Comments Off on MLS vs. JD vs. LLM: Which Degree Is Right for You?Law can be an exciting and lucrative field, but beyond the high-stakes and high-pressure careers of attorneys, there are many careers that value legal skills and knowledge.
If you’re interested in a career in law, want to work in an industry adjacent to law or your current role intersects with the legal field, there are three graduate degrees that can expand your knowledge and boost your career potential: the Master of Legal Studies (MLS), the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Laws (LLM).
In this article, we break down the various advanced degrees, what to expect when pursuing each and their potential career outcomes.
A Master of Legal Studies is a graduate degree designed for professionals who want to gain a deeper understanding of the law without becoming a practicing lawyer.
“It’s a great degree for those who don’t necessarily want to be lawyers or always work with lawyers, but want that to be part of their professional career,” said Philippe Weiss, Adjunct Professor of Law at the DePaul College of Law.
“If you’re not sure that a JD, a full legal degree, is right for you, an MLS degree and program is a perfect gateway because it allows you to get the exposure to key information and knowledge,” said Professor Weiss. “Think of it as an accelerator in your career as opposed to something that puts you directly and squarely on a legal track.”
An MLS is also ideal for individuals whose work intersects with legal issues or regulatory frameworks, such as law enforcement officers, social workers, policymakers and HR professionals. Managers across all industries can also benefit from earning an MLS, as it can strengthen their ability to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive workplace.
Individuals might also pursue an MLS before their JD to determine their readiness for law school.
“Some folks are interested in pursuing an MLS as a stepstone to a JD,” explained Elizabeth Sheyn Brown, Adjunct Professor of Law in the DePaul College of Law. “The MLS degree provides a really great learning basis for someone who is trying to figure out if they want to move on to law school and take that next professional step.”
At DePaul College of Law, we offer an affordable, part-time Master of Legal Studies program with 100% online coursework. With a balance of interactive live sessions, asynchronous coursework and simulation-based assignments, this program provides students with career-changing legal skills.
What Is a JD?
A Juris Doctor is the degree that aspiring attorneys must earn before being eligible to practice law in the United States.
JD students typically spend three years learning about important cases, the principles of law, legal reasoning, legal writing and how to put legal skills into practice. They also will likely choose a speciality area of the law, such as constitutional law, business law, intellectual property or criminal law.
The JD prepares students to take and pass the bar exam in the state where they intend to practice law.
What Is an LLM?
A Master of Laws is an advanced degree that allows individuals that already have their JD to specialize in a particular area of law. Lawyers who were trained outside of the U.S. may also pursue this degree to take the bar exam (in certain states) or enter into a law-adjacent career in the U.S.
LLM programs offer a more expansive opportunity to study areas such as international law, tax law or intellectual property law. This can bolster an attorney’s expertise and make them more competitive in specific sectors.
LLMs are valuable not only for sharpening legal skills, but also for career advancement. The degree can open doors to teaching positions in law schools, leadership roles in large firms or roles in government or global organizations.
MLS vs. JD vs. LLM: Similarities and Differences
Student Demographics
MLS students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, as this degree can be useful to individuals in many different careers. Students often come from highly regulated fields such as business, healthcare, finance, human resources, government and education. These programs draw students in all stages of their careers, from recent graduates to experienced professionals seeking to broaden their expertise.
JD programs typically attract individuals with similar goals, but students can come from a wide range of backgrounds. Most students enter law school immediately after finishing a bachelor’s degree, but some students may be changing careers or returning to school after gaining work experience in other fields.
LLM students are typically more established in their careers, and they are often ranging from recent law school graduates to mid-career professionals. International lawyers often pursue LLM programs to gain familiarity with U.S. law systems, enabling them to practice here or work with international clients more effectively.
Time Commitment
A full-time MLS program takes about one year to complete, and students can expect to dedicate about 35 to 40 hours per week to their coursework. Part-time options usually take two or more years to complete — for example, DePaul’s online MLS is a part-time program that can be completed in two and a half years (or two years if an individual qualifies for a professional experience waiver). That extra time allows for flexible scheduling, such as online courses or evening classes, so that students can continue working while they pursue their degree.
