- Trustworthy, of academic excellence, and accessible.
Doctor of Science in
Legal Studies
Studying Options
- Hybrid (on-campus activities in Orlando, FL)
- 100% online (live classes)
Weekly live classes
25 SEATS
NEXT CLASS
February 23, 2026
AVAILABLE LANGUAGES
- English
- Spanish
- Portuguese
Why WALN University
Discover a new approach to higher education, combining the strengths of traditional learning, the flexibility of online access, and an in-person campus experience in Orlando, FL, all at an affordable cost.
trust
- Licensed in the USA by the Florida
Department of Education. - Partnerships with renowned entities.
- Enjoy 30 days with no financial risk for those approved through our application process.
Quality
Every professor holds a PhD and will connect with you personally during live classes. Yes, they’ll know your name.
Connect with your professors in weekly live classes, intentionally limited to 30 students for meaningful interaction.
Participate in on-campus activities in Orlando, FL.
Customize your research across multiple academic areas.
Experience our proprietary teaching method.
Explore abundant opportunities for research, publication, and teaching internships.
Accessibility
- Study from anywhere with internet access.
- Enjoy highly flexible schedules tailored to your lifestyle.
- Affordable tuition designed to fit your budget.
- Earn an American degree from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world.
- Choose to study in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
1. Trust
Licensing in the USA (Florida)
The Doctor of Science in Legal Studies program can be completed in a hybrid format with in-person sessions in Orlando, FL, or fully online. Upon graduation, students earn a U.S. doctorate degree: Doctor of Science in Legal Studies, awarded by Washington & Lincoln University, which is licensed in the United States by the Florida Department of Education (License #CIE-4001).
trust
Campus in Orlando
Washington & Lincoln University is proudly based in Orlando, Florida, and undergoes annual in-person inspections by the Florida Department of Education.
Our offices are located at the Royal Business Center at 2121 S Hiawassee Rd, Suite 120, Orlando, FL 32835, featuring dedicated spaces including offices, an auditorium, conference rooms, lounge, kitchen, and restrooms. Students benefit from both technical and administrative support on-site.
In-person academic activities are held either at our headquarters or within Orlando’s hotel network, depending on the number of attendees.
Are you in Orlando? Schedule a visit. We’d love to meet you in person!
30 days risk-free financially for those approved in the application process
We want you to have peace of mind when trying whether WALN University is the right institution for what you are looking for.
At the Washington & Lincoln University, students approved into the application process have the first month of classes to get to know the program and the institution. If the student decides to cancel their enrollment during the first month of classes, they just need to send a request by email within the deadline and WALN University will refund all amounts paid for the enrollment.
2. Quality
PhD Professors Who Know You Personally
At WALN University, your professors know your name. They’ll talk with you, grade your assignments, and engage with you in classes of just 30 students. Our faculty aren’t distant celebrities recording online lectures for thousands of anonymous viewers. They’re dedicated educators who are present, accessible, and invested in your success.
We don’t rely on hidden tutors. Every professor at WALN holds a doctorate degree and brings extensive professional experience to the classroom.
Direct interaction with professors
Enough of mass distance learning with recorded classes and poorly qualified tutors who you don’t know who they are at the time of enrollment.
At Washington & Lincoln University, you will be closely guided only by professors with doctorates and extensive professional experience.
Attention: you will only take the next step in your career if you receive feedback from teachers who know more than you in their areas of expertise.
- No surprises with tutors.
- Weekly live classes.
- Classes of 30 students.
- No surprises with mass distance education.
- Only professors with a doctorate and extensive professional experience.
- Individualized feedback from these same professors.
- In-person activities in Orlando (hybrid studying option).
Curriculum
The program consists of 20 curricular components, each worth 4.5 credits, totaling 90 credits. The recommended completion time is 3 to 4 years.
The doctoral research and dissertation are conducted within the area of legal studies chosen by each candidate, to significantly advance their depth of knowledge, research skills, and ability to produce and disseminate scholarly work.
Specialized courses are individually recommended to each doctoral candidate after admission, ensuring that the selected curriculum provides meaningful personal and professional development.
Legal metaknowledge courses
- Comparative Law
- Jurisprudence and Legal Sources
- Law and Economics
- Philosophy of Law
Specialized courses
- Specialized course 1
- Specialized course 2
- Specialized course 3
- Specialized course 4
Science and research courses
- Science, knowledge and research
- Qualitative research methods and techniques
- Quantitative research methods and techniques
Courses on teaching and guided practice*
- Doctoral teaching internship*
- Research leadership and knowledge building*
- Guided publishing project*
- Thematic study and research project*
* at the discretion of the doctoral student, these subjects may be replaced by specialized subjects.
Components of the doctoral dissertation
- Doctoral research project
- Doctoral dissertation overview
- Doctoral dissertation qualification
- Data collection and analysis for the doctoral dissertation
- Doctoral dissertation defense
Innovative teaching, live & in-person in Orlando
- Annual in-person activities in Orlando, FL, for hybrid students.
- Weekly live classes in groups of 30 students.
