Master of Legal Studies

Advance your career with skills in business law and corporate compliance for non-lawyers

Earn a graduate degree in business and corporate compliance law through flexible, top-ranked learning online or on campus.

#1 in the U.S. for legal master’s graduates

Ahead of Northwestern, Georgetown, USC and Texas A&M
– National Center for Education Statistics, 2024

Join one of the best law programs anywhere, from anywhere.

ASU Law offers advanced graduate degrees tailored to professionals aiming to enhance their careers by gaining essential legal knowledge and skills without becoming lawyers. Available both online and on campus, the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree with emphases in Business Law, Contract Management and Corporate and Health Care Compliance is a flexible program designed to help non-lawyers advance beyond their current roles or pursue new career opportunities.

Earning a master’s in business and corporate compliance law equips you with essential knowledge of regulatory frameworks, contract management and risk mitigation. This unique degree enhances your employability for roles in industries such as corporate compliance, contract administration, regulatory affairs, finance, business management, government agencies, risk analysis, policy development, corporate governance and data privacy.

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Quick facts

Summer start date: May 19, 2025
Fall start date: August 21, 2025

Total classes: 10
Total credit hours: 30

Online and on campus
No application fee or entrance exam required

Why ASU Law?

As the highest-ranked law school in Arizona, ASU Law has a proven track record of training skilled professionals across industries. The corporate compliance and business law emphasis is led by distinguished corporate law scholars, dedicated to equipping students with a deep understanding of contract law, compliance frameworks and corporate regulation. With both foundational and specialized courses, students will understand the corporate and compliance sectors’ critical roles and how to mitigate risk in complex business environments. Experiential learning opportunities like clinics and externships allow students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.

#15

U.S. public law school

– U.S. News and World Report, 2025

94% graduate employment

or advanced studies rate within 10 months

– 2024 ABA report

7:1

Student-to-faculty ratio for small class sizes and accessible faculty to enhance learning

#1

ASU worldwide rank for education, employability, faculty and research

– Center for World University Rankings, 2024

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MLS Emphasis Areas

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Degree emphasis areas for your career

As a student of ASU Law, you have the opportunity to customize your degree to your area of interest and career goals.

Contract Management

Corporate and Health Care Compliance

Hear from our students

Ciara Gaines

Master of Legal Studies student

“The online MLS program provided the perfect opportunity to immerse myself in classes while still being able to live elsewhere and work full-time. You can learn so much about different cultures, legal principles and how other countries operate through the wonderful programs ASU Law offers.”

Degree requirements

To be admitted to the Master of Legal Studies program, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States or hold a comparable degree from a foreign institution. Graduate school entrance exams (e.g., LSAT, GRE, GMAT) are not required.

On campus and international students

Many of the MLS program’s core courses are available online. On-campus students will complement their on-campus learning experience with electives and core courses taken online. Visit our MLS admissions webpage for more information on applying as an international students.

Sample coursework

In your master’s in business and corporate compliance law or contract management studies, you’ll start by developing a foundation in the legal system and essential principles of legal reasoning, a shared starting point across all MLS degree emphases. You’ll then focus on areas of the legal system relevant to corporate law and compliance, selecting from a large catalog of courses including, but not limited to:

U.S. Law and Legal Analysis
Contracts and Contract Management
Corporate Compliance and Ethics
Regulatory and Administrative Law
Risk Management and Mitigation

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