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Master of Legal Studies

Advance your career with skills in conflict resolution for non-lawyers

Earn a graduate degree in conflict resolution 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 an emphasis in Conflict Resolution is a flexible program designed to help non-lawyers advance beyond their current roles or pursue new career opportunities.

Earning a master’s in conflict resolution equips you with expertise in negotiation, mediation and dispute resolution. This unique degree enhances your employability for roles in fields such as human resources, paralegal and law paraprofessional practice, corporate leadership, international relations, labor relations, court administration, government agencies, public policy, nonprofit management, community advocacy, consulting and organizational development.

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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 conflict resolution emphasis is led by distinguished faculty with deep expertise in negotiation, mediation and dispute resolution. Through both foundational and specialized courses, students gain insights into methods for managing and resolving conflicts in a variety of settings. Practical learning opportunities like clinics and externships allow students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world conflicts in professional or community settings.

#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.

Online On-campus

Arizona Legal Paraprofessional

Online On-campus

Conflict Resolution

Hear from our students

Heather Ashworth

Master of Legal Studies alum, 2023

“When I started researching MLS programs, I was thrilled to discover the program was offered at ASU. While there are many options, especially now with online programs, ASU had everything I was looking for. Not only is ASU Law one of the top schools in the country, but the program also offered the core focus I was looking for and the flexibility I needed. You can finish the program at the pace that is right for you, one class at a time, or double up and finish in a year.” "

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 conflict resolution 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 directly relevant to conflict resolution, selecting from a large catalog of courses including, but not limited to:

U.S. Law and Legal Analysis
Foundations of Negotiation and Mediation
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Advanced Mediation and Facilitation
Conflict Management in Organizations

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