- You will interact directly with WALN University professors to the point where they will know you by name.
- These same PhD professors will grade your academic work.
- Only professors with a doctorate and extensive professional experience. No surprises with unknown tutors.
- You will interact directly with other classmates and build a valuable professional network.
- You will have several opportunities for research, publications and teaching internships. Including the publication of international books by WALN's publishing house, Washington & Lincoln University Press.
Quality
Our commitment to your sucess
200 hours of in-person activities in Orlando (hybrid students)
900 hours of
live classes
300 live encounters
with deep discussions
Opportunity to write between 1 and 7
chapters of a book authored by you.
Opportunity to publish 15
scientific articles.
Opportunity to be the organizer
of 1 to 3 books.
17 oral debates or
presentations.
Individual advisor for the production
of the doctoral dissertation.
1 doctoral
dissertation.
Prepared and dedicated
faculty.
American
Doctorate Degree.
On-campus activities in Orlando
Hybrid program doctoral students participate in four one-week in-person sessions in Orlando, FL, designed to reinforce learning and provide an enriching international experience.
Online program students may choose to participate in optional in-person workshops held in Orlando.
3. Accessible
A doctorate degree that fits your routine
- Study wherever you are.
- Don't be forced to commit to fixed blocks of time.
- Don't waste time or money on traffic or commuting.
- Study at the times you want.
- A doctoral program of excellence focused on you!
- Take advantage of the opportunity to earn an American degree from your home, anywhere in the world.
Accessibility
Affordable investment
Washington & Lincoln University offers affordable tuition fees compared to other doctoral programs of excellence that provide supervision by quality professors, live classes in groups of 30 students, and the production of a doctoral dissertation.
And remember, WALN University offers 30 days without financial risk for those approved in the application process! If you withdraw during the first month, WALN will refund the admission fees.
Click on the “I’m interested” button below to contact us about next class prices, installments, and financing opportunities.
Next class
- Seats: 25
- Class start: February 23, 2026.
- Applications: until February 6, 2026.
Activities in Orlando, FL
Investment (Hybrid Option)
48x of $875.63 US dollars*
Investment (Hybrid Option) with the teaching and research scholarship
48x of $700.50 US dollars**
* WALN University provides fixed exchange rate arrangements for qualifying international students.
** Scholarships are only for those who qualify for the scholarship criteria.
NOTE: Hybrid tuition fees do not include travel, accommodation, or food expenses.
Investment (Online Option)
48x of $729.38 US Dollars*
Investment (Online Option) with the teaching and research scholarship
48x of $583.50 US Dollars**
* WALN University provides fixed exchange rate arrangements for qualifying international students.
** Scholarships are only for those who qualify for the scholarship criteria.
Live Classes
Scholarships
Scholarships
WALN University offers a limited number of scholarships of up to 20% for applicants in need of financial assistance. Scholarship requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and are processed in the order received until available funding is exhausted. For more information, please contact us.
How to enroll
Contact the admissions team to find out how to register for the application process, to receive the rules for the next application process and to find out more details about dates and payment options.
01
Application
Fill out the application form and participate in the selection process.
02
risk-free trial
If you are approved in the application process, you can enjoy a full month of regular classes. If you cancel your enrollment within the first month, we will refund the application fee and tuition.
03
Excellence
Earn a high-quality doctorate degree through flexible hybrid or fully online formats, designed to fit your schedule and pace.
Frequently Asked Questions?
What degree is awarded to those who complete the Doctor of Science in Legal Studies?
After completing this program, can I sit for the Bar Exam or practice law in Florida or any other US state?
No, this program does NOT grant a Juris Doctor.
How do I get in touch about this program?
Click any “I’m interested” button on this page and complete the form. Alternatively, you may contact us by phone, WhatsApp, or email using the contact details provided in the footer of this page.
In what language is the program taught?
WALN offers courses in multiple languages: entirely in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, or in mixed formats where assessments can be completed in either language.
What level of English proficiency is required?
You must be able to understand texts in English. Throughout the program, you will be required to read materials in English, and you should find a direct or indirect way to comprehend written content in the language.
Although optional, you should be able to communicate in English if you wish to actively participate in live classes conducted in English by American professors.
Which program qualifies applicants for admission to the doctoral program?
Applicants for the doctoral program must possess a master’s degree.
My master's degree is not from the U.S. Do I need to undergo an equivalency evaluation?
If your master’s degree was issued in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, or England, an equivalency evaluation is generally not required by most academic institutions (subject to WALNU’s review of your documentation). For degrees from other countries, you must obtain a credential equivalency report for a U.S. master’s degree from any of the following agencies: International Evaluation Services (https://iesedu.org/), World Education Services (https://www.wes.org/), or Josef Silny and Associates (https://jsilny.org/). To do so, you should contact the selected agency directly to inquire about the procedures and fees for evaluating your documentation.
Can I transfer credits from other institutions into this program?
No. WALN University does not accept credit transfers for this program.
Can I transfer credits from this program to another institution?
