What Can You Do with a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) Degree?

When it comes to legal degrees, there is no shortage of options available. From the Juris Doctor to the Master of Laws, these formal degrees can help you advance your career and sharpen your knowledge.

What if you want to strengthen your understanding of the legal process but don't want to become a lawyer? A Master of Legal Studies could be just what you're seeking.

What Is a Master of Legal Studies (MLS)?

First, you might be wondering what an MLS degree program entails.

Definition and Purpose

An MLS is a graduate-level degree program designed to help working professionals gain practical, versatile skills related to the legal aspects of their chosen field. This may include anything from industry-specific regulatory issues to legal research, the legal process and risk management.

Who Pursues an MLS?

MLS degree programs are typically meant for non-lawyer professionals in law-adjacent roles. Essentially, an MLS is for anyone whose work requires an in-depth legal understanding without becoming a lawyer.

Core Curriculum of an MLS Program

No two MLS programs are exactly alike — but at Drexel University, the Thomas R. Kline School of Law is proud to offer a flexible, online MLS degree consisting of 45 credit hours. Depending on whether you enroll part- or full-time, this program is intended to be completed in about one to three years.

Foundational Legal Knowledge

More specifically, our MLS program comprises 25 credits of core courses that cover foundational legal knowledge, including:

Introduction to the Legal System
Compliance Skills: Auditing, Investigating and Reporting
Ethics and Professional Standards
Legal Research and Analysis
Risk Assessment and Management
Master's Capstone (x2)

Specialized Courses

Meanwhile, the remaining 20 credit hours entail advanced courses in a concentration of your choosing. This coursework is highly tailored to your industry and career goals. For example, a student who opts for the Cybersecurity and Information Privacy concentration may take specialized courses such as:

Information Privacy Law
The Law and Strategies Surrounding Cybersecurity
European Union Data Privacy and Protection

Skills Developed

Regardless of the concentration selected, students in a Master of Legal Studies program can expect to strengthen career-ready and law-adjacent skills that encompass:

Legal research
Contract negotiation
Compliance
Analytical problem-solving
Critical thinking
Communication

Career Opportunities with an MLS Degree

What can you do with an MLS degree, then? Below is just a sampling of some potential Master of Legal Studies careers to explore:

Business and Corporate Careers

A solid legal foundation can prove especially useful in corporate and business roles, particularly when it comes to matters related to contract negotiation, compliance, risk management and operations.

Health Care Careers

The health care field is subject to a wide range of industry-specific regulations, including those related to information privacy and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Health care professionals with an extensive understanding of industry regulations can be better equipped to help facilities maintain compliance and adhere to information privacy laws.

Human Resources (HR) and Employment Law

Human resources professionals, including HR managers, can benefit greatly from an MLS education. Specifically, an MLS program may cover relevant topics such as labor laws, employee rights, employee benefits and dispute resolution — all practical knowledge for those in HR.

Government and Public Service Careers

Many government and public service roles at the local, state and even federal levels call for extensive knowledge of laws, regulations and the legal process as a whole. Some examples of law-adjacent roles in government include:

Chief compliance officer
Chief legal officer
Paralegal

Finance and Risk Management

The career-ready curriculum of an MLS degree program may prepare professionals for rewarding careers in finance and risk management, too, offering the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of regulatory compliance matters, auditing processes, reporting best practices and more.

Higher Education and Nonprofit Roles

Interested in a career within higher education or a nonprofit organization? These industries are highly regulated and complex, with various stakeholders (and, in many cases, government agencies) to report to.

With the legal knowledge and skills acquired in an MLS program, professionals can prepare for law-adjacent roles that address:

Student rights and campus safety
Institutional compliance
Financial rules and regulations

Benefits of Earning an MLS Degree

Earning your Master of Legal Studies degree can be an excellent way to improve your legal literacy, prepare for new career opportunities and gain valuable expertise in a specific industry.

Legal Literacy Without Becoming a Lawyer

To sharpen your legal expertise without the commitment that comes along with a JD program, an MLS could be an ideal path. In this type of program, you can enhance the legal research and literacy skills necessary to understand the complex legal issues that businesses across industries currently face.

