A new, online master’s degree from SMU Dedman School of Law is aimed at helping non-lawyers better understand the legal system, improve their negotiation and communication skills, and enhance their ability to navigate complex regulatory issues. Professionals working in business, compliance, sports, human resources and criminal justice will gain key skills that will advance their career.
The Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) program, which will be offered beginning in the fall semester of 2025, focuses on relevant skills that are needed for those who deal with legal issues at work, with the benefit of being more affordable and less time consuming than an M.B.A. or J.D. program.
Cara Foos Pierce (’02), who serves as director of the Master of Legal Studies program and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, said the new degree program was launched to meet the needs of students who want to be prepared for today’s increasingly complex business, sports and criminal justice environments.
“Innovative degree programs like the Master of Legal Studies help provide students with the analysis and problem-solving skills they need to set themselves apart,” she said. “Whether they’re dealing with complex negotiations, regulatory challenges, or ethical dilemmas, the ability to dissect problems and propose solutions is enhanced through legal study.”
The new graduate program will provide students with highly versatile skills and knowledge that can be applied to a wide range of roles across industries. Students may follow a general course of study or choose one of five concentrations:
- Business, which was created for current and aspiring managers working in industries like finance, insurance, consulting, real estate and marketing.
- Compliance, which provides legal knowledge to professionals working in highly regulated industries and anyone whose role deals with compliance, ethics, blockchain and international trade.
- Sports, which was developed for those who want to work in the sports industry, especially as sports agents. Courses in this concentration cover sports law, labor law, NIL, negotiations, trademark and licensing.
- Human resources and employment, which is intended for HR professionals who need a working knowledge of employment law, employment discrimination, contracts and civil law.
- Criminal justice, which is a unique offering that serves law enforcement probation officers, paralegals, legal assistants, victim advocates and court staff seeking career advancement.
The curriculum consists of 12 credits of foundational coursework and 18 credits of electives, culminating in either a capstone project or paper during their last two terms on a topic that is related to the student’s career.
Courses will be offered in the fall, spring and summer, with students taking two, eight-week courses each fall and spring term, progressing one course at a time. The summer term will feature one eight-week course. This schedule allows students to focus on one course at a time without extending the program’s length.
For more information on this new degree offering, visit onlinemasterlegalstudies.smu.edu.
Original source can be found here.