An online Master of Legal Studies in Business Law is designed for professionals who work with contracts, compliance, corporate policy, risk management, employment issues, privacy, finance, operations, or other law-adjacent business functions. These programs are generally intended for nonlawyers who want graduate-level legal training without earning a JD or preparing for the bar exam.
For this ranking, we prioritized online programs offered through law schools, programs with a clear business law, corporate compliance, contract management, risk, finance, or business-focused legal studies pathway, and programs that can serve working professionals. The American Bar Association maintains a list of non-JD and post-JD programs offered by law schools, and its materials note that acquiescence in a non-JD degree program is not the same as ABA approval of the degree itself.
Top 10 Online Master of Legal Studies in Business Law Programs
| Rank | School | Degree | Business Law Focus | State | Online Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell Law School | MSLS | Designed for business professionals in compliance, risk management, contracts, business deals, human resources, and finance | New York | Online |
| 2 | UCLA School of Law | MLS | Business Law specialization for executives, investors, real estate professionals, and asset management professionals | California | Available online, hybrid, and on campus |
| 3 | Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law | MLS | Business Law emphasis focused on legal issues companies face today | Arizona | Online |
| 4 | Texas A&M University School of Law | MLS | Business Law and Compliance track for professionals involved in contracts, compliance, human resources, and risk mitigation | Texas | Online |
| 5 | Wake Forest University School of Law | MLS | Business Law and Compliance track for corporate legal departments, compliance offices, and regulatory affairs | North Carolina | Online |
| 6 | University of Southern California Gould School of Law | MSL | Online legal studies program with business law and related graduate certificate options | California | Online |
| 7 | Northeastern University School of Law | MLS | Business Law concentration with coursework connected to finance, contracts, regulation, and global business strategy | Massachusetts | Online |
| 8 | University of Pittsburgh School of Law | MSL | Corporate Compliance and International Business Law specializations | Pennsylvania | Online |
| 9 | Fordham University School of Law | MSL | Corporate Compliance program for nonlawyers focused on compliance solutions and legal risk | New York | Online |
| 10 | Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law | MLS | Business-facing legal studies curriculum with risk management and compliance skills | Pennsylvania | Online |
What Is an Online Master of Legal Studies in Business Law?
An online Master of Legal Studies in Business Law is a graduate degree for professionals who need to understand how law affects business decisions but do not plan to become attorneys. Unlike a JD, an MLS, MSL, MJ, or similar non-JD legal studies degree does not prepare graduates to sit for the bar exam or practice law. Instead, it helps students understand the legal frameworks behind contracts, employment policies, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, privacy, finance, risk management, and business operations.
Business law is a broad category. Some programs use the exact phrase “business law,” while others offer closely related tracks in corporate compliance, contract management, risk management, financial compliance, or international business law. For working professionals, those related pathways can be just as relevant as a formal business law concentration, especially if the student’s goal is to move into compliance, operations, procurement, risk, human resources, finance, or corporate policy.
1. Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School offers a 100 percent online Master of Science in Legal Studies program designed specifically for business professionals. The program is a strong fit for professionals whose work involves compliance, risk management, contracts, business deals, human resources, or finance. Cornell’s positioning makes it one of the clearest business-focused legal studies options for nonlawyers who want training from a highly recognized law school.
This program is especially well suited for executives, managers, compliance professionals, contract professionals, HR leaders, and finance professionals who need to work closely with legal teams but do not want to become attorneys.
2. UCLA School of Law
UCLA Law offers a Master of Legal Studies with a Business Law specialization. The specialization is designed for professionals such as executives, investors, real estate professionals, and asset management professionals who need a deeper understanding of the legal side of business. UCLA states that the Business Law specialization is available online, hybrid, and on campus for part-time and full-time MLS students.
UCLA is a strong option for students who want a prestigious law school, a business-focused specialization, and the flexibility to choose among online, hybrid, or campus-based study depending on their schedule and location.
3. Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Arizona State University offers an online Master of Legal Studies with an emphasis in Business Law. ASU describes the program as designed for nonlawyers who want to understand the legal issues companies face and help guide organizations through complex legal environments. The program also emphasizes adaptability in modern business settings, including emerging issues connected to technology and artificial intelligence.
This is one of the strongest matches for students specifically searching for an online MLS in Business Law because the program uses the business law label directly and is built for nonlawyer professionals.
4. Texas A&M University School of Law
Texas A&M University School of Law offers an online MLS in Business Law and Compliance. The program is designed for professionals involved in negotiating, contracting, legal compliance, human resources, or risk assessment and mitigation.
This program stands out because it connects business law to the day-to-day responsibilities many nonlawyers already handle at work. It is a practical option for professionals in corporate operations, compliance, procurement, contracts, HR, and risk management.
5. Wake Forest University School of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law offers a 100 percent online Master of Legal Studies with a Business Law and Compliance track. The program is designed to help professionals understand legal risks, compliance obligations, data privacy, and ethical business practices. Wake Forest also describes the broader online MLS as a 30-credit program for professionals who want legal knowledge they can apply in regulated business settings.
Wake Forest is a good fit for students who want a business law program with a strong compliance orientation and a curriculum built for working professionals.
6. University of Southern California Gould School of Law
USC Gould School of Law offers an online Master of Studies in Law for nonlawyer professionals who want to understand legal and regulatory matters. USC Online also lists law-related graduate certificates in business law, compliance, financial compliance, real estate law, technology and entrepreneurship law, privacy law, and other areas that may complement business-focused legal training.
USC is a strong choice for students who want a flexible online legal studies degree with several business-adjacent certificate options, especially those interested in business law, compliance, real estate, technology, or entrepreneurship.
7. Northeastern University School of Law
Northeastern University School of Law offers an online Master of Legal Studies with a Business Law concentration. The program’s online MLS curriculum is designed for nonlawyer professionals in highly regulated industries, and Northeastern lists concentration options in Business Law, Health Law, Human Resources Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Public Law and Policy. Its Business Law concentration includes topics such as financial transactions, regulation, and global business strategy.
This program is a strong option for students who want business law training with a practical, interdisciplinary orientation and who may want to apply legal knowledge across finance, contracts, regulation, and corporate strategy.
8. University of Pittsburgh School of Law
The University of Pittsburgh School of Law offers an online Master of Studies in Law with multiple specializations, including Corporate Compliance and International Business Law. Pitt describes the online MSL as a 30-credit advanced degree for professionals who want a foundation in U.S. law and legal procedure, with specialization options that can align with business, compliance, and global legal issues.
Pitt is a strong fit for professionals who want a business-oriented legal studies degree but may prefer a corporate compliance or international business law pathway over a general business law track.
9. Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law offers an online Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance for nonlawyers. Fordham describes the program as an online option for professionals who want to advance their knowledge of compliance while studying at a time and location that works with their schedules.
Although Fordham’s online program is framed around corporate compliance rather than general business law, it belongs on this list because corporate compliance is one of the most common business law applications for nonlawyer professionals. It is a strong option for students in regulated industries, financial services, internal audit, corporate governance, or risk management.
10. Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law offers an online Master of Legal Studies that helps students understand legal issues businesses and organizations face, including compliance, risk management, legal research, legal analysis, ethics, and professional standards. Drexel states that its MLS can be completed entirely online and may be customized through concentrations.
Drexel is a good choice for students who want a flexible online MLS with a strong grounding in compliance and organizational risk, even if they do not need a narrowly labeled business law concentration.
Who Should Consider an Online MLS in Business Law?
An online MLS in Business Law may be useful for professionals who regularly work with legal rules, contracts, corporate policies, regulations, or risk but do not want to become lawyers. Common student profiles include compliance professionals, contract managers, HR professionals, operations managers, entrepreneurs, procurement professionals, finance professionals, risk analysts, paralegals, and corporate administrators.
