Master of Legal Studies

A legal education for the non-lawyer

Law is one of the core foundational principles of society. It intersects and intertwines with nearly every aspect of daily life. While attorneys play large roles in those arenas, there is an increasing need for workers with specialized legal knowledge to do their everyday jobs without investing in a traditional three-year law degree.

Enter the Master of Legal Studies

Consider the HR officer who deals with issues around employment law, discrimination, and contracts; the small business owner who needs to understand regulatory compliance, risk management, and more to ensure their organizations are operating within legal boundaries; or the educational administrator navigating issues of education law, freedom of speech, or contracts.

Each one of these areas—and more—engage with legal concepts every day.

There is growing recognition that, while businesses and other workplaces increasingly require team members with specialized legal knowledge to solve or avoid real-world problems, that does not always mean they need more lawyers.

The Indiana University Maurer School of Law, one of the nation's top public law schools, invites you to join its inaugural MLS cohort.

"Everyone at Maurer is excited about the MLS!"

As an anthropology and classics major with a focus on art and archaeology, Claire Chaille didn’t expect law to play such a central role in her future. Through Indiana University Maurer School of Law’s Master of Legal Studies program, she’s discovered how legal training can support her interest in cultural heritage protection and art crime—including potential work connected to the FBI’s Art Crime Team.

Now taking law school–level courses like Fundamentals of the U.S. Legal System, Claire says the MLS program has challenged her academically, connected her with supportive faculty, and opened new career possibilities she hadn’t previously considered. “I never thought I’d be interested in the legal system,” she said, “but I’ve been loving my classes so far.”

Read more about Claire's experience

Learn more about the MLS at one of our virtual information sessions

Ready to enhance your professional impact with legal knowledge and skills? The Master of Legal Studies program is designed for working professionals who want to understand the law, navigate regulations, and lead with confidence in any industry. Learn more at one of our virtual information sessions. All times listed are in Eastern:

Friday, March 20 (Noon)

Wednesday, April 8 (6 p.m.)

Friday, April 24 (Noon)