JD programs typically require three years of full-time study, but there are part-time programs available that take four to five years to complete. JDs are known for intense workloads, with students dedicating 50-60 hours per week to their studies. Also, JD students often participate in extracurricular activities such as law review, internships or clinics.
The time commitment for an LLM is typically one academic year for full-time students, though there are many part-time programs that allow students to earn the degree in two to three years. While LLM workloads are less intensive than law school, students still spend significant time on their studies, including conducting in-depth legal research and writing papers.
Career Outcomes
MLS Career Options
“When considering whether one would take an MLS over a law degree, it really comes down to the kind of role you want to play in your professional career,” said Professor Weiss.
“If you want to be on the operational or management side of an organization, an MLS degree can be enormously valuable because it gives you the foundation you need from a compliance standpoint.”
MLS Job Title
Median Annual Salary
Arbitrator/Mediator
$70,962
Compliance specialist
$75,598
Contracts specialist
$79,288
Corporate social responsibility manager
$76,470
Healthcare administrator
$109,757
Human resources specialist
$67,657
Law enforcement officer
$72,266
Paralegal
$60,660
Policy advisor
$131,235
Source: Lightcast, lightcast.io
Professor Sheyn Brown highlights the demand for legal knowledge across industries: “I think an MLS is a great option for professionals in a variety of industries,” she said. “Nowadays, there’s so much more regulation and legal development that legal skills are really valued across different industries. For example, in the finance industry, real estate, health care, public administration, and other similar types of industries, legal knowledge and skill is a high priority.”
LLM Career Options
LLM graduates typically pursue advanced legal practice, whether their goal is to build their existing law career or to practice in a new jurisdiction. The degree is especially valuable for international lawyers seeking U.S. credentials and JD holders targeting specialized fields such as securities regulation or environmental law.
LLM Job Title
Median Annual Salary
Compliance officer
$77,200
Environmental attorney
$127,200
Foreign legal consultant
$71,400
In-house legal counsel
$140,718
Securities compliance attorney
$157,400
Tax attorney
$151,300
Source: Lightcast, lightcast.io
JD Career Options
Because the Juris Doctor (JD) degree is the traditional path for those who wish to become licensed attorneys and practice law in the United States, it leads most directly to conventional legal practice and courtroom advocacy.
JD Job Title
Median Annual Salary
Attorney
$140,716
Consultant
$99,311
Judge
$148,877
Law professor
$83,568
Lobbyist
$66,856
Source: Lightcast, lightcast.io
Curriculum
MLS curricula provide non-lawyers with a foundational understanding of legal principles and practices that are applicable to various industries.
Core courses cover subjects like legal research, contracts, administrative law and compliance. Students also choose concentration areas and/or electives that align with their career goals in areas like employment, data privacy, healthcare or business. MLS programs often include capstone projects or components of practical experience, where students apply their legal knowledge to real-world situations in their industry.
JD curricula are designed to provide a comprehensive legal education in three years, so they tend to be rigorously structured.
The first year typically focuses on foundational courses, such as torts, civil procedure and criminal law, while the second and third years consist of electives that are relevant for the specializations that students will pursue in their careers.
Aspiring lawyers also complete many hands-on learning experiences during their JDs, such as:
Internships
Externships
Legal clinics
Moot court competitions
Law review
Unlike the broader JD curriculum, an LLM hones in on specialized areas of law. These programs typically include a combination of required courses that build expertise in a specific field with elective courses for even deeper specialization.
Many LLMs also offer options for independent research or a thesis where students are able to conduct an in-depth analysis on a particular legal issue.
Potential Concentrations
Law programs of all kinds offer similar concentrations, but availability depends on the school and the program. For example, DePaul’s Master of Legal Studies offers concentrations in Business Law and Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Law, as well as a general legal studies pathway.
Students should choose their concentrations carefully and base their decisions on how they plan to use their degree. For instance, an individual with an MLS concentrated in business law might work as a business consultant, whereas a JD with the same focus may litigate business cases in court.
Some potential concentrations you can find in MLS, JD or LLM programs include:
Business and corporate law
Criminal law
Cybersecurity, data privacy and information technology
Health law and healthcare compliance
Family law
Intellectual property law
International law
Tax law
About the DePaul College of Law Master of Legal Studies Program
The online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) from the DePaul College of Law provides professionals the knowledge and skills they need to navigate complex legal landscapes, understand legal research and collaborate with legal advisors.
