FAQs
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The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree is a one-year, entry-level graduate credential for students and professionals seeking to acquire specialized knowledge of law and legal issues relevant to their careers but who do not intend to pursue a traditional three-year JD law degree. The MLS degree, which is being offered by an increasing number of American law schools, is intended for those whose careers would benefit from focused and rigorous graduate-level study of specific legal topics but who do not intend to practice law or be admitted to the bar. Students in the MLS degree program will in large part choose among the same classes, taught by the same outstanding faculty members, as the Maurer School of Law’s JD students.
The MLS program is a total of 30 credit hours. While the MLS can be completed in two semesters, it is recommended that you complete two courses during your undergraduate time at IU in order to reduce your course load when you become full time in the MLS. See our curriculum page for details.
MLS courses are the same as those taken by our JD students. You will share courses with our JD class and will become part of our alumni network after completion of the program. MLS students are graded on a different scale than JD students, however.
Credits earned as part of the MLS cannot be applied towards the JD degree at this time.
While the MLS alone will not qualify you to practice law, it will allow you to excel in a variety of professions which overlap with the legal system. Additionally, if practicing law becomes a career goal, strong performance in our MLS program will enhance your application to our JD program.
The MLS is designed to be a practical professional master’s degree that allows students latitude to design a course of legal study that meets their career objectives and personal interests.
The emergence of degrees like the MLS is coinciding with major shifts in the market for legal services and emerging awareness by employers of the value of professionals who are not lawyers but who still have specialized legal training.
Application information
No. However, the Law School looks for MLS students with a record of demonstrated academic success in an undergraduate or other graduate program before applying.
Admissions preferences will be given to IU Bloomington undergraduates or graduates with a 3.5 GPA in their respective academic program. Those students are automatically eligible for up to a 40 percent tuition discount.
Applications will open soon. For now, fill out our request for information form to be added to our waitlist.
A transcript from your undergraduate institution is required.
The inaugural MLS cohort will begin studies in August 2025. We intend on reviewing applications on a rolling basis through June, but scholarship availability will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.
We will notify you of your admission decision within a week of reviewing your application.
More details
See our tuition page for 2025-26 MLS rates. IU Bloomington undergraduates who have a 3.5 GPA or higher are automatically eligible for a scholarship reducing the cost of tuition by up to 40 percent.
The JD (Juris Doctor), LLM (Master of Laws), and MLS (Master of Legal Studies) are all advanced degrees in law, but they differ in their purpose, audience, and scope.
The JD is the primary law degree required to practice law in most jurisdictions, including the United States. It’s a professional doctoral degree that prepares individuals for legal practice.
The LLM is a postgraduate law degree for individuals who already have a law degree (such as a JD or equivalent). It allows for specialization in a particular area of law, such as international law, tax law, or human rights law.
The MLS is a graduate degree for non-lawyers who want to gain a deeper understanding of the law without necessarily becoming practicing attorneys. It’s designed for professionals in fields like business, healthcare, education, or government who encounter legal issues in their careers.
MLS courses are not offered online at this time.
MLS students are enrolled in the same courses as our JD students. While most of those classes take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., some do occur later in the day.
Concurrent enrollment in current IU programs and the MLS is possible, particularly through Accelerated Master's Program agreements with the College of Arts and Sciences.
Full time enrollment is possible for those not taking other coursework.