Lawyers attend law school and earn a degree called a Juris Doctor (JD). However, not everyone with a legal education is a lawyer or needs a JD. A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) can prepare people to take on other roles that require extensive knowledge of the law. For instance, professionals called compliance directors are responsible for ensuring that businesses operate within the scope of the law. A Master of Legal Studies degree can give these professionals the knowledge base they’ll need to succeed in these important roles.

“The law is really a part of so many career fields and industries,” Susan Hayes Stephan, JD, LLM Director of the Master of Legal Studies program at the University of Cincinnati College of Law said. “This degree gives people the chance to learn more about laws and regulations that affect those industries. It can increase your knowledge and make your skills in your chosen career stronger.”

Online master’s programs are available. These programs can be completed in as little as a year. Students attending online courses part-time typically finish in about two years. After completing an MLS, graduates will have an understanding of topics such as legal writing, ethics, policy making, administrative law and contract negotiation.

Read on to learn how to apply for this degree, what you’ll study and how it could be a good choice for your career.

What is an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS)?

An online Master of Legal Studies is an option for people who are interested in studying law but not becoming practicing lawyers. Graduates of these programs can hold jobs working in business, healthcare, compliance, tax law and more. Many programs to earn this degree can completed in a year or two years and require 24 to 30 credits.

Unlike law programs that are intended for aspiring attorneys, most Master of Legal Studies programs don’t require LSATs or GREs for admission. Many schools offer part-time schedules and online programs that allow working adults to complete the degree on their own time. Here’s a side-by-side comparison:

Juris Doctorate (JD)	Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
For aspiring attorneys	For people who want to work in law but not as practicing attorneys
Require LSATs and/or GREs	LSATs/GREs are not typically required
Programs typically last three years	Programs typically last one to two years
Most education programs are full-time	Part-time education options are available

Benefits of pursuing an online master’s in legal studies

Earning an online master’s in legal studies can be a great career step. It can give you a strong knowledge base on legal topics that you can use throughout your professional life. For people who work with lawyers or whose jobs require an understanding of the law, this degree might be a career boost. For instance, if you are interested in a management or human resources role that requires a thorough knowledge of contracts and labor law, earning an online MLS can give you the knowledge you’ll need to take on the role.

Earning an online master’s can be a great option for working adults. Online programs allow you to fit your coursework into your life and create a schedule that best fits your needs. You can take classes and study while still working, caring for children and tending to any other responsibilities you might have.

What you’ll study in your MLS program

The exact courses you take will depend on the specific online Master of Legal Studies program you enroll in. Some programs offer concentrations such as criminal law, healthcare law, business law or tax law. If your program offers one of these concentrations, the concentration you choose will affect the course you take.

Core classes that are typically part of an online master’s in legal studies program include:

• Introduction to U.S. law
• Contract negotiation
• Compliance
• Legal history
• Ethics
• Professional responsibility
• Legal writing
• Legal research
• Intellectual property law
• Corporate law 
• Public sector law
• Private sector law
• Legal organization management
• Administrative law

Admissions requirements

You’ll need to meet a few requirements before enrolling in an online master’s in legal studies program. The specific admissions requirements will depend on the school you choose, but you can count on being asked for:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited school
• A strong GPA
• Transcripts from all previous education
• Letters of recommendation from professors or employers
• A resume
• An interview
• A personal essay or statement of purpose

“In this type of program, you have students with a wide range of bachelor’s degrees in the application pool. So highly individualized items such as letters of recommendation and statements of purpose can often be especially important,” Stephan asserted.

Browse our vetted legal studies graduate programs

Career paths for master’s in legal studies grads

Graduates of MLS programs may not be prepared to practice law, but they are qualified to jump into a wide range of careers. This degree can give students the educational foundation they need to take on roles in jobs such as:

• Contract negotiation managers: Contract negotiation managers are responsible for ensuring that labor contracts are fair and comply with local and national laws. They are employed by corporations, human resources firms and more. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) files contract negotiation managers under labor relations specialists, and reports that they made a median salary of $93,500. 
• Compliance officers: Compliance officers develop plans and strategies to make sure that corporations and operate lawfully. They made a median salary of $78,420.
• Operations managers: Operations managers manage the day-to-day workings of a business to ensure things run smoothly and efficiently. They earned a median salary of $102,950. 
• Human resource managers: Human resource managers take charge of tasks such as recruiting, interviewing, hiring and managing employees. They oversee employment contracts, benefits enrollments and more. The BLS reports that they made a median salary of $140,030.  
• Management analyst: Management analysts develop plans for companies to help them grow while ensuring their operations stay within the scope of the law. According to the BLS, they made a median salary of $101,190. 
• Medical and health service managers: Medical and health service managers oversee the operations at skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare companies, hospitals and other healthcare facilities. They ensure that facilities run smoothly and comply with all laws and regulations. They earned a median salary of $117,960. 

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