No. Although credit acceptance is determined by the receiving institution, students in this program should not expect to begin their studies at Washington & Lincoln University with the intention of completing them at another institution.
How many hours do I need to dedicate to studying?
The average time commitment required is 15 hours per week over the course of 40 weeks per year.
What is the delivery format of the program?
The program can be completed in a hybrid format with in-person sessions in Orlando, FL, or entirely online.
When WALN University refers to an “online program,” does it simply mean watching recorded lectures and taking automated exams?
No. It refers to an online program delivered using a proprietary teaching method based on live classes with up to 30 students per session. Each student receives individualized support from a highly qualified professor through a coaching-style approach. This method incorporates formative assessment and deliberate practice to help students achieve the specific goals of each course, as well as the broader objectives of their chosen program.
Is a doctoral dissertation required in the program?
Yes. The production of a doctoral dissertation is a required component for completing the program, along with other academic requirements. The dissertation must undergo a qualification process and be defended publicly before a final evaluation committee. Each doctoral candidate receives individualized guidance from an advisor throughout the dissertation writing process.
Will I have the opportunity to publish articles with professors during the doctoral program?
Yes.
All students have the opportunity to write and publish articles in collaboration with faculty throughout the doctoral program.
Is it necessary to choose an advisor before enrolling?
No. Applicants are not required to contact faculty during the admissions process. Selection is carried out by a designated committee, and each student will have a specific point during the program to meet and choose their advisor.
I know one of the WALN University's professors, will that give me any advantage in the admissions process?
No, knowing or having previously studied with one of the professors does not give you any advantage in the admissions process. Selection is based on the information and insights gathered throughout the admissions process by a designated committee, not by the faculty as a whole.
What documents will I need to submit for admission?
You will need to submit scanned copies of the following documents:
– Official photo identification document (e.g., passport, national ID, or driver’s license).
– Front and back of your master’s degree diploma.
– Official academic transcript from your master’s program (with the issuing institution’s signature and/or stamp).
– Final version of your master’s thesis in PDF format.
– Proof of address.
– Resume (PDF or MS Word).
– Admission Essay – template provided by WALN University.
*Scanned documents must be clear, with all text legible, high resolution (at least 150dpi), with proper contrast and brightness, no blurring, and with full margins and edges visible.
What is the admission essay?
It is a document to be written by the applicant and evaluated as part of the admissions process. The admission essay must follow specific guidelines and address questions that connect the applicant’s educational background, professional experience, and future projects with the pursuit of the degree at Washington & Lincoln University. Once registered, the applicant will receive instructions on how to submit the document after paying the application fee.
Can I temporarily withdraw from the program?
Yes. As long as you have successfully completed at least one course, you may request a temporary withdrawal. The maximum duration allowed for this withdrawal is up to 9 consecutive months.
What is the maximum time allowed to complete the program?
The maximum time allowed to complete the program is 5 years from the date of enrollment, including any interruptions or temporary withdrawals.
How are payments made?
Payments can be made using a U.S.-issued credit card, an internationally enabled credit card, or by sending funds to the United States. The university offers some local payment solutions for international students.
Does WALNU offer any discounts, scholarships, or financing options?
We offer research and teaching scholarship opportunities for those who meet the eligibility criteria. Please contact us for more information.
Does WALNU offer courses to non-degree-seeking students?
Yes, we offer the option to enroll as a non-degree-seeking student in select individual courses.
Since part of the program can be conducted in Spanish or Portuguese, does that mean it is a Spanish, Portuguese, or Brazilian program or institution?
No. Studying in languages other than English such as Spanish or Portuguese is simply an option, and it does not mean the program or institution is Spanish, Portuguese, or Brazilian.
Washington & Lincoln University is an American institution based in Orlando, Florida, and is licensed by the Florida Department of Education (FL-DOE) under registration CIE#4001.
Who licenses and oversees WALN University?
Washington & Lincoln University is headquartered exclusively in Orlando, Florida (USA), and is licensed by the Florida Department of Education (FL-DOE) under registration number CIE-4001.
What is the official publication licensing act of Washington & Lincoln University at the FL-DOE (Florida Department of Education)?
Licensing for degree-granting postsecondary private institutions based in Florida is issued by the Commission for Independent Education, a division of the Florida Department of Education. Washington & Lincoln University’s license number is CIE-4001 with the FL-DOE.
On which FL-DOE website can I find the list of programs approved offered by Washington & Lincoln University?
Is WALN University accredited?
No. Washington & Lincoln University has not yet applied for accreditation.
Is accreditation required to operate and grant American degrees?
No. Accreditation in the United States is optional and carried out by independent private associations. Licensing, which is conducted by the government, is the only legal requirement for issuing American degrees.
What is the importance of accreditation?
Accreditation is a voluntary but very important step for a university. It serves as a quality assurance process conducted by an external, independent, non-governmental association composed of other educational institutions. Accreditation enhances the institution’s prestige within the United States, facilitates credit transfer and degree recognition among schools accredited by the same association, and enables access to U.S. federal student financial aid programs (Title IV).
English 
Portuguese 
Spanish 