters (4 years)

 

Timeline

Year    Program  Coursework
1    Stanford Law School  L1 Curriculum
2    Stanford Law School & MIP  L2 Curriculum & MIP Core
3    Stanford Law School & MIP  L3 Curriculum & MIP Core/Specialization
4    MIP  MIP Capstone & Specialization

How to Apply

There are three options for applying to the joint J.D./ M.A. program:

 

Apply as an external applicant to both degree programs

  • Submit a complete application to the Law School.
  • Submit a complete application to MIP.

 

Apply as a current Stanford student in the Law School

  • MIP has one application deadline per year in early January. Please see the Graduate Admissions website for the annual deadline.
  • After admittance to the Law School, current students may apply to a joint program during their first or second year through an internal process.
  • Law students must submit the following materials to MIP:
     
  1. Joint Degree Application Form
  2. Copy of law school application (please ask the Law School's Registrar's Office to send this in PDF Format to Jonathan Achter and Meghan Moura)
  3. Current transcript (can be official or unofficial)
  4. Letter of recommendation from a Stanford professor
  5. Statement of Purpose (2 pages, single spaced)
  6. Additional short essay (500-word limit)
  7. Current resume or CV
  8. List of macroeconomics and microeconomics coursework completed

 

Apply as a current Stanford student in MIP