You Don’t Need to Be a Lawyer to Make the Law Work for You
Request BrochureThe Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is a distinctive program for non-lawyer professionals who work regularly with lawyers and legal issues. It was created specifically for those who do not wish to practice law but would like to use the law as a means to achieve their goals in environments where legal knowledge is an asset.
Choose from five concentrations tailored to meet employer demand: Business Law, Health Law, Human Resources Law, Intellectual Property Law and Public Law and Policy.
Every Northeastern student has access to a career coach. The career coach works with MLS program students to create a Career Action Plan to help students achieve their own professional goals and to support them in their career exploration and job search processes.
Professors in the Master of Legal Studies program include Northeastern Law faculty and industry practitioners
In addition to financial aid options, you are considered for merit-based scholarships.
To learn more about Northeastern Law’s online Master of Legal Studies, fill out the form to download a free brochure. You can also call us toll-free at +1 877.375.9638 or at +1 617.655.6735 to talk with one of our admissions counselors.
Our courses—customized around content critical to specific disciplines—are taught by law school faculty and industry experts who give students the practical knowledge they need to more effectively address legal issues in their industries.
The Master of Legal Studies offers concentrations in Business Law, Health Law, Human Resources Law, Intellectual Property Law and Public Law and Policy. Or, choose a general course of study to complete the program.
We also offer certificate programs that focus on building legal frameworks in specific industries. To learn more about the curriculum and requirements of each certificate, please visit our graduate law certificate programs page.
The law impacts virtually every industry. In particular, our Online Master of Legal Studies program attracts students from the following fields:
Watch our video to learn more from students and faculty members about the online experience in the Master of Legal Studies program.
The Master of Legal Studies admissions committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, and applicants are notified as soon as an admission decision has been made. We highly recommend you submit your application and supporting materials as early as possible.
“Everything I do at work is related to my MLS degree. This became clear in my very first class with Dean Hackney. My major regret is that I got a legal education so late in my career. I really wish I’d embarked on this adventure many years ago!”
The MLS curriculum was developed specifically for working, non-lawyer professionals across several highly regulated industries. Foundation and core courses will give you a broad and solid legal background.
After gaining a general grounding in the law, you will focus on legal issues in specific industries through elective courses. We offer concentrations in Business Law, Health Law, Human Resources Law, Intellectual Property Law and Public Law and Policy. Professionals in other industries can choose a general course of study and access a wide array of electives.
For more information about the program curriculum and to view a full list of courses, please visit the curriculum page. To get an overview of a specific certificate’s curriculum, visit our graduate law certificate programs page.
Regardless of concentration, all MLS program students take two foundation courses: Introduction to Legal Studies I and Introduction to Legal Studies II. In these classes, you will learn about legal processes and the significance of law in various settings.
You are also required to take four out of five core courses. Core courses include Information and Records, Law and Strategy, and Regulation and Compliance.
Each of the five concentrations provide a unique set of courses. The Business Law concentration features classes such as Regulation and Global Business Strategies. The Health Law concentration includes Healthcare Regulation and Compliance. Human Resources Law features a course called Wages and Benefits. Intellectual Property Law features coursework such as Identifying and Securing Intellectual Property Rights. And Public Law and Policy features coursework in Current Issues and Legal Foundations.
In addition, you can choose a general concentration, which will give you a broad perspective on legal studies.
The concentrations in Business Law, Health Law, Human Resources Law and Intellectual Property Law can be completed as certificates. There is also a fifth certificate that students can get in Healthcare Compliance, which provides insight into compliance protocol in the healthcare setting.
Northeastern’s renowned experiential approach provides you with real-world knowledge that you'll put into practice via case studies, scenarios and other immersive experiences. This approach assures that you acquire the most relevant skills applicable to your chosen professional path. Master of Legal Studies students also have access to career workshops and tools designed for distance learners and graduate students, giving you access to a network of fellow professionals.
Due to rapidly expanding forms of regulation and an increasingly complex legal environment, professionals across various fields are experiencing a growing need for a grounding in the law. If you are in a highly regulated industry, Northeastern Law’s Master of Legal Studies gives you the unique opportunity to learn legal concepts, without having to spend three years in a full-time program to obtain a Juris Doctor.
In this program, you’ll gain broad knowledge and understanding of the law and become an expert in legal issues within your own industry. The customized curriculum will provide you with the flexibility to understand, analyze and interpret your professional environment through a legal lens, equipping you with the expertise to navigate complex legal issues and advance your career.
A Master of Legal Studies is intended to help non-lawyers gain a better understanding of the law to use within their own industries. Below are some of the jobs you can pursue with each of these concentrations.
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| Concentration | Career Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Business Law |
Director of partnerships Senior contract negotiator |
| Health Law |
Contracts manager Compliance specialist |
| Human Resources Law |
Human resources director Human resources manager |
| Intellectual Property Law |
Associate scientist Clinical trial manager IP manager |
| Public Law and Policy |
Legislative director Advisor to elected representative Government, nonprofits |
| General (no concentration) |
Director or litigation research Paralegal manager Procurement manager Senior compliance assurance officer Senior project manager |
Learn more about the careers that you can pursue (including salary information) with an online Master of Legal Studies degree on our careers page.