An online Master of Legal Studies in General Legal Studies is designed for professionals seeking a broad foundation in law without committing to a narrow concentration. These programs are generally intended for nonlawyers who want to understand legal systems, regulations, contracts, compliance, policy, risk, and legal reasoning without earning a JD or preparing for the bar exam.
For this ranking, we prioritized online programs offered through law schools, those with a broad legal studies curriculum, those with flexible elective options, and those that can serve working professionals across multiple industries. 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 General Legal Studies Programs
| Rank | School | Degree | General Legal Studies Focus | State | Online Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt Law School | MLS | Broad foundation in American law and legal systems with advanced courses for working professionals | Tennessee | Online |
| 2 | William & Mary Law School | MLS | General legal education for professionals who need legal knowledge across industries | Virginia | Online |
| 3 | Washington University School of Law | MLS | Online degree for nonlawyers focused on U.S. law and the relationship between law and other professional fields | Missouri | Online |
| 4 | American University Washington College of Law | MLS | Core legal skills for nonlawyer professionals with law-related responsibilities | Washington, DC | Online |
| 5 | Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law | MLS | Flexible legal studies curriculum for nonlawyers who want to analyze and apply legal concepts at work | California | Online |
| 6 | Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law | MLS | Broad legal studies program with legal analysis, writing, concepts, and elective options | Arizona | Online |
| 7 | University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law | MLS | General legal studies path with a broad legal foundation and optional concentration areas | Arizona | Online |
| 8 | Seton Hall University School of Law | MLS | General Legal Studies concentration for students who want broad legal knowledge across multiple industries | New Jersey | Online |
| 9 | Wake Forest University School of Law | MLS | Online legal studies degree for professionals who want advanced knowledge of U.S. law and industry regulations | North Carolina | Online |
| 10 | DePaul University College of Law | MLS | General Studies option with practical legal coursework, simulations, and workplace-focused legal skills | Illinois | Online |
What Is an Online Master of Legal Studies in General Legal Studies?
An online Master of Legal Studies in General Legal Studies is a graduate degree for professionals who want to understand the law without becoming 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 how legal rules, regulations, contracts, policies, and legal institutions affect professional decision-making.
General legal studies is usually the broadest version of an MLS degree. Instead of focusing only on one area, such as business law, healthcare law, human resources law, or cybersecurity law, students can build a wider foundation in legal analysis, legal writing, constitutional law, administrative law, contracts, compliance, ethics, dispute resolution, and regulatory systems. This makes the degree useful for professionals who work in law-adjacent roles but do not want to specialize too narrowly.
1. Vanderbilt Law School
Vanderbilt Law School offers an online Master of Legal Studies for nonlawyers who want a deeper understanding of American law and legal systems. The program was created by Vanderbilt Law faculty and emphasizes both foundational legal principles and practical legal knowledge for working professionals.
Vanderbilt is a strong choice for students who want a broad legal studies degree from a highly recognized law school. The program can be especially useful for professionals who need to identify legal issues, work with counsel, understand regulations, and apply legal reasoning in business, government, nonprofit, healthcare, education, or other professional settings.
2. William & Mary Law School
William & Mary Law School offers an online Master of Legal Studies designed to make legal education accessible to professionals across industries. The program is built for students who need legal know-how but do not plan to earn a JD or practice law.
William & Mary is a strong fit for professionals who want a flexible and broadly applicable legal education. Its general legal studies focus can support careers in compliance, policy, contracts, government, business operations, higher education, nonprofit management, and other roles where legal literacy is valuable.
3. Washington University School of Law
Washington University School of Law offers an online Master of Legal Studies for professionals who can benefit from legal training but do not wish to practice as attorneys. The program is designed for nonlawyers and helps students improve their understanding of U.S. law while exploring the relationship between law and other disciplines.
WashU is a strong option for students who want a general legal studies degree from an established law school with a flexible online format. The program is especially relevant for professionals who want to understand how law shapes business, policy, healthcare, government, education, and organizational decision-making.
4. American University Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law offers an online Master of Legal Studies for non-lawyer professionals who have law-related responsibilities. The program emphasizes core legal skills and helps students understand the influence of law in their daily job functions and communities.
American University is a good fit for students who want a broad legal studies program with a strong connection to policy, regulation, government, compliance, and public-facing professional roles. Its location in Washington, DC, also gives the program a natural connection to regulatory and policy-focused legal education.
5. Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law offers an online Master of Legal Studies for non-lawyers who want to develop legal expertise and credentials to advance in their chosen field. The program allows students to analyze and interpret legal concepts so they can make more informed decisions at work.
Pepperdine is a strong option for students who want a flexible general legal studies program with broad professional applications. The curriculum can be useful for students in compliance, business, human resources, nonprofit work, government, education, dispute resolution, and other fields where legal knowledge can improve decision-making.
6. Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Arizona State University offers an online Master of Legal Studies that gives students the opportunity to understand U.S. law without pursuing a full law degree. The program lays a foundation in legal analysis, writing, and legal concepts, while allowing students to choose electives that align with their career goals.
