How can a master’s in health law advance your nursing career?

Joey Dormady

Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs and New Education Initiatives

Joey Dormady leads ASU Law’s growing portfolio of master’s degree programs and is passionate about creating accessible, high-quality legal education for students from all backgrounds.

Why should nurses consider a master’s in health law for career advancement?

For nurses and allied health professionals, understanding health law, health care regulations, HIPAA compliance and medical malpractice law empowers you to transition from clinical roles into administration, risk management and patient advocacy. With the health care industry growing rapidly and regulations ever-evolving, employers seek professionals who can interpret and apply legal frameworks to improve patient safety and organizational success.

At ASU Law, our Master of Legal Studies (MLS) programs are designed specifically for professionals – no law degree required – to gain that expertise efficiently and effectively with flexible studies that can be completed online or on campus, full-time or part-time.

What legal master’s degree options does ASU Law offer for nurses?

ASU Law offers multiple MLS emphases tailored to different interests and career paths.

MLS in health care law and administration

Learn about patient privacy, facility compliance, risk management, health insurance law, billing regulations and medical malpractice. Ideal if you're interested in moving into roles such as hospital administrator, clinic operations manager or chief nursing officer.

MLS in public health law and policy

Dive into public health law, emergency preparedness, vaccination policy, ethical frameworks, community health law and health reform dynamics through collaborations with the Center for Public Health Law and Policy.

MLS in corporate and health care compliance

Build skills in regulatory compliance, internal audits, fraud prevention, corporate ethics, compliance program development and organizational governance. This prepares you for roles like compliance manager, privacy officer or risk analyst.

All ASU Law programs are ABA-accredited and taught by a faculty with more than 300 combined years of experience, and ASU Law’s Health Law program is ranked No. 13 by the U.S. News & World Report – positioning ASU Law as a top destination for health law education.

How can a health law emphasis fast-track your transition into leadership or administration?

Nursing careers enhanced by legal expertise open a wide array of leadership paths. For instance, Chanel Okosun, an ASU Law MLS graduate with an emphasis in health care law and administration, leveraged her degree to gain specialized insight into legal procedures and regulations—skills that she knows are invaluable in corporate environments and health care advocacy. She plans to form an LLC focused on compliance and use her legal background to advocate for stronger health care policies.

By combining your clinical background with solid understanding of health care law and compliance, you'll position yourself for high-impact administrative and leadership roles in hospitals, health systems, legal departments and policy organizations.

Why choose ASU Law for your master’s degree in health?

With ASU Law, you’re not just getting a degree—you’re entering a rich ecosystem of career support, real-world learning and nationally ranked expertise:

• #1 in the U.S. for legal master's graduates (NCES, 2019 - 2023)
• A nationally ranked health law program (No. 13)
• ABA-accredited, online or in-person MLS options that don’t distinguish on your diploma between delivery formats
• Direct access to centers such as the Center for Public Health Law and Policy
• Practical opportunities including the Healthcare Entrepreneurship Clinic, externships, research assistantships, student Health Law Society, and law review placements
• Graduates who are in high demand across health care entities, law firms, insurers, government agencies and policy organizations