Online Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Arizona State University’s online Master of Legal Studies offers a unique opportunity to understand U.S. law without pursuing a full law degree. This program lays the groundwork in legal analysis, writing and concepts, with the option to choose electives that align with your career goals. Designed for professionals seeking to enhance their careers or transition to new fields, you’ll graduate equipped with practical legal knowledge and skills.
Quick facts
Next start date: 08/21/2025
Total classes: 10
Weeks per class: 7.5
Total credit hours: 30
What you’ll learn in this Master of Legal Studies
Throughout this Master of Legal Studies, you'll gain a solid foundation in U.S. law, including essential skills in legal analysis and writing, as well as understanding legal concepts. This 30-credit program is designed for professionals who want to understand the law and its implications in their careers without pursuing a full law degree. In as little as a year, you'll develop an interdisciplinary perspective on legal principles and enhance your ability to engage effectively with attorneys.
This degree is ideal for professionals in various fields who seek to advance their careers or pivot to new ones by gaining legal insights relevant to their work. It’s especially suited for those who want to understand the law’s impact on their industry, but not for those aiming to practice law.
Tailor your studies to your interests and career
When you earn your Master of Legal Studies online, you have the option to customize your degree to align with your specific interests and career aspirations with one of the following emphases:
- Business law
- Conflict resolution
- Contract management
- Construction law
- Corporate and health care compliance
- Criminal law
- Federal contracting law
- Federal Indian law
- Healthcare law and administration
- Indian gaming
- Intellectual property law
- Land use and property development law
- Law and sustainability
- Legal paraprofessional
- Navajo Nation law
- Sports law
- Tribal self-governance
Each emphasis consists of 9 to 12 credit hours and is designed to deepen your knowledge in that particular area. While choosing an emphasis is optional, it’s important to note that you don’t need to officially declare an emphasis and it won’t appear on your diploma or transcripts. This flexibility allows you to supplement your general legal foundation with specialized knowledge that is directly relevant to your professional goals, making your MLS degree highly adaptable to various career paths.
Professional licensure and certification
ASU academic programs are designed to prepare students to apply for applicable licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet education requirements for license or certification in another state. If you’re planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Arizona, it’s strongly recommended that you visit our professional licensure page for contact information of the appropriate licensing entity to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements.
Will my diploma say ‘online’?
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”
Online Master of Legal Studies courses
In this program, you’ll start with a pre-enrollment "boot camp" and a required course in U.S. Law and Legal Analysis, which lay the foundation for the rest of your studies. Beyond these core courses, you have the flexibility to customize your degree with eight additional courses, which can be selected from emphasis areas or electives. Most emphasis areas don’t require a full eight courses, so you’ll have ample opportunity to explore various electives and tailor the program to your specific interests and career goals.
What you can do with a Master of Legal Studies
This MLS degree's flexibility allows you to select courses that best align with your career goals, either by customizing your curriculum or choosing from one of the 12 available emphases. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for a wide range of potential careers, including but not limited to:
Legal specialists focused on effective education
The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law faculty has more than 300 combined years of experience. Hailing from across the country, they’re nationally recognized for their wealth of knowledge. Our world-class faculty provides comprehensive legal education in popular focus areas and addresses legal challenges on a global scale.
Legal specialists focused on effective education
The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law faculty has more than 300 combined years of experience. Hailing from across the country, they’re nationally recognized for their wealth of knowledge. Our world-class faculty provides comprehensive legal education in popular focus areas and addresses legal challenges on a global scale.
How to apply
Applicants to the Master of Legal Studies program must fulfill the requirements of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
U.S.-educated applicants can apply through our FastApp process, which streamlines the application process and may allow for an offer of conditional admission to the MLS program while the applicant continues to submit any additional requested documentation. Find more information about the FastApp process here.
Join one of the best law schools
The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU is one of the top schools in the nation, providing personalized and practical legal education. Offering more than 250 unique courses, students can tailor their educational experiences to meet their unique interests. Our bar passage achievements and peer-reviewed U.S. News & World Report rankings highlight our dedication to preparing students for success.
#1
in Arizona for bar passage
7
specialty law programs ranked amongst the top 35 in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report
Top 20
best public law schools, according to U.S. News & World Report
#45
best law schools, according to U.S. News & World Report
Tuition calculator
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. Learn more.
Tuition calculator
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. Learn more.
