The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) at ASU Law is No. 1 in the U.S. for legal master’s graduates, and offers students the chance to enhance their careers – or start a new one – with flexible part-time or full-time, online or on-campus options in more than 20 emphasis areas across a variety of industries.
Next start date: May 18, 2026
Total credit hours: 30
Duration: 1+ years
Delivery: part-time or full-time; on-campus or online
Earning your online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) from ASU Law offers a flexible pathway to deepen your legal knowledge without becoming an attorney. With over 20 unique emphasis areas like Business Law, Contract Management, Corporate and Health Care Compliance and beyond, students can complete the 30-credit MLS program either online or on-campus with flexible part-time and full-time pathways. Whether you’re pursuing a legal master’s to enhance your current role or pivot careers, the MLS at ASU Law provides specialized legal insight with no JD required.
Not requiring an entrance exam allows for a lower barrier to entry, so you can get the education you want, the way you want it. Our FastApp process fast-tracks your application and only takes 10 minutes. A traditional LSAT exam is not required, and the program features world-renowned faculty and innovative courses to hone your skills. ASU Law also offers concurrent degrees with W.P. Carey School of Business (six programs), Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and the School of Sustainability.
The coursework in the degree program gives students a strong legal foundation, while choosing an emphasis allows them to customize their path to achieve their professional goals and gain a competitive edge in their careers. Applicable to nearly all career paths – ranging from Business Law, Criminal Law, Intellectual Property Law and everything in between – MLS graduates often go on to get promotions, start their own businesses or simply walk away with added knowledge to assist them in the workplace or in life.
Many of the Master of Legal Studies emphases are accredited by or in alignment with affiliated professional organizations, including the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE), the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Compliance Certification Board (CCB). This accreditation provides MLS graduates the ability to enhance their credibility with organizations, peers and strengthen the credibility of their compliance programs they develop, implement and maintain.
Explore how professional certifications can help advance your career.
A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree helps professionals gain a deep understanding of how the law impacts their industry — without becoming a lawyer. This graduate program builds valuable skills in legal analysis, regulatory compliance and policy interpretation, empowering you to make informed, ethical decisions at work. Whether you work in business, health care, human resources or government, an MLS can boost your career by enhancing your credibility and opening doors to leadership roles.
At ASU Law, the MLS also aligns with respected professional certifications like CCB, HCCA, SCCE and SHRM, giving graduates a competitive edge in fields such as corporate and health care compliance. Ultimately, the MLS equips you to navigate complex regulations, mitigate risk and lead with confidence in an increasingly regulated world.
There are several key differences between a legal master's and traditional Juris Doctor:
ASU Law is a highly ranked and respected public law school dedicated to educating the next generation of legal professionals. In honor of its namesake, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, public service is at its core, and is committed to advancing justice in the communities it serves. Learning from some of the nation’s foremost scholars and innovative legal instructors, ASU Law graduates are educated to become skilled and compassionate advocates and difference-makers.
– U.S. News and World Report, 2026
– Center for World University Rankings, 2024
Small class sizes and accessible faculty enhance classroom discussions and encourage the sharing of diverse perspectives.
Whether through public interest and service or engagement in the clinical program, ASU Law offers real-world opportunities that empower students to develop specialized legal skills and become leaders in their industries.
As a student of ASU Law, you have the opportunity to customize your degree to your area of interest. Take advantage of popular emphases listed below to fit your interests and career goals. Learn master legal principles in a variety of fields and be well-prepared to thrive within an evolving legal landscape across a variety of industries.
"Professor Sandra Erickson was my first professor in the MLS program and one of my last with a new advanced course she developed. These courses provided opportunities for growth and substantive feedback that improved my critical thinking and reasoning skills from beginning to end. I see her guidance and mentorship at the bookends of my wonderful experience at ASU Law."
"One thing I learned at ASU Law that truly surprised me was how deeply laws shape the very fabric of our society, not just in the courtroom. I began to see law not just as a set of rules, but as a reflection of our values, our history, and even our struggles for equity and justice. It surprised me how laws influence everything from the way we access health care to how we define patient rights and organizational responsibility. Learning about landmark health care legislation like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act made me realize that laws are living tools that evolve alongside society. They don't just respond to societal needs — they actively shape them.”
Earn a master’s degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law on your own time from anywhere in the world. Gain access to the same highly-credentialed faculty and coursework you would gain in person, but tailored to you and your needs. Online students have support from student services and a world-class digital education program to lean on to ensure success in and out of the classroom.
Driven by institutional expertise, ASU Law’s Areas of Expertise are specialized pathways allowing students from each of our degree programs to explore specialty areas led by world-class faculty, combining academic rigor with practical experience. Each area highlights a unique blend of coursework, hands-on experiential opportunities and career prospects, guiding students to tailor their legal education toward their passions and professional goals.
Master of Legal Studies graduates go on to start their own companies, move up in their existing careers or find a passion for the law. In every case, knowledge of the legal field enhances their professional life and shapes their way of thinking.
Career Services at ASU Law can help students identify goals, find employment opportunities and help students pursue their passions. The Career Services team offers hands-on interview preparation, resume reviews and the guidance job seekers need as they enter the workforce. That resource is available to students the moment they start their ASU Law journey and lasts long after graduation.
