BROAD MENU OF COURSE OPTIONS
Supplementing the core curriculum, MLS students are able to choose classes from a range of classes offered at Arizona Law. The General MLS and several MLS concentrations also provide for interdisciplinary study through other schools or departments at the University of Arizona.
FLEXIBLE ENROLLMENT OPTIONS
You may pursue the MLS on a full-time or part-time basis, online or in-person. With flexible enrollment options, this degree is perfect for recent graduates and working professionals.
CONCENTRATIONS + CLINICS
The MLS Program offers 14 concentrations and over a dozen different clinics for practical training. These opportunities can be leveraged to create a personalized degree and educational experience.
CAREER OUTCOMES
Understand laws and regulations (without needing a law license), and advance your career and development prospects by obtaining legal and critical-thinking skills
Enrollment Options
You may pursue a general MLS degree, concentrate in a specific area through a specialized program, or pursue self-designed curriculum in their area of interest.
The MLS is available online and on campus, with most core classes offered in the evenings to accommodate working professionals.
Full-Time or Part-Time
You may pursue the MLS on a full-time or part-time basis. Whether you opt for the full-time or part-time program, you can begin your studies in the fall or spring.
Full-Time Program
Full-time students will complete their degree requirements in two consecutive semesters in one academic year. Full-time course work typically includes completing 15–17 units a semester.
Part-Time Program
The part-time MLS program accommodates working professionals who cannot complete their degree requirements in one academic year. Part-time MLS students must complete their degree requirements within four years of enrolling in the program.
Tucson - Phoenix - Online
Enroll in the University of Arizona Master of Legal Studies degree, offered fully online and now with optional in-person* evening classes once a week at the UA Chandler campus (located at the Chandler Community Center).
Requirements and Degree Path
In order to earn an MLS degree, you must complete a total of 30 units, including foundational courses in core substantive areas of the law encompassing contracts, torts, property, constitutional law, procedure, and legal research and writing.
For the remaining 15 units, you may choose from a wide range of electives, including related courses offered by other schools or departments at the University of Arizona.
The General MLS and several MLS concentrations provide for interdisciplinary study through other schools or departments at the University of Arizona. Please note that not all elective courses are offered every year. Required courses are offered every year.
You are assigned an MLS degree advisor upon acceptance to the MLS Program. The advisor will assist you in selecting your courses, following the appropriate sequencing, and choosing an MLS concentration, if any.
You also benefit from engagement with the law school community, including student organizations and programming in their areas of interest.
Course Options and Requirements
In order to provide MLS students with an adequate foundation to take upper-level specialized elective courses, all MLS students take one semester of core classes in the same subjects studied by JD students during their entire first year. These innovative courses aim to provide this foundation in half the time through focused, rigorous courses co-convened at the 400-/500-levels:
- LAW 501 Procedure (civil, criminal, and administrative procedure)
- LAW 502A The American Common Law System I (torts, contracts)
- LAW 502B The American Common Law System II (property)
- LAW 504 The American Public Law System (constitutional law)
- LAW 507 Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research
After you complete the core courses, you may begin taking courses to complete a concentration if you wish to focus your degree on a particular area.
Concentrations
Consider specializing in an area of law as part of your Master of Legal Studies degree if you wish to gain deeper expertise in a particular field. In addition to the following concentrations, you may design your own curriculum to suit your interests and goals.
Concentrations are optional and do not appear on your transcript. If you complete a concentration you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the College of Law. Your degree will read "Master of Legal Studies."
All concentrations are also available online.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Understand the various non-litigational processes used to resolve disputes, including negotiations, conciliation, mediation, and arbitration
Compliance and Legal Risk Management Concentration
Prepare for a career in “the fastest growing corporate profession in America,” by equipping yourself with an expertise in compliance.
Criminal Law and Policy Concentration
Designed to prepare individuals for careers in which knowledge of criminal law, procedure and understanding of the criminal justice system is essential or helpful.
Environmental Law and Policy Concentration
Train in environmental law areas such as pollution law, water law, natural resources law, energy law and ecosystem management.
Family and Juvenile Law Concentration
Receive thorough training in family and juvenile law for a career in mediation, social work, psychology and other professions dealing with families and/or children.
Health Law and Policy
Acquire specialized knowledge and training to help navigate complex legal issues in the practice and delivery of health care.
Human Rights Concentration
Attain the legal foundation and tools to advocate against, or avoid, human rights violations with a concentration in human rights law.
Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Concentration
Train to address the complex issues facing Indigenous peoples today from the leading Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy program.
Intellectual Property Concentration
Acquire theoretical and practical knowledge required to understand and work with legal issues under the broad umbrella of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.
International Trade & Business Law Concentration
Understand the complexities of international trade law, international commercial law and international investment.
Law & Economics
The Master of Legal Studies with a concentration in Law and Economics will give you an enhanced understanding of law and regulation, economic theory and empirical methods
Legal Paraprofessional (LP) Certificate or Conc.
Prepare for a career as a Legal Paraprofessional and to qualify for LP licensure in Arizona, with practice areas in Civil, Family, Criminal, Administrative, and Juvenile Law.
Mining Law and Policy Concentration
Due to the world-class educational resources in mining and mining law available at the UA and Arizona Law, students can gain both a broad and deep training in a variety of aspects of mining.
Cannabis Law and Regulation Concentration
The Cannabis Law and Regulation concentration being offered in partnership between University of Arizona Law and the Attorney General Alliance, addresses the need for accredited legal training in the rapidly growing U.S. intrastate cannabis market.
Career Outcomes
Your Master of Legal Studies degree opens the door to a wide variety of careers.
University of Arizona Law MLS graduates have secured positions in insurance, employee benefits, procurement, contracts administration, compliance, business analysis, public policy, law enforcement, law office support services and in a wide variety of other fields. Students have obtained positions with governmental agencies, business organizations, social service providers, educational institutions, non-profits and international NGOs.
Jobs held by recent University of Arizona MLS graduates include:
Adoptions Case Manager
Anti-Money Laundering/Bank Secrecy Act Analyst
Change Manager
Commercial Real Estate Broker
Community Outreach Associate
Compliance Analyst
Contract Administrator
Court Administrator
Environmental Policy Development Manager
Export Control Analyst
Financial Aid Advisor
Financial Advisor
Financial Crime Consultant
HIPAA Officer
Human Resources Officer
Insurance Broker
Probation Officer
Legal Analyst
Legal Assistant
News Director
NGO Program Officer
Paralegal
Quality Assurance Manager
Risk Manager
Teacher
Tribal Advocate
Tribal Operations Specialist, BIA