Overview
The Master of Legal Studies ("M.L.S.") degree is a graduate-level, academic degree designed to help nonlawyers 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. The target student population will be college-educated professionals whose duties involve working with lawyers or with issues for which some legal knowledge would be helpful.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission, an applicant for Dickinson Law’s M.L.S. program must hold at least a B.A., B.S., or equivalent degree from a duly accredited or recognized institution of higher education in the U.S. or abroad but not hold a terminal degree in law from a U.S. law school, including a J.D., LL.M., or S.J.D./J.S.D.
To apply for admission to the M.L.S. program, students can apply through LSAC or directly to the law school’s Office of International and Non-J.D. Programs. Applicants for whom English is not their first language may also be asked to submit proof of English proficiency as part of their application materials. Standardized test scores are not required but may be submitted at the applicant’s discretion.
To learn more about applying to the M.L.S. program, visit Dickinson Law’s website.
Program Requirements
Students in the M.L.S. program must complete a minimum of twenty-four credits in courses approved for the M.L.S. degree, one of which must be Introduction to the U.S. Legal System (2 credits). The remaining credits may be draw from a range of courses selected with the assistance of the students’ Faculty Advisers. Students may also transfer up to six credits either from courses completed at an accredited law school in the U.S. or abroad within the last five years or from prior related work experience completed in the U.S. or abroad within the last five years.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER OF LEGAL STUDIES DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Professional Licensure/Certification
Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.