Choose the Best Online Master of Legal Studies Program for You for 2021

Albany Law School is a private law school in the United States. Founded in 1851, it is accredited by the ABA. 

The school offers three concentrations in their 30-credit legal studies program: Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, Financial Compliance and Risk Management, Health Law and Compliance. Each concentration provides students with an expertise in the field they are interested in and helps prepare them for the legal field.

The online Master of Legal Studies program from American University Washington College of Law is designed for non-lawyers who could benefit from fundamental legal training but do not want to become practicing attorneys. Through a curriculum that covers advanced legal concepts across various industries and an in-person immersion in Washington, D.C., students will be prepared to apply legal skills in their everyday role. The program can be completed in 12 months. No GRE/LSAT required to apply.

AU offers the following tracks: General MLS, Business, Health Care Compliance, Cybersecurity, or Technology.

Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law of Arizona State University is an ABA accredited and also a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). 

The 30-credit MLS at ASU program explores the relationship between law and other topics such as business, criminal justice, engineering and many others. Graduates gain a better understanding of U.S. law, legal structures, and legal reasoning and how to apply the law to situations that affect their careers.

The Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law offers a Master of Legal Studies that requires 30 semester credits.

It aims to give students the knowledge of legal issues that businesses and organizations face and how to adhere to regulations. The core curriculum includes topics in law, legal analysis, and risk assessment and management. The courses can be completed online and students are given the option to take selected JD courses.

The online MSL in Corporate Compliance program from Fordham Law School prepares students to solve complex compliance challenges and protect organizations from violating laws and regulations.

Through Fordham Law School’s online Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance program, students learn the legal intricacies of corporate compliance, including an introduction to U.S. law and legal institutions. Bachelor’s degree required and two years’ compliance-related work experience recommended to apply. Complete in as few as 12 months.

Hamline University is a private liberal arts college with a Master in the Study of Law. The online degree consists of 34 credits.

Through the program, students gain competence in foundational areas of law and a deep understanding of the rules and reasoning contained in legal authorities. Students are also given the option to earn their paralegal certificate associated with the program.

Hofstra University is a private institution. The university offers two Master of Arts legal programs in an online format. 

The 30-credit-hour Health Law and Policy concentration examines the state and federal laws that have reshaped the health care system in recent years. The 33-credit-hour American Legal Studies concentration is focused on the U.S. legal system, interrelations with social issues and the utilization of law and policy.

Northeastern University is a private research university in Boston. The School of Law is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and is accredited by the ABA.

Online Master of Legal Studies offers five concentrations and each features a set of courses, such as Regulation and Global Business Strategies in Business Law concentration, Healthcare Regulation and Compliance in the Health Law concentration, Wages and Benefits in Human Resources Law, and Identifying and Securing Intellectual Property Rights in Intellectual Property Law. The program requires 27 to 31 credits, depending on the concentration.

The College of Law of Nova Southeastern University’s Online Master Of Science In Law consists of 36 credits and is designed for busy professionals who want to balance work and family responsibilities and complete the program on their schedule. 

There are four concentrations: Education Law is focused on how the law and the field of education intersect, Employment Law on how business and legal issues intersect, Health Law on how health care intersects with the law, and Law and Policy on how students’ profession intersects with the law.

The online Master of Legal Studies program from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law enables nonlawyers from across the United States to develop the legal expertise and credentials to advance within their chosen fields. Students will learn to interpret foundational legal concepts, solve legal challenges, and interact effectively with lawyers.

Pepperdine Caruso Law faculty members are legal scholars who will mentor and challenge students to succeed in the classroom and beyond. They focus on providing hands-on training that students can immediately apply in their current professions. 

Customize your learning experience by selecting an optional concentration in human resources, dispute resolution or litigation. The Straus Institute at Pepperdine Caruso Law is top-ranked for dispute resolution by U.S. News & World Report.

Regent University is a private Christian university. Regent’s online Master of Arts (M.A.) in Law program includes 30 credits and is designed for professionals who want to advance their career by benefiting from legal knowledge without committing to a Juris Doctor. 

Students learn how to operate effectively in a government, corporate, nonprofit or legal environment. Graduates gain an understanding of communicating effectively on legal issues, evaluating legal issues and thoroughly researching American law, including cases and statutes.

Samford University is a private Christian university accredited by ABA.

Cumberland School of Law’s Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) is a 34-hour master’s degree program designed for individuals without a Juris Doctor (J.D.). Through courses and training in the coursework, the program may better prepare students for their careers. Students can choose to specialize in one of five regulatory compliance-focused concentrations and to pursue relevant professional credentials from organizations.

Seattle University (SU) is a private Jesuit university with a Master of Legal Studies in Compliance and Risk Management program that requires 30 credits. 

It begins with foundational courses in legal institutions, methods and communication. When moving into the core aspects of compliance operations, students learn specialized knowledge of investigation, auditing, and report writing in the healthcare, finance, data, and cybersecurity industries, from experienced legal educators and adjunct faculty from Seattle businesses.

Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL) is a private law school approved by the California State Bar’s Committee of Bar Examiners.

Master’s of Science of Law programs have been offered online and consist of 30 units. The courses are offered entirely asynchronous to meet students’ schedule with a low student to faculty ratio of 6:1. Students have the opportunities to join in and learn from real-world client scenarios such as writing memos or conducting relevant research and writing projects.

The University of Arizona is a public land-grant research university that offers a 30-unit Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program to help students understand U.S. legal systems and regulations, advance their career and development prospects and gain critical-thinking skills. 

All courses are offered asynchronously to cater to busy professionals, working families, and international students.

The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law offers master’s degrees for lawyers and non-lawyers. 

Two out of three specialized areas of the law are available online: a master’s in intellectual property for nonlawyers, and International Criminal Law and Justice for practicing lawyers, professionals, students, and scholars in diplomatic, criminal justice, military, and law enforcement communities.

The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a public research university with a Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) that requires 32-33 credits depending on the concentration chosen. 

The programs are offered primarily online to increase the flexibility and accessibility for working professionals and are ideal for those seeking a law-related career in the nonprofit, government or business sectors.

University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law is a private, ABA-approved law school. Both Master of Science in Law programs require 26 units over approximately two years. 

The Water & Environmental Law concentration is for land use planners, engineers, environmental consultants and more; Government Law & Policy is designed for working professionals in lawmaking, regulation, election law, and lobbying who do not require a traditional law degree.

Vermont Law School is a private law school approved by the ABA and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

The master’s degree programs at ULS require 30 credits with four focus areas: the political, scientific, and communications aspects of environmental law; the law and policy governing energy use, production, and transmission; the law and policy to support sustainable and just food systems; and how to address deficiencies in our justice systems.

The online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree from Washington University School of Law offers an in-depth perspective of the U.S. legal system and develops practical legal skill sets – debate, analytical thinking, legal writing, and more. Designed for non-lawyers, the degree provides students with the legal acumen needed to advance their careers in a wide variety of professions – from business to health care. 

Delivered entirely online, the program blends live, face-to-face classes with self-paced coursework that is designed and taught by Washington University School of Law faculty. Graduates of the online Master of Legal Studies program receive the same degree as on-campus candidates, participate in graduation, and join the global Washington University School of Law alumni network.