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ASU Law Talks

What’s the difference between a Master of Legal Studies, Master of Jurisprudence, HR law degree and sports law degree?

If you’ve started searching for a legal master’s degree, you may have noticed there is no single name for it. Depending on the university, you might find:

You may also encounter specialized programs described as a legal master’s in a particular field. For example, ASU Law offers these additional degree options:

Master of Human Resources and Employment Law
Master of Sports Law and Business
Master of Legal Studies in Health Care Compliance and Administration

While these degrees are not necessarily identical, many are designed for a similar audience: professionals who want to understand law, regulation, contracts, compliance and risk without necessarily becoming attorneys.

The name is a starting point. The best comparison happens at the course and program level, which is why anyone considering a legal master’s should research which school and degree is right for them and their career objectives

Why do legal master’s degree names vary?

Legal master’s degree names are not standardized across universities. Schools may choose a name based on factors such as:

Academic structure
Institutional history
Curriculum
Intended audience
Professional or industry focus

That is why one university may call its program a Master of Legal Studies, while another uses Master of Jurisprudence, Juris Master, Master of Studies in Law or Master of Science in Law. You may also encounter a Master of Science in Legal Studies, Master of Arts in Law or similar non-JD law degrees. Though, it bears noting that the emerging consensus among legal educators is that “Master of Legal Studies” should be the lead name for these types of degrees.

The terminology becomes even broader when programs focus on particular industries. For example:

Workplace and HR: HR compliance degree, labor law master’s, workplace law degree or Master of Human Resource Management
Sports: Sports law, sports business, sport management, or athletic administration and Master of Sports Administration
Health care: Health care compliance, health law, health care regulation or health care administration

Even the acronym “MLS” can create confusion. In legal education, MLS commonly means Master of Legal Studies, though the same acronym has also been associated with Master of Library Science in the past.

Rather than relying on the title alone, compare the courses, curriculum and professional focus of each degree program, along with the support you’ll receive at the law school to meet your goals.

Is a legal master’s degree the same as a JD or LLM?

No. These degrees generally serve different purposes:

Juris Doctor, or JD: The traditional professional law degree for people who intend to become attorneys and pursue bar admission.
Master of Laws, or LLM: Generally an advanced legal degree for someone who already has a JD degree.
Legal master’s degree: Programs such as an MLS, MSL, MJ or JM are usually designed for professionals who need to understand law but do not intend to practice as attorneys.

At ASU Law, the Master of Legal Studies is a 30-credit program created for that purpose. Students can:

Study online or on campus
Enroll full time or part time
Choose from more than 20 emphasis areas
Apply without a graduate entrance exam
Get Career Services support, participate in student organizations and more

How do ASU Law’s legal master’s degrees fit different careers?

ASU Law offers several pathways depending on what area of legal knowledge you want to learn, what your career goals are and what your education timeline is in regard to other life commitments. ASU Law’s MLS is No. 1 in the U.S. for legal master’s graduates (NCES 2019-2024).

If you are searching for an MLS degree, legal studies master’s, online legal master’s degree, law master’s for non-lawyers, Master of Jurisprudence or Juris Master, consider ASU Law’s Master of Legal Studies.

Students can tailor the degree to career interests that include, but are not limited to:

Compliance
Contracts
Business law
Sustainability
Intellectual property
Conflict resolution
Tribal law and governance
Land use and property development

Professionals researching a health care compliance master’s, health law master’s, health care regulation master’s or health care administration law degree can explore ASU Law’s Master of Legal Studies in Health Care Compliance and Administration.

That specialized degree focuses on areas such as:

Health care regulation
Compliance
Administration
Organizational risk
Legal issues affecting health care operations

ASU Law also offers dedicated graduate degrees for professionals interested in workplace law and the sports industry.

What is the difference between an HR law degree and an HR administration degree?

A Master of HR Administration, Master of Human Resource Management or Master of Science in Human Resources may emphasize areas such as:

Recruiting
Benefits
Workforce planning
Organizational leadership
People operations

An HR law degree addresses a related but more legally focused need.

ASU Law’s Master of Human Resources and Employment Law is designed for professionals whose responsibilities involve:

Employment law
Employee relations law
Labor relations
Workplace investigations
HR legal compliance
Policy development
Organizational risk

If you are comparing an employment law master’s, labor law master’s, HR compliance degree or workplace law degree with a traditional human resources program, ask yourself how much of your work involves navigating the legal rules governing employees and employers.

What is the difference between a sports law degree and sports administration degree?

A sports administration master’s, Master of Sports Administration or sport management master’s often focuses on areas such as:

Athletic operations
Facilities
Event management
Marketing
Organizational leadership

A sports law degree can put greater emphasis on the evolving business operations, regulatory, NIL, contractual and governance issues shaping the industry.

ASU Law’s Master of Sports Law and Business intentionally combines both. Students can explore areas such as:

Sports contracts
Sports governance
NCAA compliance
Athlete representation
Sports compliance
Business strategy

For someone comparing a sports business degree, athletic administration master’s or sports law master’s, that combination can be an important distinction.

How should I compare legal master’s degree programs?

If different universities use different degree names, do not assume their programs are either identical or completely different. Look deeper into the curriculum and ask questions about the student experience and support options.:

Is the degree designed for legal master’s students, and not just JD classes designed for lawyers that you can take?
Does the curriculum match my career goals?
What courses will I actually take?
Will I study contracts, compliance, regulation, risk or industry-specific law?
Can I study online, on campus, full time or part time?
Is an LSAT, GRE or other entrance exam required?
Is there a cost to apply?
Are specialized emphases or tracks available?
Who teaches the courses?
What career services and student support are available?
How will I apply this legal knowledge in my current or future career?

ASU Law’s legal master’s program is one of the oldest in the nation, marking 20 years of serving students, and the first legal master’s program in the U.S. designed specifically for non-lawyer professionals.

No matter the degree name or where you began your search for a law-related graduate program, ASU Law offers intentional pathways designed to help professionals understand the law and put that knowledge to work, and Career Services support to help you take the next step in your career after graduation.