The MLS program was faculty-approved as a ground-only program in 2006. Professor Sandra Ortland Erickson joined ASU Law as Director of the Master of Legal Studies program in 2009 when there were under 20 students. Professor Erickson built much of the infrastructure of the fledgling program, including designing and teaching SDO 501 US. Law and Legal Analysis. Now, as a faculty member, she teaches Legal Writing and Research and Contract Structure and Review for Professionals.
Prior to joining the College of Law, Professor Erickson practiced law for ten years mainly at the top-ranked international law firm of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, litigating class action, environmental and regulatory compliance cases. Professor Erickson is licensed to practice in Arizona and Washington, D.C. She brings her real-world experience and enthusiasm for teaching law to all her classes in 2020, she received the Outstanding Teaching Award from the graduating class.
Generally speaking, most jurisdictions require a three-year Juris Doctor (JD) degree and passage of a state bar exam for eligibility to practice law in the United States. Graduates of the MLS will be well-equipped to navigate the legal issues in their chosen career fields, but will not be eligible to practice law.
There have been MLS graduates who decided they wanted to practice law and went on to pursue a JD degree. Unfortunately, there are many requirements in place to gain entry into a JD program that are different from the requirements to get into our master’s programs – e.g., LSAT scores, ABA restrictions, etc. For these reasons, MLS credits will not be accepted for transfer if and when you decide to pursue a Juris Doctor program. If you wish to discuss both options, please contact us at [email protected].
Credits earned through a Master of Legal Studies program cannot be transferred to a Juris Doctor (JD) program. Only JD credits can be transferred to a JD program.
Online master’s students should refer to the ASU Academic Calendar for their official start dates. Once you are registered, you can also view the start and end dates of your classes under My Classes in MyASU.
On-campus master’s students should refer to the ASU Law Academic Calendar for their official start dates. ASU Law’s fall semester schedule does not align with the ASU Academic Calendar. Once you are registered, you can also view the start and end dates of your classes under My Classes in MyASU.
Online master’s students should refer to the ASU Academic Calendar for registration dates. On-campus students should refer to the ASU Law Academic Calendar. The academic advising team will contact students when the class schedule and registration dates become available.
Students may pursue another degree or certificate program concurrently with the Master of Legal Studies. The College of Law allows students to share up to six credit hours towards another degree program. Interested students should speak with the College of Law’s director of academic advising, Annie Stone, for more information at [email protected].
All program modality changes must be approved by the College of Law. If approved, changes are granted on a one-time basis.
All program modality changes must be approved by the College of Law. If approved, changes are granted on a one-time basis.
You can explore full application details on the MLS admissions page.
To be admitted to the MLS program, an applicant must have both:
Selection will be 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 any other factors.
International educated applicants must submit a Full Application, meet University and College English Proficiency requirements, and have their transcripts evaluated by an ASU-approved transcript evaluation service. Explore more information about how foreign-educated applicants can apply.
Graduate entrance exams are not required for admission.
The majority of applicants apply through the Fast App for its convenience and simplicity. The Full App is recommended for applicants who would like to provide a more comprehensive graduate application to the Admissions Committee. The Full App requires a personal statement, along with other materials. The personal statement is an opportunity for the applicant to highlight their professional and academic achievements, career goals, and address any challenges they have overcome. The choice between Fast App and Full App depends on how thoroughly you wish to represent your experiences and qualifications.
International educated applicants must submit a Full Application, meet University and College English Proficiency requirements, and have their transcripts evaluated by an ASU-approved transcript evaluation service. Explore more information about how foreign-educated applicants can apply.
Applicants may submit only one application per semester.
The statement written by you should be no longer than 1250 words on double-spaced, typed pages. Your statement should include information about your distinctive qualities, talents, successes, achievements, interests and life experiences as well as an explanation of your professional aspirations as they relate to the program.
Explore how to write a strong personal statement for law school.
A community college transcript is only required if the college awarded a bachelor's degree or if transfer credits are not reflected on the transcript from the institution that conferred the bachelor's degree.
An undergraduate transcript that includes the degree awarded and the conferral date is required for application review. If you are currently completing your degree, we can accept an in-progress transcript, but it must show the courses in which you are currently enrolled.
Yes, if applicable to you, please include all graduate transcripts where credit was earned.
Yes, if applicable to you, please include your JD transcripts where academic credit was earned.
Please request that your official transcripts be sent directly from your institution to [email protected]. Official transcripts must be sent by the institution – not by the student – or they will be considered unofficial. The transcript must include your degree information and graduation date.
You can request your official transcript to be mailed to Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at 111 E. Taylor Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004. Official transcripts must be sealed in the original envelope provided by the issuing institution.
We do not offer an application status checker. The general timeline for an applicant to receive an update from the college is 1-2 weeks. If your application falls over this period, you can email us at [email protected] for further information.
You will receive follow-up emails within 1-3 days of accepting your offer of admission. These emails will include the information you will need to register for classes and your academic advisor’s contact information.
Students may defer their admission to a future term, up to one year from their original start date. To begin the deferral process, please submit the deferral form.
The cost of this program can be found on the tuition and fees page. For more information about the program and tuition fees, please reach out to Eric Border at [email protected].