DePaul’s Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program is designed for professionals who do not seek to practice law but who regularly encounter legal issues in their work. The program builds the legal knowledge necessary to navigate regulations, manage risk and make informed decisions, providing a practical understanding of the legal system without pursuing attorney licensure.
Specialized Legal Training
Students gain both general and concentrated legal training aligned with their professional interests. Through the study of cases, statutes and regulations, students develop legal analysis, research and clear analytical communication skills while applying current legal authority.
The MLS program offers the following concentrations:
In-Person:
- Criminal Law
- Health Care Compliance
- Health Law
- International & Comparative Law
- Public Interest Law
Online:
- Business Law
- Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law
- General Legal Studies
Stand Out as a Professional
MLS graduates are prepared to communicate effectively with legal counsel and to assess organizational needs as laws and regulations evolve within their profession. The program provides specialized legal training for professionals across a range of fields, including:
- Business executives, supervisors, managers and entrepreneurs
- Compliance professionals
- Contract analysts
- Development officers
- Doctors, nurses, public health workers and other health care administrators
- Financial and estate planners and other investment advisors
- Human resource and employee benefits professionals
- Journalists
- Librarians and educators
- Mediators and labor and employment negotiators
- Nonprofit professionals
- Patent and trademark assistants, engineers and other technology-related professionals
- Policy makers, lobbyists and government regulators
- Police officers, social workers and psychologists
- Real estate professionals
- Risk and quality assurance managers
- Tax specialists, accountants and CPAs
| Program Requirements | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| Degree Requirements | 30 |
| Total hours required | 30 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Identify structures of the U.S. legal system and government institutions.
- Demonstrate understanding of how a common law system operates in a constitutional democracy.
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of the legal rules and policies in the student's area of specialization.
- Identify and apply relevant legal authority.
- Communicate clearly in speech and writing.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) may be completed in one and a half years of full-time study or in up to six years of part-time study.
All MLS students are required to complete two foundational courses in American law and legal writing.
The program offers concentrations both on campus and fully online. In-person MLS students choose courses directly from the College of Law’s JD curriculum, while online MLS students complete a prescribed curriculum.
At the time of application, MLS students select a specialized course of legal study, and upon completion of the program, the concentration is designated on the final transcript.
Credits earned as part of the MLS degree program are not transferable to the JD degree, and MLS graduates are not eligible to sit for a bar examination or become licensed attorneys.
Credit Hour Requirements
The MLS degree requires the completion of 30 credit hours. Students with significant, relevant professional experience of at least 12 months in a related field may apply for a waiver of up to six credit hours. Students approved for a waiver complete a total degree requirement of 24 credit hours.
Enrollment Classifications and Time to Degree Completion
For MLS students, a nine-semester-hour course load is considered full-time (six semester hours during summer study). A six-semester-hour course load is considered part-time (three semester hours during summer study). Students may elect to enroll in three semester hours per term.
Students who are unable to complete the MLS degree within six years must confer with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in the College of Law.
Grades and Good Standing
To be considered in good standing, MLS students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 after three semesters of enrollment. Grades received in the summer session are not included in a student’s GPA for the prior academic year. MLS students are not included in the grade curve that applies to JD students.
Credit Requirements
The MLS is a 30-credit hour degree program that can be completed in one and a half years of full-time study or in up to six years of part-time study. MLS students choose courses directly from the College of Law’s extensive curriculum. MLS students with significant, relevant work experience may apply for a waiver of up to six credit hours, for a total degree requirement of 24 credit hours. Students must be able to demonstrate substantial professional experience of at least 12 months' duration in a relevant field of interest to qualify.
Credits earned as part of the MLS degree program are not transferable to the JD degree. Students who graduate with an MLS degree are not eligible to sit for the bar exam or to become licensed attorneys.
Enrollment Classifications and Time to Degree Completion
For MLS students a nine semester hour course load is considered full-time (6 semester hours for summer study). A six semester hour course load is considered half-time (3 hours for summer study). MLS students may opt to take only three semester hours per term.
Students who are unable to complete the MLS degree within six years are required to confer with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in the College of Law.
Grades and Good Standing
To be considered in good standing at the College of Law, MLS students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 over three semesters. Grades received in the Summer session are not included in a student’s GPA for the prior academic year. MLS students are not included in the grade curve that applies to JD students.
Course Requirements
At the time of application MLS students select a specialized course of legal study, and upon completion of the program they earn a concentration in the selected area, which is designated on their final transcript. All MLS students complete two required foundational courses in American law.
Required Foundational Courses
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MLAW 101 | INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW AND LEGAL SYSTEMS | 3 |
| MLAW 102 | INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL WRITING AND RESEARCH | 3 |
Concentration Requirements
MLS students complete the required and elective courses in their chosen concentration.
Concentration Requirements
- Business Law Concentration, Law (MLS)
- Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Concentration, Law (MLS)
- General Legal Studies Concentration, Law (MLS)
- Health Care Compliance Concentration, Law (MLS)
- Health Law Concentration, Law (MLS)
- International and Comparative Law Concentration, Law (MLS)
- Public Interest Law Concentration, Law (MLS)
- Criminal Law Concentration, Law (MLS)