Legal Studies, MLS
Legal, Legal Studies, MASTERS, Research, cases, courts, judicial
Learn about the law and navigate the legal landscape without becoming a lawyer. Whether you're looking for a job in today's competitive market or you want to better understand how law can help you in your career, you'll benefit from this program.
The Master of Legal Studies program is flexible; it is offered in the fall, spring and summer, full time and part time, and in person and online. Students may focus their program on popular areas of study listed below. To learn more or schedule a visit, students should refer to the ASU Law website.
Emphasis areas offered in person include:
- artificial intelligence
- business law
- conflict resolution
- criminal law
- entrepreneurship law and strategy
- federal Indian law and tribal self-governance
- health law
- Indian gaming
- Indian law
- intellectual property law
- international law
- international rule of law and security
- law and sustainability
- science and technology law
Emphasis areas offered online include:
- Arizona legal paraprofessional
- business law
- conflict resolution
- construction law
- contract management
- corporate and health care compliance
- criminal law
- healthcare law and administration
- Indian gaming
- intellectual property law
- law and sustainability
- sports law
- tribal self-governance
Pursuant to American Bar Association standards, no law credits completed prior to admission to a Juris Doctor program, including credits earned in the MLS program, may be transferred to a future JD program under any circumstances.
- College/school:
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
- Location: Downtown Phoenix or Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
Students can choose to create their own concurrent degree combination to match their interests by working with their academic advisor during or after their first semester of study. Some concurrent combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum; students should speak with their academic advisor for more details.
This degree is also offered as a concurrent program with the following:
30 credit hours
The program consists of 30 credit hours of approved study. The degree program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.
Students are required to take:
SDO 501 U.S. Law and Legal Analysis: Masters (3)
Students are required to choose one of the following basic foundational courses:
SDO 510 Business Organizations: Masters (3) or LAW 654 Business Organizations (3)
SDO 511 Administrative Agencies/Regulation: Masters (3) or LAW 609 Administrative Law (3)
SDO 514 Intellectual Property: Masters (3) or LAW 664 Intellectual Property (3)
SDO 515 Criminal Law: Masters (3) or LAW 516 Criminal Law* (3)
SDO 516 Criminal Procedure-Masters (3) or LAW 604 Criminal Procedure (3)
SDO 518 Fundamentals of Contract Law: Masters (3) or LAW 515 Contracts* (4)
SDO 521 Property Law: Masters (3) or LAW 523 Property* (4)
SDO 525 Tort Law: Masters (3) or LAW 517 Torts* (4)
SDO 529 U.S. Constitutional Law: Masters (3) or LAW 522 Constitutional Law* (3)
SDO 598 Topic: Civil Procedure I: Masters (3) or LAW 518 Civil Procedure I* (4)
Other Requirements: The minimum cumulative GPA to graduate from the Master of Legal Studies program is 2.67.
*Students may enroll in no more than two of the LAW prefix designated courses marked with an asterisk. Such courses will be subject to availability.
The remainder of the credits are electives to complete the required 30 credits. Elective course selection is flexible, to accommodate the diversity of intellectual and professional interests the program is intended to serve.
MLS students can choose any SDO subject elective and most LAW subjects to complete 30 credits. Students in the MLS online program can only take SDO subject courses.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States or attained a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
All applicants must submit:
- completed Master of Legal Studies application form and application fee
- official transcripts from all institutions attended
- resume that does not exceed three typed pages
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Applicants should see the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law website for acceptable TOEFL scores and additional information for foreign-educated applicants.
Master of Legal Studies applicants with foreign education credentials must have all transcripts evaluated by the Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute Inc. ACEI independently evaluates all academic documents issued in countries other than the United States. Students should contact ACEI through that organization's website to obtain an application for an evaluation. Applicants must request a course-by-course evaluation and order an official copy to be sent directly to:
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
Arizona State University
Beus Center for Law and Society
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Mail Code: 9520
111 E Taylor St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Applicants who have received their bachelor's or master's degree in the U.S. can apply through the MLS FastApp application process, which streamlines the application process and may allow for an offer of conditional admission to the Master of Legal Studies program while the applicant continues to submit any additional requested documentation.
If a decision cannot be made from the FastApp, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law admission team may request additional information from the applicant, including any or all of the following:
- explanations to affirmative answers to application questions pertaining to conduct
- two letters of recommendation
- writing sample
Admission to the program is competitive. Selection is based on a variety of factors, including academic background and potential, diversity of experience and background, career experience and ambitions, space and resource limitations in the law school, and other factors.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
The MLS degree is designed for those who are looking to obtain working knowledge of the law but do not intend to become practicing lawyers. Graduates have achieved training in complicated legal topics and lawyering skills that prove invaluable to law firms, court systems, government agencies and corporations. Graduates have many career paths, including:
- accreditation director
- fraud investigator
- operations director
- risk analyst
- senior administrator (e.g., inside a law firm)
- senior business analyst
- senior compliance director
- senior contract negotiator
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
|
BCLS 420
mlsasu@asu.edu
480-965-1474
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
