Cecily Zamora
A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is a relatively new degree that provides working knowledge of the law for individuals who do not intend to become practicing lawyers. While an MLS degree does not allow you to practice law, it can open doors to a variety of law-related career opportunities. These include roles in law firms, banks, human resources, healthcare law, and the military. Some graduates with an MLS degree go on to law school, while others pursue careers in law-related professions that do not require a practicing lawyer, such as paralegals, compliance officers, and human resources managers. For those who wish to practice law, a Juris Doctor (JD) degree is required, along with passing a state bar exam.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can you practice law with a Master of Law? | No, to practice law you must receive a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and pass a state bar exam. |
| Who is the Master of Law designed for? | Non-lawyer professionals who do not wish to practice law but would like to use the law as a means to achieve their goals in environments where legal knowledge is an asset. |
| What are the career options for a Master of Law? | Compliance officers, human resources managers, paralegals, regulatory compliance officers, real estate agents, government employees, etc. |
| What are the advantages of a Master of Law? | The Master of Law provides knowledge and expertise that can be applied to a wide range of careers in any number of fields. |
| What is the demand for lawyers? | Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 8% from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. |
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What You'll Learn
Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is a degree designed for professionals who require a working knowledge of the law but do not intend to become practising lawyers. It is suitable for individuals in any field, including the private, nonprofit, and government sectors, who need to understand complex legal matters, navigate laws and regulations, and interact with lawyers. The MLS provides students with the knowledge to pursue a wide range of law-related career options, including in the civilian world or the military.
The MLS is a versatile and valuable degree that can lead to various career paths. Some graduates may choose to go to law school, while others may pursue careers in law-related professions such as human resources, healthcare law, or paralegal work. The degree is also beneficial for those working in banks, regulatory compliance, or government agencies, as it provides a strong foundation in legal concepts and critical thinking skills.
The University of Arizona offers a one-year, full-time or part-time MLS program with online, on-campus, and hybrid options. The university boasts a high-quality academic experience, diverse programming, renowned faculty, and a huge variety of concentrations and certificates. UCLA Law also offers an MLS program with online, on-campus, and hybrid options, providing students with the flexibility to choose elective courses.
The MLS is a relatively new type of degree that is gaining popularity among individuals seeking to advance their careers and expand their understanding of the law. It is particularly attractive to those in middle or upper management who want to take on more authority and responsibility within their organizations. The degree is also beneficial for active-duty servicemembers transitioning to law-related professions, as it provides them with the necessary knowledge and skills.
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Master of Business, Law and Technology
A Master's in Law degree can help students from diverse backgrounds pursue a wide range of law-related career options. While some graduates go on to law school, most pursue careers in law-related professions like human resources, healthcare law, paralegals, or compliance officers.
The Master of Business, Law, and Technology (MBLT) is a unique program that goes beyond traditional legal theory. It offers a blend of knowledge and expertise to professionals whose work intersects with the law, business strategy, and technological innovation. The MBLT is designed for forward-thinking individuals who want to lead in environments where business, law, and technology converge.
The MBLT curriculum is flexible and designed for the future of law, providing graduates with a competitive edge in the job market. It equips students with a deep understanding of the intricate connections between legal frameworks, business operations, and technology. Students learn about the legal implications of business decisions, compliance, data privacy, and risk management, ensuring businesses operate smoothly and ethically within legal boundaries.
The program offers courses like Law Practice Management, Project Management, Introduction to Start-Up Law, and Blockchain, Smart Contracts, and Computational Law. These courses prepare students for efficient law and business practices, emphasizing team and project management skills, and providing insights into modern legal tech innovations.
With a Master of Business, Law, and Technology, graduates can pursue various roles, including compliance officer, data privacy manager, or director of legal operations. The degree provides flexibility, allowing students to tailor their education to their specific career goals in the converging fields of business, law, and technology.
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Juris Doctor (JD)
A Juris Doctor, also known as a Doctor of Jurisprudence or Doctor of Law (JD), is a graduate-entry professional degree that prepares individuals to practice law. The degree generally requires three years of full-time study, including coursework and practical training in legal studies. The curriculum covers fundamental legal subjects such as constitutional law, civil procedure, criminal law, contracts, property, and torts, with opportunities for specialisation in areas like international law.
In the United States, the JD is the only qualifying law degree, and it holds the academic standing of a professional doctorate. It is described as a "doctor's degree – professional practice" by the United States Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. To practice law in a given state in the US, individuals with a JD degree typically need to pass a bar examination, which assesses their knowledge and skills to ensure they are qualified to practise law. The bar exam is required in all states except Wisconsin.
