Earn a Master of Legal Studies Online From American University Washington College of Law

            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

Gain an Advanced Understanding of the Legal System with a Master of Legal Studies

Legal competence continues to prove its importance as the law permeates almost every industry. Designed for professionals, like you, who interact with the law but are not practicing lawyers, an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) will improve your understanding of the U.S. legal system so you can make more informed decisions, enhance your credibility, and advance your career.

The American University Washington College of Law online MLS program prepares you with a solid foundation of legal knowledge and is designed so that you can customize your degree to align with your specific interests and career goals. You can choose from the following MLS concentration tracks:

General MLS
Business
Health Care Compliance
Technology

Learn More about the MLS Program

About American University Washington
College of Law

Over 120 years ago, at a time when women were generally excluded from the legal profession, American University Washington College of Law became the first law school in the world to be founded by women. It followed by having the first woman dean and the first all-female law school class.

American University Washington College of Law has a tradition of providing opportunities for those historically outside of the mainstream of the legal profession. Since its founding, the school has remained committed to creating a law school that values equality, diversity, inclusivity, and experiential learning. Key to student success, the respected faculty embrace the school’s values and play an essential role as mentors who help build connections in the legal field.

International Law

Intellectual Property Law

#15

Health Law

*U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Law Schools rankings for American University Washington College of Law's Speciality Programs¹

“The spirit of our tradition lies in the hearts and minds of our community members, who are dedicated to the professional advancement and well-being of our students and alumni and who strive to ‘Champion What Matters,’ locally, nationally, and internationally.”

Camille A. Nelson,
Dean and Professor of Law at American University Washington College of Law

Admissions

Application Requirements
Learn about what you need to apply.

Upcoming Events
Learn more about the program by attending one of our events.

The priority application deadline for the upcoming July 2020 cohort is:

Monday, April 20, 2020

Student Experience

The online MLS program combines online collaboration with face-to-face learning to create an engaging learning experience. As a student in the program, you will participate in live online classes, complete self-paced coursework, and attend an in-person immersion on our Washington, D.C. campus.

By attending American University Washington College of Law, you will gain access to the legal hub of Washington, D.C. and will be at the center of some of the world’s most valuable legal resources and connections. You will also join a large alumni network of talented legal professionals who can support you in reaching your career goals.

Get Started Today

Request more information about the online Master of Legal Studies from American University Washington College of Law.

American University's Washington College of Law Master of Legal Studies distance education degree program has been granted acquiescence by the American Bar Association.

For information regarding the accreditation and state licensing of American University, please visit American University's State Authorization Information page.

¹U.S. News & World Report. Accessed March 2019.


                  {"admissionsEmail": "admissions@onlinelaw.wcl.american.edu", "degreeOffering": "au-law", "fields": [{"hidden": false, "label": "First Name", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "first_name", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Last Name", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "last_name", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Email", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "email", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "What was your undergraduate GPA?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "stated_gpa_range", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "4.00 and above", "value": "4.00 And Above"}, {"label": "3.99 - 3.50", "value": "3.99-3.50"}, {"label": "3.49 - 3.00", "value": "3.49-3.00"}, {"label": "2.99 - 2.50", "value": "2.99-2.50"}, {"label": "2.49 and below", "value": "2.49 And Below"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "What is your highest level of education completed?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "level_of_education", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "High School", "value": "High School"}, {"label": "Associate\u0027s", "value": "Associates"}, {"label": "Bachelor\u0027s in progress", "value": "Bachelors in progress"}, {"label": "Bachelor\u0027s", "value": "Bachelors"}, {"label": "Master\u0027s in progress", "value": "Masters in progress"}, {"label": "Master\u0027s", "value": "Masters"}, {"label": "Doctorate", "value": "Doctorate"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Zip", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "zip_code", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Country of Residence", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "country", "required": true, "type": 6, "value": {}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "State", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "state", "required": true, "type": 5, "value": {}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "Phone", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "phone", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Which best describes you?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "has_law_degree", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "I do not have a law degree", "value": "I do not have a law degree"}, {"label": "I have a law degree (JD or equivalent)", "value": "I have a law degree (JD or equivalent)"}]}}, {"hidden": true, "label": "Degree Interest", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree", "required": false, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "MLS", "options": [{"label": "MLS", "value": "MLS"}]}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "US Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00b8", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 11, "value": {"checkboxText": "Please contact me about these educational programs.", "defaultChecked": true, "defaultRadio": "none", "disclaimer": "American University\u0027s technology partner, 2U, Inc., and its family of companies, work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in law and other fields.", "format": "checkbox", "optInValue": "AU-LAW Marketing", "smsHiddenConsent": false}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "GDPR Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00aa\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 8, "value": {"disclaimer": "This personal data is collected and processed by [--link:https://2u.com]2U, Inc.[link--], American University\u0027s technology partner.", "leadShareOptIn": {"email": "Please email me about these educational programs.", "leadShareValue": "AU-LAW Marketing", "phone": "", "sms": "", "text": "American University\u0027s technology partner, [--link:https://2u.com]2U, Inc., and the 2U family of companies[link--], work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in law and other fields. "}, "retailOptIn": {"email": "Email", "phone": "Phone", "sms": "", "text": "Yes, I want to receive additional information about American University. Please contact me via:"}}}, {"hidden": true, "label": "", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent", "required": true, "type": 9, "value": {"gdprOnly": "false"}}, {"hidden": false, "mountPoint": 2, "name": "", "type": 7, "value": {"text": "Your personal data will be used as described in our [--link:https://onlinelaw.wcl.american.edu/legal/privacy-policy/]privacy policy[link--]. You may opt out of receiving communications at any time. "}}], "grouping": "au-law", "id": 114, "published": "2020-01-14T18:56:57.800Z", "screens": [{"allFields": [13, 9], "conditional": {}, "out": {"1": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [4, 3], "conditional": {}, "out": {"2": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [0, 1, 2], "conditional": {}, "out": {"3": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [7, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14], "conditional": {"11": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 1}, {"op": 7}]], "12": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]], "8": [3, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}]]}, "out": {"-1": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}], "version": "1.0.1"}