ASU Law Talks
Should I get an MBA or a Master of Legal Studies?
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.
As the assistant dean overseeing graduate programs at ASU Law, this is one of the most common questions I hear from professionals who want to advance their careers. The MBA is often the default option, but for many people, it is not the most strategic one. If you are comparing an MBA with a Master of Legal Studies, or MLS, the better question is which degree actually matches the work you do every day.
What is the difference between an MBA and a Master of Legal Studies?
A traditional MBA is designed to build general business leadership skills, including finance, marketing, operations and strategy. It works well for people aiming to manage organizations broadly or pivot into executive roles.
The Master of Legal Studies, sometimes called a Master of Studies in Law, Juris Master or Master of Jurisprudence at other schools, is built for a different purpose. At ASU Law, the MLS gives nonlawyers legal fluency so they can operate confidently in regulated environments. Students learn how to understand contracts, manage compliance, assess legal risk and communicate effectively with counsel, without training to become practicing attorneys.
How practical is a Master of Legal Studies compared to an MBA?
Practicality is often the deciding factor, especially for professionals who are not looking to pause their careers to go back to school. Many MBA programs are designed around career switching and cohort-based schedules and may require entrance exams such as the GMAT.
The ASU Law MLS is built differently:
- There is no LSAT or GMAT requirement, and the program is designed specifically for working professionals
- Our FastApp process only takes 10 minutes to complete
- Students can complete the degree full time or part time, with many areas of emphasis offered fully online.
- Most students finish in about one to two years depending on their schedule.
The curriculum is applied and customizable. Students choose from 20+ emphasis areas and 100+ courses that align with their career goals, including:
- Compliance and risk management
- Employment and labor law
- Real estate and land use
- Health law
- Sustainability
- And many more
This flexibility allows students to focus on the legal knowledge that is most relevant to their industry rather than following a one-size-fits-all business curriculum.
Just as important, the coursework is immediately applicable. Classes focus on real-world legal issues such as contracts, regulations, negotiations and policy – not abstract theory. Students regularly tell me they are using what they learn in class the very next day at work, whether they are reviewing agreements, advising leadership or managing risk across their organization.
Is an MBA or a legal master’s degree better for compliance and risk management?
Many people researching an MBA are actually trying to solve a compliance or regulatory challenge at work. If your role touches human resources, health care, finance, government, real estate or corporate compliance, legal literacy is often more valuable than general business theory.
The ASU Law MLS is taught within an ABA-accredited law school, meaning students learn from the same faculty who teach future attorneys. That depth matters when your decisions must hold up under regulatory scrutiny or contractual obligations.
Do I need an MBA to move into leadership roles?
Not always. Many leadership roles today require strong judgment, risk awareness and an understanding of how law shapes business decisions. The MLS is designed for experienced professionals who want to lead more effectively where law and regulation are part of daily operations.
Our graduates often move into leadership because they can spot issues early, ask better questions and help their organizations avoid costly mistakes.
Is a Master of Legal Studies a good alternative to an MBA?
For many professionals, yes. If you want business impact but your work keeps pulling you into contracts, regulations or policy, a legal master’s degree may offer a stronger return.
At ASU Law, the MLS is not an MBA substitute. It is a distinct path for professionals who want to lead with legal insight and strategic confidence in a world where law increasingly shapes every industry.