The Juris Doctor degree originated in the United States in 1902 and is now the most frequently awarded law degree in the country. It was first introduced to standardise legal education and bring it in line with other professional fields, such as theology, medicine, and arts and sciences, which already had graduate-level entry requirements. The JD replaced the previous law degree, the LLB, to end the practice of conferring a first degree on individuals who had already obtained their primary degree.
Admission requirements for JD programs vary internationally, but in the US, a bachelor's degree is typically required. Some accelerated programs offer the opportunity to earn both a bachelor's and a Juris Doctor in six years. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an integral part of the law school admission process in the US and is accepted by all ABA-approved law schools. The LSAT assesses skills such as analysing arguments, making deductions, reading strategically, and understanding formal logic.
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Law-related professions
A Master's in Law can open doors to a wide range of law-related professions, both in the civilian world and the military. While some graduates go on to law school, most pursue careers in law-related fields like human resources, healthcare law, or compliance. These professions deal with legal issues that are not handled by lawyers. For example, a paralegal works alongside a lawyer or attorney and serves as an entry-level opportunity to learn about the legal field. Similarly, human resources managers, compliance officers, real estate agents, and government employees who work at regulatory agencies are all considered law-related professionals.
In the military, active-duty servicemembers can transition to law-related professions, such as paralegals or military police, with the help of a Master's in Law. This degree provides them with the knowledge and credentials needed to make that transition successfully.
There are also numerous specialisations within the legal profession for lawyers, including:
- Corporate law: regulating company formations, operations, mergers, and acquisitions.
- Commercial law: focusing on conflicts related to selling and purchasing goods, products, and services.
- Civil and political rights law: protecting individuals and their rights.
- Immigration law: governing how people enter, stay in, and leave a country.
- Criminal law: focusing on crimes and those who commit them.
- Personal injury law: applying when a person is harmed by another person or entity.
- Intellectual property law: covering intellectual property, including creations like stories, ideas, inventions, and movies.
Additionally, there are other law-related careers that do not require a law degree or practising as a lawyer, such as claims adjustment, lobbying, and electronic discovery specialists.
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Career options
A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is designed for non-lawyer professionals who do not intend to practice law but would like to use their legal knowledge to achieve their goals. The MLS degree is versatile and valuable, providing graduates with the knowledge to pursue a wide range of law-related career options.
Many career options are open to graduates of a Master of Arts in Legal Studies. The degree can help students from various backgrounds pursue their career goals. Some MLS holders work in law firms as paralegals or other legal professionals, while others work in banks as regulatory compliance officers. They can also work as human resources managers, where their legal training and experience help them understand legal concepts related to employment laws and benefit programs.
Graduates can also work in various roles in the government, such as in the court system or for regulatory agencies. Active-duty servicemembers nearing military retirement can benefit from an MLS degree to transition into law-related professions, such as paralegals or military police.
Additionally, a Master of Business, Law, and Technology degree can open doors to emerging career opportunities. This degree is well-suited for independent businesspeople who want to pair their legal knowledge with their passion for identifying and capitalizing on business models. Graduates with a background in software development can thrive in the modernizing legal industry, especially with the increasing use of software and technology for legal projects and tasks.
Furthermore, lawyers themselves may pursue additional master's degrees to enhance their knowledge and stay competitive in a dynamic job market. They can specialize in areas such as healthcare compliance, international business transactions, or aging, law, and policy, depending on their interests and career goals.
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Frequently asked questions
No, to practice law, you must receive a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and pass a state bar exam. However, a Master of Law degree can help you pursue a wide range of law-related career options and is valuable for those who want to interact with lawyers regularly in their job.
Some career paths that Masters of Law graduates pursue include working in law firms as paralegals, in banks as regulatory compliance officers, or in human resources where their legal training and experience can be useful. Other options include working in the court system or for government agencies.
A Master of Law degree can provide specialized knowledge and expertise in the legal field, which can be valuable for those who work alongside lawyers or need to address compliance and regulatory issues in their industry. It can also help you move up the ranks in your current company and make you more well-rounded and valuable in your existing role.
Yes, admission into a Master of Law program does not depend on prior legal knowledge or training. Students come from diverse backgrounds, and the degree is designed to help them pursue a variety of career goals, whether they intend to go to law school or not.
