Online master’s programs

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 online MLS or MHREL 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 online MLS or MHREL 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, online MLS or MHREL 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] or [email protected].

Credits earned through an online MLS or MHREL 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.

You can explore full application details on the MLS admissions page and MHREL admissions page.

• Fall - July 26
• Summer - April 27
• Spring - December 16

To be admitted to the online MLS or MHREL program, an applicant must have both:

• Completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States or attained a comparable degree from a foreign institution
• Submitted a Full application or Fast App to the program. 

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.