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At a Glance

A thorough understanding of the law is not limited to practicing
attorneys. The online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) from American
University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) is designed for
professionals, like you, who have law-related responsibilities and
understand the law’s important influence on both your daily job
functions and your community at large. The MLS program will allow
you to gain fundamental legal training and the industry-specific
knowledge you need to help your organization solve problems and
comply with rapidly changing policies and regulations.

The program offers the following specialization tracks: General MLS,
Business, Healthcare, Technology, Cybersecurity and U.S Legislation. Each
specialization track features fundamental legal training and industry-
specific knowledge that will improve your ability to make informed
decisions that affect your organization and legitimize your credibility
with clients, co-workers, and partners.

Why Should You Earn a Master’s in Legal Studies?

No matter how you deal with the law—whether it’s handling contracts, drafting new policies, or ensuring compliance with legal regulations in your field—earning your master’s in legal studies equips you with the legal framework needed to understand legal issues and face new challenges in your role. With an MLS, you will be able to broaden your leadership potential and open the door to new opportunities and career advancement.

Through the online MLS at American University Washington College of Law, you will learn the foundations of the U.S. legal system, allowing you to better perform your job and make a difference in your community. Many careers across a variety of industries can benefit from the knowledge gained in the MLS program:

  • Business Executive
  • Government Employee
  • Software Engineer
  • Compliance Officer
  • Health Care Compliance Manager
  • Social Worker

Program Objectives

Upon graduation, MLS students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate their understanding of the organization of the U.S. legal system and basic legal concepts
  • Support and collaborate with lawyers and/or lawmakers in the workplace
  • Identify and apply basic legal terminology
  • Identify and utilize applicable regulations
  • Interpret and draft policies, procedures, and contracts
Selected
Admission Requirement
Curriculum Description
Careers and Outcomes
Faculty
Student Experience

American University Washington College of Law seeks motivated candidates who are passionate about using the law to positively affect their organizations and communities.

Candidates for admission to the online Master of Legal Studies program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. To apply to the program, you must submit the following:

The Master of Legal Studies online program offers a multidisciplinary curriculum that features courses from American University’s Washington College of Law, the Kogod School of Business, and the #8-ranked School of International Service.11 With this unique partnership, you will not only graduate an expert in legal studies—you will also be able to translate your expertise into real-world business.

The 30-credit MLS degree program can be completed on a part-time or full-time schedule, and includes foundational courses, elective courses, industry-specific specialization tracks, and one immersion experience.

Details can be found on our Program Curriculum page.

Enhancing Your Career Path

The online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program at American University Washington College of Law equips non-lawyers with the legal framework needed to pursue rewarding and challenging law-related careers in a variety of industries.

Explore how an MLS degree can give you a competitive edge in the following fields:
 

Business
Today’s businesses need legal support to keep up with ever-changing laws and regulations that affect the way they do business.
Learn more about law-related careers in business


Government
With an MLS, you will become familiar with the laws that regulate the political process and gain the skills needed to effectively negotiate and mediate between parties.
Learn more about law-related careers in government


Law Enforcement
An MLS can provide you with the knowledge you need to operate within the law, and better prepare you to write reports and investigate cases.
Learn more about law-related careers in law enforcement


Social Work
Social workers protect children and support families in need of assistance. Attaining a deeper knowledge of the legal system can help you better advocate for your clients’ rights.
Learn more about law-related careers in social work

Health Care
As a student in the MLS program, you can select the health care specialization to develop the specialized knowledge you need to remain compliant while improving patient care.
Learn more about law-related careers in health care


Human Resources
An MLS degree allows you to understand the basic laws, regulations, and policies that constitute human resources and benefits management.
Learn more about law-related careers in human resources


Legal Field
An MLS provides a thorough understanding of the law, making it an optimal degree if you are interested in a law-related career path but don’t want to become a lawyer.
Learn more about law-related careers in the legal field 


Technology
Our MLS program offers a specialization in technology that can help you gain the fundamental skills to stay up to date with this ever-evolving field and its legal implications.
Learn more about law-related careers in technology

Helping Students Advance Their Careers with Legal Expertise

The American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) Career Services team helps students leverage their new and growing legal expertise. Our dedicated career mentors guide students as they plan to change jobs, advance in their organizations, or weigh new career opportunities.

Career Planning Support

Our Career Services team is committed to providing the support students need to grow as legal experts and successful professionals. Through one-on-one guidance and resource-sharing, they help students:

  • Map out a career path and define professional goals
  • Write a compelling resume and cover letter
  • Apply strategy and best practices to their job search
  • Prepare for interviews and salary negotiation
  • Network effectively within and across different industries

As an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) student, you will learn from the same dedicated faculty who teach on campus. Our faculty members are experienced legal practitioners who have spent their careers examining how the law intersects with different industries and how it can be used to make a positive impact on society.

Visit our Program Faculty page to learn more about our faculty. 

The online MLS experience brings the AU campus to you, no matter where you are. While benefiting from the flexibility of online learning, you will gain access to some of the leading voices in the legal sphere and resources unique to AU’s location in the nation’s legal hub, Washington, D.C.

AU has offered fully online programs for over 10 years, and the MLS is designed based on research of what makes online learning successful. Through our combination of a hands-on, experiential approach and advanced technology, you will graduate with the experience, connections, and in-depth knowledge needed to succeed in your legal role.

Immersion

A great benefit of the online MLS program is the opportunity to expand on what you learn in the classroom at an in-person immersion on our Washington, D.C., campus. During the immersion, classmates and instructors come together for three days to network, hear from experts in the field, and collaborate on group assignments.

Students are responsible for travel to and from immersions, which includes but is not limited to transportation and hotel lodging. Program fees will be assessed for direct program expenses, and all immersion experiences carry 1.5 credit hours and the related tuition.

Class Profile

American University Washington College of Law values its history of diversity and inclusion and continues to uphold its commitment to increasing accessibility to a quality legal education.


 

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Military Education Benefits

American University is dedicated to supporting military service members, veterans, and their families.

As an online student of the Master in Legal Studies program, you can transform your military experience and leadership skills into new career possibilities as you earn your degree, regardless of where you live or are stationed.

We support a full range of military education benefits such as:

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill
  • Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
  • Tuition Assistance (TA)
  • Yellow Ribbon Program

Additionally, if you’ve served in any branch of the U.S. military on active duty within the past three years, you’re eligible for an application fee waiver. We accept transfer credits from military coursework, have a dedicated Office of Veterans Services to help connect you to benefits, and maintain an active Veterans Services Support Network.

We welcome you to learn more about our military benefits and how to apply for them.

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