ASU is a strong choice for students who want flexibility and a broad menu of legal study options. Its MLS can work well for professionals who are not sure they want to focus on one legal niche or who want to combine general legal studies with electives in areas such as business, compliance, healthcare, human resources, technology, or policy.
7. University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law offers a Master of Legal Studies that can be pursued online, part-time, or full-time. The program is designed for professionals whose work involves regulations, negotiations, legal issues, agencies, tribal governments, corporations, or working with lawyers.
Arizona is a strong fit for students who want a general legal studies path with the option to pursue a more specialized area later. The program provides a broad legal foundation and also offers concentration options in areas such as compliance and legal risk management, criminal law and policy, environmental law, family and juvenile law, human rights, intellectual property, international trade and business law, and tax law and policy.
8. Seton Hall University School of Law
Seton Hall University School of Law offers an online Master of Legal Studies with a General Legal Studies concentration. The program helps non-attorney professionals develop a foundation in legal analysis and writing while learning how statutes, regulations, and court decisions affect policy and decision-making in different industries.
Seton Hall is a strong option for students who want an online MLS that can remain broad rather than specialized. The General Legal Studies concentration is useful for students who want to explore multiple legal areas or apply legal knowledge across changing professional settings.
9. Wake Forest University School of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law offers a 100 percent online Master of Legal Studies for professionals who want advanced knowledge of U.S. law so they can navigate industry regulations, meet compliance requirements, and advance in their careers. The program is designed for working professionals and includes several tracks and graduate certificate options.
Wake Forest is a good fit for students who want a practical legal education that can apply across industries. Even for students who do not choose a narrow concentration, the program’s emphasis on U.S. law, regulation, and compliance can be useful in business, healthcare, financial services, human resources, nonprofit work, education, and public administration.
10. DePaul University College of Law
DePaul University College of Law offers an online Master of Legal Studies with coursework designed to help students communicate about legal issues, identify legal authority, and apply legal knowledge in professional settings. The online MLS includes required legal studies courses, live sessions, simulation exercises, written assignments, discussion posts, and capstone projects.
DePaul is a strong choice for students who want a practical, skills-based online MLS. Its General Studies option can work well for professionals who want a broad legal foundation rather than a narrowly defined concentration, especially if they want to apply legal reasoning to workplace decisions, risk management, compliance, and organizational strategy.
Who Should Consider an Online MLS in General Legal Studies?
An online MLS in General Legal Studies may be useful for professionals who regularly interact with laws, policies, contracts, regulations, or legal departments but do not want to become attorneys. Common student profiles include compliance professionals, HR professionals, paralegals, contract administrators, government employees, nonprofit professionals, healthcare administrators, business managers, entrepreneurs, policy analysts, and education administrators.
The degree can also be valuable for professionals who are still deciding which area of law is most relevant to their career. A general legal studies program can provide a broad base of legal knowledge before a student chooses electives or certificates in areas such as business law, health law, employment law, privacy law, compliance, intellectual property, or public policy.
Common Courses in General Legal Studies MLS Programs
- Introduction to American law and legal systems
- Legal research and writing
- Legal analysis for nonlawyers
- Contracts
- Administrative law and regulation
- Constitutional law foundations
- Business organizations
- Compliance and risk management
- Employment law
- Ethics and professional responsibility
- Negotiation and dispute resolution
- Privacy and technology 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 general legal studies, an MLS can be useful for people who work with policies, contracts, regulations, compliance programs, employment issues, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, business operations, or law-related decision-making. 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 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. An LLM may help lawyers deepen their expertise in fields such as tax law, business law, health law, international law, intellectual property, or compliance. It is generally not designed as the first legal degree for nonlawyers.
For professionals comparing these options, the right choice depends on the career goal. An MLS is usually the better fit for nonlawyers who want legal knowledge for business, compliance, government, healthcare, HR, policy, education, nonprofit, 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.
How to Choose the Right Online General Legal Studies Program
Students should start by comparing the curriculum, not just the degree title. A strong general legal studies program should provide a foundation in the legal system, legal analysis, legal writing, research, regulation, contracts, and professional ethics. Students who want flexibility should also look for programs that allow electives or certificates across several areas of law.
Students should also consider whether the program is fully online, whether it includes live classes, whether courses are asynchronous, whether it can be completed part time, and whether the school offers academic advising for nonlawyer students. Working professionals may also want to compare total credits, tuition, admissions requirements, employer tuition assistance policies, and whether the program requires any campus visits.
Career Paths for Graduates
An online MLS in General Legal Studies can support a wide range of law-adjacent careers. It does not make graduates attorneys, but it can strengthen legal literacy for roles that require regulatory awareness, policy interpretation, risk management, legal communication, and collaboration with counsel.
- Compliance officer
- Contracts manager
- Human resources specialist or manager
- Policy analyst
- Risk management specialist
- Legal operations professional
- Paralegal or legal support specialist
- Government affairs specialist
- Regulatory affairs specialist
- Healthcare administrator
- Nonprofit program manager
- Business operations manager