The Master of Legal Studies Degree at Dickinson Law
A Degree for Non-lawyers in a Variety of Professions
The Master of Legal Studies (“M.L.S.”) degree is a graduate-level, academic degree designed to help non-lawyers to enhance their professional knowledge by providing them with a solid foundation in the law. This program will acquaint students with the general structure of the U.S. legal system and will allow them to focus on one or more specific aspects of law as it relates to their professional interests and goals. Professionals who work in or are seeking to enter fields such as finance, education, health care, social work, real estate, regulatory compliance, law enforcement, or government will see tremendous value in gaining foundational or specialized knowledge of laws and legal systems relevant to them.
In today’s changing economy, some knowledge of the law has become increasingly relevant for non-lawyers working in a number of industries. Businesses now place greater emphasis on cross-disciplinary skills and the ability to move and adapt quickly, and the growing complexity of not only law but also governmental and regulatory structures and procedures means that familiarity with law is an important part of those skills. Professionals who work in or are seeking to enter fields such as finance, education, health care, social work, real estate, regulatory compliance, law enforcement, or government will gain tremendous value in gaining foundational or specialized knowledge of laws and legal systems relevant to them.
Enhance Your Career
Dickinson Law’s M.L.S. degree thus provides a particularly marketable asset for college-educated professionals whose duties involve working with lawyers or with issues for which some legal knowledge would be helpful. The M.L.S. program is designed for professionals who work for or with governmental bodies, legal departments, regulatory agencies, and other law-related institutions and organizations, or wish to do so in the future. Those who complete this degree will be equipped with tools for navigating the complex world of law and policy, as well as a credential that will advance their career opportunities and goals. The M.L.S. degree can help enhance careers by creating opportunities for advancement and by laying the groundwork for new career paths.
At Dickinson Law you will experience not only the globally recognized education in the law but also the supportive and personalized experience that we are known for.
- Choose from our “Government Law & Policy” concentration, our “Organizing for Social Justice” concentration, or create a custom course load from one of our many other concentrations.
- Begin your studies in either the fall or the spring semester, and complete your degree on a full-time or part-time basis.
- Enjoy the benefits of a small class cohort, allowing you to interact closely with peers, professors, and support staff.
- Experience historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania, which is perfectly situated within easy driving distance of New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Harrisburg.
To learn more about our M.L.S. program, please contact:
Anthony Ogden
Director of Graduate, International, and Online Programs
Email: DickinsonGradEd@psu.edu
Phone: 717-241-3532