Master of Legal Studies Degree Overview: What to Know

What Is a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) Degree?

In your current career, you may benefit from knowing more about law — but you may not wish to go to law school. A Legal Studies degree is ideal for professionals like you, who engage with regulations, compliance, human resources disputes, and other legal issues.

Legal Studies helps students develop a working legal knowledge that enhances the skills that you already have, potentially preparing you for new responsibilities within your current career.

Why Is an MLS Degree Important?

No matter what your career is, laws and regulations are likely an important part of it, especially as you climb the ladder into more advanced roles. A Legal Studies degree is important for students who are already working in their desired field but want to enhance their understanding of the law without interrupting their current career path or attending law school. 

MLS Degree Curriculum and Coursework

The University of Cincinnati’s online MLS degree was developed with working professionals in mind. The program is designed to be completed in five terms (a year and a half) when completed full time, with classes delivered online for your flexibility. For additional convenience, students may begin classes in the spring, summer, or fall. 

Every student begins with the same comprehensive orientation: Introduction to Law, which provides an essential vocabulary for the legal system that will serve you as you move forward in the program, as well as an introduction to concepts of Constitutional Law. 

After this introduction, courses currently include: 

• Legal Research and Communication, to hone your writing skills and help formulate clear legal positions; 

• Business Law, which uses real world case studies regarding business entities and ethical issues; 

• Compliance, which explores the importance for businesses to adopt internal controls and adhere to regulations;

• Risk Management, which helps students learn how to identify, assess, and prioritize risk in a legal or business setting; 

• Privacy & Cybersecurity Law, to introduce students to regulations and safeguards around data privacy and cybersecurity; 

• Contracts: Negotiation, Formation and Interpretation, including an exercise exploring a student’s hypothetical contractual process from start to finish; 

• Employment Law, covering the regulations on the relationship between employers, managers, and business owners; 

• Administrative Law, which focuses on the government’s role in regulating the marketplace and providing services to its people; 

• and a culminating Capstone Experience, a practical project specific to your own career path, which ties your entire MLS experience together.

What Skills Can You Gain from an MLS Program?

An MLS degree is intended to give you the skills that are most relevant to you, and focuses on practical, useful legal knowledge. Skills range broadly and include negotiating contracts, conducting research, reading legal documents, complying with regulations, and much more. Graduates also walk away with an understanding of the essentials of U.S laws and regulations and the legal system. 

Common Career Outcomes for MLS Graduates

The MLS degree is intended for professionals already working in their desired field, but who want to take on greater responsibilities or become more competitive within their field. An MLS degree can enhance your resume and qualify for advanced roles that require a greater knowledge of laws and regulations. 

Future Trends in MLS Education

Demand for professionals with MLS degrees is growing! The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that demand for these non-lawyer professionals will grow 15% through 2026. 

Why Is an MLS Degree Right for You?

Plenty of careers intersect with or interact with the law — but law school is not the right step for everyone! That’s where an MLS degree fits perfectly, making space for students who would benefit from a working legal knowledge but who aren’t planning on beginning a new career. 

Though students from any career path may find an MLS degree useful, many of our students are actively working in industries such as healthcare, financial services, human resources (HR), real estate, business, government, or higher education. 

Learn More about Earning Your MLS Online with UC

There is so much more to learn about an MLS degree, and the University of Cincinnati wants to set you up for success. We recommend this 20-minute webinar, which brings together leadership and faculty to introduce the fully online Master of Legal Studies program for potential students. The webinar covers highlights of the program, an overview of the curriculum, admission requirements, and more. 

The University of Cincinnati’s online Master of Legal Studies degree is fully accredited, and the MLS program has received acquiescence from the American Bar Association (although the MLS is not a law degree). 

When you are ready to take the next step toward your Master of Legal Studies degree, begin here! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about MLS Programs

Is a Master’s of Legal Studies the same as a law degree?

No; the MLS degree is designed for students who want to increase their working legal knowledge without attending law school. MLS graduates do not sit for the bar exam or earn a law degree.

Do you need to take the LSAT for a Master’s in Legal Studies?

Potential students may submit an LSAT score within their application, but it is not a requirement. Students do not earn a law degree in MLS programs. 

Why get an MLS degree?

Working professions in fields such as healthcare, real estate, financial services, and higher education (among many others!) may find they want to increase their skills and knowledge of the law, but not attend law school. An MLS degree is perfect for those professionals, and a flexible, fully online program can ensure they don’t disrupt their current career path.