Career Advancement and Flexibility

While earning an MLS degree alone doesn't guarantee a promotion or raise, the skills acquired from this type of program could help you qualify for more advanced roles in your field. Whether you're looking to move into a law-adjacent role or pivot into a new industry entirely, an MLS education presents you with greater career flexibility.

Increased Earning Potential

Consider, too, that earning an MLS degree could mean higher earning potential and a quick return on investment (ROI) for your education. According to one report published by the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, "The majority of professional degrees in law [...] generate a lifetime financial return exceeding $500,000."

Industry-Specific Expertise

These days, businesses across numerous industries (including health care, business and finance) face complex legal challenges. Earning an MLS with coursework specifically tailored to your chosen industry can be an optimal way to build the compliance, risk management and legal research skills needed to take on these challenges with greater confidence.

Who Should Consider an MLS Degree?

Is a Master of Legal Studies degree right for you? Ultimately, this is a decision only you can make — but there are common threads among students enrolled in MLS programs.

Professionals in Regulated Industries

Many industries face strict compliance regulations to which businesses must adhere in order to avoid serious legal trouble, fines and penalties. Examples of such highly regulated industries include:

Human resources
Healthcare
Finance
Cybersecurity and information technology (IT)

If you work in any of these industries and wish to gain a better understanding of the law as it relates specifically to your industry, then an MLS could be suitable for you. In an MLS program, you'll strengthen the compliance and risk management skills needed to serve your organization with confidence.

Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs and business leaders alike can also benefit from the robust legal knowledge emphasized in an MLS curriculum. In this type of degree program, students have the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship and leadership through a legal lens, with coursework covering essential topics such as:

Social and sustainable innovation
Social entrepreneurship
Risk assessment
Legal research and analysis
Auditing, investigation and reporting

Mid-Career Professionals Seeking Growth

If you're feeling "stuck" in a mid-level position in your current career, an MLS degree can afford you the opportunity to pursue new options. You might consider, for instance, making a pivot into a risk management or compliance role with your newfound knowledge and competencies.

Comparing MLS to Other Legal Degrees

So, how does an MLS stack up against other types of legal degrees?

MLS vs. JD (Juris Doctor)

The most notable distinction between an MLS and a Juris Doctor (JD) is that a JD is typically pursued by professionals who wish to sit for the bar exam, including aspiring lawyers and attorneys. JD programs are extensive — often taking three to five years to complete — whereas an MLS is ideal for those in law-adjacent careers and can typically be completed in about half the length of time.

MLS vs. LLM (Master of Laws)

Compared to an MLS degree, a Master of Laws (LLM) is geared toward current lawyers/attorneys who have already completed their Juris Doctor degrees and passed their bar exams and are looking to further specialize their legal knowledge in a particular area (such as intellectual property law or global financial regulation). An LLM may also be suitable for lawyers interested in pivoting to roles in academia or legal research.

MLS vs. MBA (Business-focused Degree)

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is another popular graduate-level degree, focusing on business topics like operations, accounting, ethics and strategy. On the other hand, an MLS may touch on business principles, but it centers more on the legal aspects of business (e.g., risk management and compliance).

FAQs About the MLS Degree

Can You Practice Law with an MLS Degree?

No, you cannot practice law with an MLS degree. This is a degree program specifically designed for non-lawyers aiming to advance their legal knowledge in a law-adjacent field, such as human resources (HR) or business.

What Jobs Can You Get With an MLS vs. JD?

A Juris Doctor (JD) may qualify you to become licensed as an attorney, provided that you pass your bar exam. An MLS degree, conversely, may empower you to pursue law-adjacent roles in another field. A few common examples of jobs one might pursue with an MLS include risk management specialist, compliance officer and human resources manager.

Is an MLS Worth It for Mid-career Professionals?

Generally, yes, an MLS degree is a worthwhile option for mid-career professionals who are looking to advance into roles that call for a more specialized knowledge of law in a particular field. This may include roles that require proficiency in legal research, critical thinking and problem solving.

Earn Your MLS Degree at Drexel University

No matter what industry you find yourself in, possessing a robust understanding of the law and compliance issues as they relate to your field can render you a valuable asset in a variety of roles. If you are looking to advance your own legal knowledge without committing to the rigor of a Juris Doctor, it may be time to pursue your Master of Legal Studies degree from Drexel’s Kline School of Law.

Drexel University Kline School of Law