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Master of Legal Studies (MLS) Programs in Missouri
Master of Legal Studies (MLS) or similar legal studies programs help students in Missouri to gain an advanced understanding of the laws, regulations and legal procedures.
As of May 2025, about 21,470 people were employed in legal occupations in Missouri, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), including lawyers, paralegals and other legal professionals.1
While an MLS degree will not prepare students in Missouri to practice law, it may provide them with career opportunities across local government, industry, and private firms, and enable them to impact businesses and organizations with their legal knowledge.
Read on to learn more about Master of Legal Studies programs in Missouri and the career outlook in this state.
Overview of Legal Degrees in Missouri: Types and Concentrations
There are currently two Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) programs offered by Missouri law schools, one at the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law and one at Washington University School of Law.
It’s important to understand the ABA’s role here: the ABA Council does not accredit or “approve” non-J.D. degrees. Instead, for ABA-approved law schools, the Council reviews proposed non-J.D. programs to ensure they don’t interfere with J.D. accreditation and then may grant “acquiescence”, which is explicitly not approval of the non-J.D. degree itself.
If you’re open to options beyond Missouri, many out-of-state schools offer online legal studies master’s degrees, which can expand your choices in curriculum, scheduling, and concentrations.
American University • Washington, DC
Master of Legal Studies
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
30
Concentrations
General MLS, Business, Health Care Compliance, Technology, Cybersecurity, and U.S. Legislation
Admission Requirements
- Resume or CV
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
Fordham University • Bronx, NY
Master of Studies in Law
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
30
Concentrations
General, Human Resources, Financial Services, Health Care
Admission Requirements
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume
- Official Transcripts
- TOEFL Scores (International Applicants)
- Minimum two years’ compliance-related work experience recommended
Law School Highlights in Missouri
According to the Law School Admission Council, there are four law schools in Missouri that are ABA-approved and each school offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) program:
- University of Missouri School of Law
- University of Missouri—Kansas City School of Law
- Saint Louis University School of Law
- Washington University School of Law
The University of Missouri (UM) School of Law, or Mizzou Law, offers 10 dual degrees / eight certificates. The Kansas City campus of UM boasts a 90.6% first-time bar pass rate and logs 24,000 hours of pro bono service each year. In contrast to Mizzou Law, Saint Louis University offers four concentrations and 8 J.D. dual degree options. Importantly for prospective MLS students, Missouri offers Master of Legal Studies (MLS) programs: UMKC Law offers an MLS, and Washington University School of Law offers an Online Master of Legal Studies (MLS).
Legal Career Outlook in Missouri
As of May 2025, there are 21,470 professionals employed in legal occupations in Missouri, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.1 The mean annual wage for these professionals is $117,670 (about $56.57/hour using the standard 2,080-hour work year.. Legal occupations in Missouri include:
Occupation | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|
Lawyers | $78.28 | $162,820 |
Judicial Law Clerks | $31.92 | $66,400 |
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators and Hearing Officers | $66.70 | $138,730 |
Arbitrators, Mediators and Conciliators | Estimate not released | Estimate not released |
Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates | Estimate not released (May 2024: $71.06) | Estimate not released (May 2024: $147,790) |
Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $30.95 | $64,380 |
Title Examiners, Abstractors and Searchers | $25.03 | $52,060 |
Legal Support Workers, All Other | $37.05 | $77,060 |
Careers with a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in Missouri
As mentioned, a Master of Legal Studies degree is typically designed for legal professionals who want to deepen their knowledge of law without sitting for the bar exam or becoming a lawyer. There are many careers you can pursue with a master’s degree in legal studies. According to the BLS, some of these legal occupations include arbitrators, mediators and conciliators; court reporters; and paralegals and legal assistants. In Missouri, these legal professionals may earn:1
Occupation | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|
Arbitrators, Mediators and Conciliators | Estimate not released | Estimate not released |
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | Estimate not released (May 2024: $29.61) | Estimate not released (May 2024: $61,600) |
Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $30.95 | $64,380 |
Learn more on how to become a paralegal or career options with a master’s in tax law.
Legal Employers in Missouri
Below is the number of people employed by legal occupation in Missouri, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:1
Occupation | Employees |
|---|---|
Lawyers | 11,560 |
Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 7,130 |
Title Examiners, Abstractors and Searchers | 1,470 |
Legal Support Workers, All Other | 370 |
Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates | 600 |
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators and Hearing Officers | 160 |
Judicial Law Clerks | 100 |
Arbitrators, Mediators and Conciliators | 70 |
The St. Louis metro area is Missouri’s largest metropolitan area by population, making it a major hub for legal employers across corporate law, litigation, real estate, healthcare, and financial services. Many of the region’s most prominent firms include Thompson Coburn, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), Husch Blackwell, Armstrong Teasdale, and Lewis Rice.
Missouri Firm | Local Licensed Attorneys |
|---|---|
Thompson Coburn LLP | 354 |
BCLP LLP | 1,252 |
Husch Blackwell LLP | 726 |
Armstrong Teasdale LLP | 328 |
Lewis Rice LLC | 140 |
Colleges with Online MLS Programs in Missouri
School Name | Degree Name | City | Full-Time or Part-Time | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MA in Legal Studies | St. Louis (Webster Groves) | Flexible (campus + online options) | Offered through Webster University Online. Webster notes its Legal Studies/paralegal programs are ABA-approved (ABA approval applies to paralegal education programs). | |
University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law | Master of Legal Studies (MLS) | Kansas City | Part-time (online, 5 semesters) | Designed for nonlawyers; 30 credits in a part-time, online modality. |
Master of Legal Studies (Online MLS) | St. Louis | Flexible (can be completed in as little as 1 year) | Online MLS designed for working professionals; 24 units and includes an optional in-person immersion in St. Louis. |
1Bureau of Labor Statistics. "May 2025 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Missouri: Legal Occupations," Accessed June 2026. ⬆
Master of Legal Studies
The online Master of Legal Studies program from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. No GRE or LSAT scores are required to apply.
- No GRE or LSAT scores required to apply
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Complete in as few as 12 months
- Dispute resolution concentration available
| Institution & Program | Credits | Location |
|---|---|---|
Webster UniversityMasters of Legal Studies | 39 | Saint Louis, MO |
Information on this page was retrieved and updated in June 2026.