The online Master of Legal Studies at Arizona State University is a unique advanced legal degree for non-lawyers. Offered through ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, this 30-credit program enables professionals to gain a foundation in U.S. law in as little as one year and without pursuing a full law degree.

Resident tuition | Non-resident tuition
ASU Online offers start dates every 7.5 weeks.
Multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.
Required number of credits to complete this degree.

The law touches every career. Accordingly, students that apply to the Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) come from a diverse range of professional backgrounds and are looking to move up the ladder in their current career or to pursue new and exciting career options.

The M.L.S. program is a customizable degree with eight possible focus areas (each focus area is four courses in a particular subject):

The program explores the relationship between law and a wide variety of topics that are important to fields such as business, criminal justice, engineering, sports, sustainability, education, banking, intellectual property, entrepreneurship, human resources and many others. International students will find the M.L.S. program to be a valuable resource for gaining a general understanding of U.S. law and how decisions are made within the U.S. legal structure.

Graduates that earn an M.L.S. degree will have a basic understanding of U.S. law, legal structures, and legal reasoning. Additionally, graduates will be able to apply the law to situations that affect their professional and personal lives, including an understanding of when a legal issue is present that requires an attorney to be involved. The skills and expertise developed in the program is unique and will help differentiate graduates from others in their career fields.

The nation’s leading law school

  • #1 in Arizona for bar passage - only law school where students placed top 3 on the Arizona bar exam in the last 25 years
  • #3 public law school in the West
  • #8 public law school in the nation
  • #10 career services
  • #14 financial aid
  • #16 best value
  • #25 best law school in the country

Calendar

Next Start Date:

08/22/2019
Most Innovative

Featured Courses

Faculty

With 300 combined years of experience, ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law’s faculty members span from across the country and are nationally recognized for their wealth of knowledge. Additionally, the College of Law’s world- class faculty members provide comprehensive legal education around popular focus areas and address legal challenges on a global scale.

Program Summary

Total Hours:

30

Related Careers

Graduates with an ASU Online Master of Legal Studies have career opportunities illustrated in the following list. Career examples include but are not limited to:

  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Compliance Officer
  • Contract Manager
  • Athletic Director/Manager
  • Patent Officer
  • Law Enforcement Professional
  • Sustainability Manager

Requirements

The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law offers the master's degree program for students who do not wish to practice law, but believe that education in the law would be beneficial to their advancement in their careers or in other fields.

Students should see the program website for application deadlines.

Admission to the program is competitive. In order to be admitted, applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited four year college or university in the United States or attained a comparable degree from a foreign institution, and have submitted a complete application to the program. Selection will be based on a variety of factors, including academic background and potential, diversity of experience and background, career experience and ambitions, space and resource limitations in the law school and other factors.

For an application to be considered complete, it must include the following:

  1. The completed MLS application form
  2. The required application fee
  3. A resume that does not exceed three typed pages
  4. A personal statement (typed, double-spaced) that does not exceed 1,250 words
  5. Transcripts from all institutions attended, including the transcript showing that the bachelor's degree was conferred
  6. Two letters of recommendation
  7. A writing sample

Applicants with degrees from foreign institutions must submit transcripts to World Education Services and meet the Graduate College and Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law English proficiency requirements.

Affording College

Learn about the different types of financial aid and scholarship opportunities available. ASU offers a Cost Calculator, Budget Worksheet and Scholarship Search to make the college planning process easier.

Request Information

We value your privacy