Online Master of Legal Studies
Elevate your career with a deeper understanding of the law in 1 year.
Unlock new opportunities across industries with the online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program. You can develop legal expertise without pursuing a 3 year J.D., gaining the tools you need to advance in a career that interests you.
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Credits Required
What Does It Cost
$1,086.75/credit hour*
*Subject to change without notice
Tuition Estimator
Learning Format
Start Terms
Fall
Why Choose UOnline’s Master of Legal Studies?
UOnline’s Master of Legal Studies program from the S.J. Quinney College of Law provides a solid foundation for working with and understanding legal principles without the need, cost, and time to become a Juris Doctor. Whether your career is in business, education, health care, or another field, this versatile degree makes it possible to navigate legal challenges in your current and/or future professions.
In just one year you’ll sharpen your legal reasoning, writing, and communication skills through a blend of core courses and electives including, but not limited to: regulatory systems, criminal, mediation, employment, and business law. This immersion into the intricacies of the U.S. legal system allows you to confidently interpret and apply legal concepts in your everyday work.
With module-based flexibility of the online format, the legal studies master’s degree program fits seamlessly into your schedule. You can also access the same resources available to on-campus students, including the College of Law’s facilities, collaborative opportunities, and academic support.
For more information on this program and insight into the in-person format please visit the S.J. Quinney College of Law website.
Why Choose UOnline’s Master of Legal Studies with Healthcare Law Concentration?
With this concentration, MLS students will gain an increased aptitude for recognizing and appreciating policy issues and legal risks confronting the healthcare industry.
Healthcare is the largest and fastest-growing highly regulated industry in the United States. As such, there’s a continually increasing need for professionals who are better equipped to understand the industry’s governing laws and regulations. Moreover, the role and importance of healthcare in our society is pervasive –– we will all be impacted sooner or later either personally or on behalf of a loved one. Individuals who successfully complete this concentration and who are in the healthcare industry now, will be able to apply course learning outcomes in their day-to-day decision-making to better perform their jobs and ultimately improve organizational quality and the quality of patient care, safety, and advocacy.
Ideal for those who want to gain a holistic operational understanding of the governing laws, regulations, policies and legal risks within healthcare including, but not limited to:
- Clinical Practitioners
- Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
- Medical Assistants
- Dieticians
- Social Workers
- Hospital and Clinic Administrators
- Compliance Officers
- HR Managers
- Patient Advocates
- Billing and Coding Specialists
- Marketers
Application Deadlines
Advance your legal career without delay.
Fall Admission
Submit your application for the online Master of Legal Studies program starting Sept. 1. Our priority deadline is April 1, and there is a $55 application fee. Applications close on May 31, with an additional $30 late fee.
Legal Studies Overview
At the University of Utah, our courses combine the flexibility of online teaching with the advantages and direct engagement of traditional teaching. Enjoy the benefit of studying online at your own pace while still engaging with classmates and instructors. This flexible way of teaching improves your overall experience and your ability to retain what you learn.
Interactive learning comes in a variety of ways:
- Group assignments, where you collaborate via email or a discussion forum to answer a problem set.
- Contributions to a discussion forum, where you directly respond to previous posts.
- Peer reviews, where you review and comment on assignments from other students.
Our classes also offer multiple routes to stay connected and get help:
- Communicate directly with the instructor via email.
- Participate in and guide online discussions.
- Attend online office hours in discussion threads or on the phone.
- Instructors are available in “real” office hours for students on or near campus; for some courses we offer Q&A sessions in a classroom.
Master of Legal Studies or Master of Legal Studies with Healthcare Law Concentration from the S.J. Quinney College of Law.
All courses at the University of Utah, whether online or on campus, are taught by the same expert faculty members.
In order to apply to the legal studies master’s degree program, you must have a Bachelor’s degree for an accredited college or university, be 18 years of age, and should preferably have obtained, or be compiling, a competitive grade point average and can demonstrate a track record of professional experience and good writing skills. There are no course prerequisites.
The online Master of Legal Studies is a one-year program that starts each August. It requires 30 credit hours of graduate-level coursework and is only available as a full-time option. You must maintain a 3.0 GPA to graduate.
Required courses include:
- Legal Ethics in the Provision and Management of Legal Services
- Legal Research and Writing for Non-Lawyers
- The Regulatory System
- Understanding Cases, Statues, and Legislation
As of fall 2024, tuition for the online Master of Legal Studies program is $1,086.75 per credit. Costs are subject to change. These changes typically occur in the summer but can happen at any time. Review the College of Law tuition chart and calculate your potential expenses.
Tuition does not include additional fees such as online textbooks or proctored exams. Fees and materials vary by program.
Explore UOnline's cost breakdown and graduate funding opportunities.
Note: This program qualifies for the U of U employee reduced tuition benefit.
To apply to UOnline’s Master of Legal Studies online program, you must submit the following materials:
- Online application: View application instructions
- You must indicate on your application that you are interested in joining the online Master of Legal Studies program.
- Résumé/CV
- Personal statement indicating why you wish to complete the program and how it fits into your career goals
- Writing sample(s)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Unofficial transcripts
Note: The MLS Program does not require a standardized testing score (GRE, GMAT, MAT, LSAT).
Career Outcomes
Our Master of Legal Studies program enhances your existing career with new legal skills or acts as a gateway to entirely new professional positions that require legal knowledge. With a legal studies master’s degree, you can expect career advancement opportunities, higher-level responsibilities, and competitive salary increases.
Potential Roles (MLS)
- Career Development Director
- CEO in the Tech Industry
- Chief Compliance Officer in the Banking Industry
- Human Research Protections Program in the Health-Care Industry
- Paralegal at Law Firm
- Public Representation / Elected Government Official
Career Opportunities (MLS with Healthcare Law Concentration)
- All health care entities
- Health insurers
- Government agencies
- Law firms (Licensed Paralegal Practitioner)
- Policy think tanks
- Academic institutions
Legal Studies Career Paths
- Arbitration
- Business (corporate executives and accountants)
- Compliance (finance, health care, compliance directors, compliance analysts and more)
- Contract administration
- Education (higher education, secondary education and K-12)
- Health care and health services
- Human resources
- Law (court administrators, paralegals, legal assistants, limited licensed practitioners and legal analysts)
- Law enforcement (police officers, private investigators, federal agents and intelligence analysts)
- Mediation and dispute resolution
- Regulatory affairs
- Risk management
Immediate
Career Impact
Within six months of completing UOnline’s Master of Legal Studies online program, many students in our first cohort of graduates secured a promotion, received a pay raise of $10,000-$15,000 per year, or transitioned into a new role that aligned more closely with their career goals.
$99,220
Median Annual Wage
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for legal studies professionals was $99,220 in 2023.
85,600
Job Openings
From 2023 to 2033, the BLS expects about 85,600 new legal occupations to open, showcasing limitless opportunities with a legal studies master’s degree.
Related News
Navigating Career Paths with a Master of Legal Studies
The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree is a fantastic way to gain insight into the law without pursuing a three-year degree and taking the bar exam. Find out what this degree could mean for you and your future career.
Department Contact
Have a question about UOnline’s Master of Legal Studies degree program? We’ll ensure you find the information you need.
Join our upcoming information sessions to learn more about MLS! Register by clicking the links below.
