ASU Law lands No. 1 in the U.S. for legal master’s graduates

When you think of law school, you typically imagine a school exclusively producing lawyers — but that’s not the case at The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, which was the first law school to offer master's degree programs designed to open doors beyond traditional careers in law. Rooted in ASU’s charter, ASU Law strives to make quality legal education accessible and equips professionals from various fields with the skills to advance because of their knowledge of laws and regulations, no matter what industry they come from. ASU Law is  No. 1 in the nation for the most legal master’s graduates from 2019 to 2023, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“ASU Law is deeply committed to providing top-tier, flexible legal education that meets the real-world needs of today’s professionals across multiple industries,” said Stacy Leeds, the Willard H. Pedrick Dean and Regents and Foundation Professor of Law. “Our master’s programs are designed to open doors and empower individuals to leverage their newly acquired legal knowledge in transformative ways. We are proud to see our graduates leading change and driving impact in their fields..”

ASU Law offers three master’s degree programs — Master of Human Resources and Employment Law (MHREL), Master of Legal Studies (MLS) and Master of Sports Law and Business (MSLB) — that empower students to understand legal principles and apply them in their professions without requiring them to become lawyers. The programs offer both full-time and part-time options, along with the flexibility of on-campus and online learning, allowing students to customize their educational experiences to fit their unique lifestyles. With a wide range of 22 emphases — such as artificial intelligence, business law, health care compliance and Federal Indian Law — students can tailor their degrees to align with their interests and career goals.

Arturo ("Art") Maria has always had a deep passion for the law. While family commitments initially held him back from studying law, the COVID-19 lockdown provided an incredible opportunity to pursue his dream. He enrolled in the MLS program at ASU Law, a decision that not only reignited his aspirations but also transformed his career trajectory.

Today, Maria, who completed his MLS degree in 2022, is the director and chief architect at AT&T Consulting, proving the impact of following one's passion.

Reflecting on his experience, Maria shared, "The program provided me with an excellent educational journey during the lockdown phase of the pandemic and became an integral part of my life. It enabled me to achieve my lifelong goals and provided me with a solid foundation to understand the legal technology environment."

Beyond personal milestones, Maria emphasized the program also contributed to his professional development.

"The MLS program has improved my ability to interact with our corporate legal teams and further develop intellectual property," he said. "Legal teams appreciate my technical knowledge and my knowledge of the law."

Much like Maria's inspiring journey, ASU Law alum Joshua Masters defied the odds by completing the MLS degree while working as a 911 dispatcher. Despite the demanding nature of his job, he dedicated himself to rigorous study. He says the program's online learning option offered the flexibility he needed to excel.

"Traditional in-person options were simply not viable for me. Being able to listen to lectures or review materials 24/7 was necessary for me to be successful," Masters said. "I would often come home from a swing shift and listen to a lecture at 3 a.m.; not something that would be available in any other modality."

Masters, currently the vice president of HR and Campus Operations at Olympic College in Washington, said the master’s program propelled his career to new heights and allowed him to make significant strides in labor and employee relations.

"I cannot overstate the impact of this degree. I graduated in December 2019. In May 2020, I was hired to be the Labor and Employee Relations Manager at Olympic College," he said. "I quickly advanced to the position I hold now. My salary has tripled since I graduated from the master’s program."

Maria and Masters exemplify the transformative impact of ASU Law's master’s degree programs. It truly empowers students and alumni to drive positive change in their lives and communities.

“It’s stories like these that underscore why ASU Law achieved its No. 1 ranking,” said Robert "Joey" Dormady, the assistant dean of graduate programs and new education initiatives at ASU Law. “Our master’s programs are designed for people like Art and Joshua—individuals with a vision for how legal knowledge can amplify their impact and open doors to new career opportunities. We’re honored to support their journeys and see the difference they make in their fields.”

For more information on master’s degrees available at ASU Law, visit law.asu.edu/advanceyourcareer.

Written by Andrea Estrada