Earn Your Master
of Legal Studies Online
Complete Your Degree in as Few as 12 Months
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Advanced Legal Knowledge
The law affects almost all fields, and many professionals can increase their value by developing advanced legal expertise. The online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program from American University Washington College of Law equips professionals from a variety of backgrounds with a better understanding of the law so that they can make more informed decisions, enhance their credibility, and advance in their career.
Delivered online, the MLS program allows you to continue working while you earn your degree and can be completed in as few as 12 months. No GRE or LSAT scores are required to apply.
A Versatile Law Degree—Online
Whether you handle contracts on a daily basis, are responsible for drafting new policies, or want to ensure compliance with legal regulations in your field, with an MLS, you will develop a legal framework and mindset to effectively solve legal questions and challenges in your role. Professions that benefit from an MLS can include paralegals, business executives, health care compliance managers, social workers, and software engineers.
Our MLS program allows you to gain specialized knowledge and focus your degree by choosing an MLS track that meets your interests and career goals. At the end of the second term, you will choose one of the following concentration tracks: General MLS, Business, Health Care Compliance, and Technology. If you choose the Business, Health Care Compliance, or Technology track, you will earn a certificate in addition to your MLS degree.¹
General MLS
Gain the specialized legal knowledge needed to better support your organization and stand out from your peers.
Business
Understand the legal terminology and regulations behind contracts and transactions.
Health Care Compliance
Navigate the laws and regulations in the health care field and understand how the law impacts care. If you choose to earn the Health Care Compliance certificate and meet certain qualifications, you may be eligible to receive an additional certificate accredited by the Compliance Certificate Board (CCB), which enables you to sit for the CHC, CHPC, CHRC, CCEP, and/or the CCEP-I exams.²
Technology
Stay up to date on the regulations that are impacting the rapidly changing tech field.
Our immersive, online MLS program features:
Live online classes designed by our experienced, on-campus faculty.
A multidisciplinary curriculum featuring courses from the Kogod School of Business and School of International Service to promote law, international relations, and business expertise.
A community dedicated to the values of equality, diversity, and inclusivity.
Close connections to resources in Washington, D.C.—the nation’s legal epicenter.
¹ The Master of Legal Studies and the associated certificate offerings are not J.D. degree programs and will not qualify a graduate to become a lawyer, practice law, sit for the bar exam, or engage in activities for which a law license is required. Coursework completed in either of these programs is not transferable to a J.D. program. ↑
² Administered by the Health Law and Policy Program, the Health Care Compliance Certificate (HCCC) designates students in the J.D., L.L.M., and MLS programs who have completed a concentration of courses in health care law and compliance. The Health Care Compliance Certificate is accredited by the Compliance Certificate Board (CCB). MLS students who complete the health care compliance track will earn the certificate and be eligible to sit for the CHC, CHPC, CHRC, CCEP and/or the CCEP-I exams within 12 months of completing the program. ↑