The degree can also be valuable for professionals who serve as a bridge between legal counsel and business teams. In many organizations, nonlawyers are responsible for spotting legal issues early, organizing documents, implementing compliance programs, reviewing contract workflows, or helping executives understand regulatory obligations. A business law-focused MLS can help those professionals communicate more effectively with attorneys and make better-informed decisions.
Common Courses in Business Law MLS Programs
- Business law fundamentals
- Contracts and contract management
- Corporate compliance
- Employment law
- Privacy and cybersecurity law
- Financial regulation
- Risk management
- Corporate governance
- Legal research and writing for nonlawyers
- Negotiation and dispute resolution
- Ethics and professional responsibility
- International business law
MLS vs JD vs LLM
An MLS is a graduate-level legal studies degree for professionals who want to understand the law but do not plan to become attorneys. In business law, an MLS can be useful for people who work with contracts, compliance, corporate policy, employment issues, privacy, risk management, finance, procurement, or business operations. Some schools use related degree names, such as MSL, MJ, or MSLS, but these programs are generally designed for nonlawyers who want practical legal knowledge they can apply in their current field.
A JD is the professional law degree for students who want to become lawyers. JD students study core legal subjects, complete a broader law school curriculum, and typically use the degree to meet educational requirements for bar eligibility. For someone who wants to represent clients, give legal advice as an attorney, or practice business law, corporate law, or another area of law, the JD is the traditional path.
An LLM is usually a post-JD law degree for attorneys who already have a law degree and want advanced training in a specific area of law. In business law, corporate law, tax law, compliance, securities regulation, or international business law, an LLM may help lawyers deepen their expertise or add a specialized credential. It is generally not designed as the first legal degree for nonlawyers.
For business professionals, the right choice depends on the career goal. An MLS is usually the better fit for nonlawyers who want legal knowledge for business, compliance, contracts, HR, risk, or operations roles. A JD is the better fit for students who want to become attorneys. An LLM is usually best for lawyers who already have a JD or another first law degree and want advanced specialization in business law or a related field.
How to Choose the Right Online Business Law Program
Students should start by comparing the curriculum, not just the degree title. Some of the strongest business law programs use labels such as corporate compliance, contract management, risk management, financial compliance, or international business law. These tracks may be more relevant than a general business law label if they match the student’s current role or target career path.
Students should also consider whether the program is fully online, whether it offers synchronous live classes, whether it can be completed part time, and whether the school offers certificates that can be stacked into the master’s degree. Working professionals may also want to compare total credits, tuition, application requirements, employer tuition assistance policies, and whether the program requires any campus visits.
Career Paths for Graduates
An online MLS in Business Law can support a wide range of law-adjacent business careers. It does not make graduates attorneys, but it can strengthen legal literacy for roles that require legal awareness, regulatory judgment, and close collaboration with counsel.
- Compliance officer
- Contracts manager
- Risk management specialist
- Human resources manager
- Corporate policy analyst
- Procurement manager
- Regulatory affairs specialist
- Privacy or data governance professional
- Business operations manager
- Paralegal or legal operations professional
Sources
- American Bar Association – Non-JD and Post-JD Programs by School
- Cornell Law School – MSLS Admissions
- UCLA Law – MLS Specialization: Business Law
- Arizona State University – Online Master of Legal Studies, Business Law Emphasis
- Texas A&M University School of Law – Online MLS in Business Law and Compliance
- Wake Forest University School of Law – Online MLS Business Law and Compliance Track
- USC Gould School of Law – Online Master of Studies in Law
- Northeastern University School of Law – Online MLS Curriculum
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law – Online Master of Studies in Law
- Fordham University School of Law – Online MSL in Corporate Compliance
- Drexel University Kline School of Law – Master of Legal Studies Program