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What is a Master of Legal Studies?
A master of legal studies (MLS) degree furthers your understanding of the law and its impact on various areas of life and work. This program is for students who are interested in advancing their education in law but aren't necessarily looking to become a practicing attorney.
There are many careers – from human resources to government contracts to law enforcement - that benefit from an understanding of how our legal system works. Our legal studies program offers students in-depth understanding of legal concepts to advance in heavily regulated industries dealing with financial regulatory compliance, healthcare law, intellectual property law, employment law, and information technology.
In addition, as tools like artificial intelligence and social media evolve, those with advanced legal knowledge may be well-positioned to understand the myriad complexities of this technology.
Legal studies graduate students may also choose this field of study to learn skills used by paralegals. In this role, they undertake significant legal work, including analysis and communication of legal concepts. Although paralegals cannot engage clients directly, their role in the law has been expanding in recent years.
In 2020, the American Bar Association updated its definition of paralegals to distinguish these working professionals from legal assistants and recognize the depth of work they perform under the direction of practicing attorneys.
What to Expect in our Online Master of Legal Studies
Our online master of legal studies program is built around you and your schedule. Aside from weekly assignments, you can log into your classes at any time, so you can build your legal knowledge at your convenience.
You can explore the legal system through in-depth discussions with fellow classmates as well as experienced faculty, many of whom practice law themselves. Peer-to-peer discussions are designed to widen your perspective by sharing diverse views on how the discipline of law is handled in different regions and sectors.
Through these discussions, you'll expand your understanding of a vast array of topics, from criminal law to constitutional law as well as legal concepts, research, and writing. Today's pressing legal issues are addressed in additional courses. The legal studies program has covered areas such as:
- Environmental law, policy, and regulation
- Immigration law
- Law, ethics, and cybersecurity
- Space law
Note: Completion of the master of legal studies online program does not qualify an individual to sit for American Bar Association exams. Practice of law is defined by state bar associations. Students must check with their respective state bar associations to learn more about licensing requirements for attorneys and non-lawyers.
Why Earn your Legal Studies Degree at American Military University
Thought-provoking courses. As a pioneer in online education, American Military University offers a highly engaging legal studies program with the added convenience of flexible coursework. Online classes start monthly throughout the academic year.
Affordability. To keep college affordable, we also offer no-cost applications, many transfer credit opportunities, and no-cost transfer credit evaluations for this program.
A community of support. Students at American Military University have access to deep network of support from faculty, academic advisors, military education managers, and our chaplain. To assist students with emotional well-being, we offer access to numerous mental health support programs, including 24/7 access to licensed mental health counselors and peer-to-peer support.
A diverse community. As a member of our online community, students enjoy working among faculty and students from around the country with diverse backgrounds they might not otherwise meet. These insights from other business professionals help enrich the understanding of the law and its application across different settings.
Students gain a strong sense of community through our many online organizations where they can work alongside others with similar interests, network with peers, and participate in service activities.
Military friendly. We offer a Preferred Military Rate for all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents. In addition, many of our faculty members have served in the military themselves and have an appreciation for the work involved with balancing college and military life.
Strong return on investment. American Military University is part of American Public University System, which ranks in the top 11% for return on investment.
*Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce report, Ranking 4,500 Colleges by ROI (2022), based on a 20-year return on investment, or net present value.
About Our Legal Studies Faculty
Our faculty brings deep, real-world experience in the legal system, having served as judges, assistant attorneys general, legal advisors, and related roles. As attorneys and scholar practitioners, they’ve passionate about leading thoughtful discussions with students.
These discussions offer the foundation needed to understand a range of legal concepts—and open doors to helping people in need. Nearly one million people in America lack access to legal support in the face of challenges such as domestic violence, child abuse, and evictions. Our MLS degree affords you the opportunity to understand the law through the lens of civil rights and potentially discover ways to improve access to justice for people who have historically been disenfranchised.
For service-minded students interested in fair access to justice, faculty members bring ethical service and leadership insights to the legal discipline.
Ways to Save When Earning Your Master of Legal Studies
We understand that many students are worried about the cost of higher education. At American Military University, we're breaking through barriers by keeping costs as affordable as possible and supporting you in accessing financial aid and other funding options in a number of ways.
The Everyday Heroes Grant provides savings to law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel, as well as their parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to access grants and loans.
University-sponsored Grants provide a savings on tuition for American Military University students.
Find educational benefits, such as GIBill®, Top-Up, and Survivors & Dependent Benefits programs, offered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Ask your employer's human resources department about tuition assistance benefits.
Visit our site to search for scholarships opportunities.
Earn Transfer Credits
Frequently Asked Questions
A master’s degree in legal studies confers a depth of knowledge about how the law works that can be applied across a wide range of careers, such as corporate compliance, law enforcement, human resources, and contracts management. Students also glean skills in conflict resolution, critical thinking, and risk management.
A master’s degree in legal studies is designed to prepare an individual with the education to work as a paralegal, able to provide legal services under the guidance of attorneys. However, the scope of what one can do with a legal studies degree goes beyond working as a paralegal. There are abundant opportunities to leverage this type of legal knowledge. This may include working as an arbitrator, mediator, or conciliator; career opportunities in heavily regulated industries; and roles where an individual would regularly interact with lawyers. There is also work in legal justice, serving as an advocate for underserved communities in need of legal assistance.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that employment in legal fields will grow faster than average of other occupations between 2022-2032.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed May 2024] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/home.htm Employment conditions in your area may vary.
An MBA teaches general business and may include courses in business law while an MLS degree teaches about law and its applications in business, public policy, government affairs, and other sectors.
In addition to completing core courses, major requirements, and a final project, one elective course is required as part of the legal studies MLS program at AMU. To complete this requirement, you can choose any courses you haven’t already taken to fulfill your major.