Our curriculum covers essential legal topics such as research and writing, regulatory compliance, negotiation, communication and organizational management. With three concentration options available in data privacy and cybersecurity law, business law and general legal studies, students can tailor their education to their specific interests and career goals.
Courses are taught by dedicated faculty who are working lawyers and renowned legal scholars. They embed interactive learning components into the coursework, including simulation exercises and practice-based assignments, which allow students to hone their skills before applying them to their own workplaces.
Applicants from all backgrounds are welcome; no prior legal experience and no test scores are required to apply. Through our professional experience waiver, students can receive up to six credit hours (out of the 30 required for the degree) based on their relevant work experience, allowing them to earn their degree in a shorter time frame.
Learn more about the online MLS by downloading a brochure, or get started on your application today.
Comments Off on Before You Apply: Four Key Insights on an MLS From a Law ProfessorA Master of Legal Studies (MLS) offers a focused curriculum that can equip you with essential legal research and analysis skills. But is it the right move for you? To help you decide, we’ve asked an experienced law instructor to share her thoughts on the MLS degree.
Anne Hudson is the senior faculty research librarian and an adjunct professor in DePaul’s College of Law, where she teaches courses in legal writing and legal research. She previously worked at the Department of Justice in the environmental enforcement, civil rights and civil case divisions.
Here are Professor Hudson’s four essential insights on MLS programs.
1. A Master of Legal Studies is a specialized degree that’s distinct from a JD, LLM degree or paralegal program.
“An MLS is more academic and in-depth than a paralegal program, as the degree covers how the law influences every aspect of our lives. These programs also spend time discussing the history and development of the law.
“While a Juris Doctor (JD) or a Master of Laws (LLM) prepares students to practice law, an MLS equips students to work in legal roles without becoming practicing attorneys.”
2. Be ready to do a lot of research — it’s a crucial skill for any legal role.
“Legal research is at the foundation of the law. In order to work in the legal field, or even in law-adjacent positions in industries such as health or business, you must be able to find and apply the relevant laws. This requires strong legal research skills.”
3. Artificial intelligence is not going to change the need for skilled legal professionals.
“The law has always impacted the daily lives of American citizens and those seeking legal status, and it always will. Consequently, there will always be a need for individuals who can find and apply the relevant laws to various situations.
“The emergence of search engines like Google — and, more recently, artificial intelligence — has led some to believe technology could replace legal professionals. However, this hasn’t been the case.
“In fact, our evolving legal landscape will increasingly require skilled individuals who can navigate the complexities of technology and its impact on society.”
4. Your professors want you to succeed, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“Reach out to your professors! We can provide you with the information you need, set up meetings with you and offer support and feedback. You should feel comfortable asking to meet with us — we are excited to get to know each of our students.”
Become a Strategic Legal Expert With an MLS From DePaul
If a master of legal studies fits your professional goals, DePaul’s fully online MLS program will prepare you to confidently influence legal decisions at your workplace and effectively engage with complex legal issues in your industry.
Our online MLS degree stands out thanks to our commitment to student success, which includes education and support from leading scholars and professors like Anne Hudson.
We welcome professionals from all fields who want to add career-changing legal skills without earning a JD or becoming an attorney. In recognition of the value of work experience, we offer a waiver that can reduce overall tuition costs. Find out how you can qualify for a professional experience waiver.
Comments Off on Five Quick Legal Writing Tips for Non-LawyersEffective communication is beneficial no matter what industry you work in. For those who work in the legal field, it is essential. Lawyers and other legal professionals know that every word written and arranged must be able to stand up to scrutiny. In fact, there are times when an entire court case can hinge on a comma.
Clear legal writing is so important that the government created an act around it: The 2010 Plain Writing Act requires that federal agencies use clear government communication that the public can understand.
This emphasis on clarity isn’t just a guideline for official agencies; it’s a principle that should guide all writers across all industries. So how do you write more effectively? The first step is understanding who you are writing for.
This article by the American Bar Association (ABA) gives the reader a few questions to ponder about their potential audience:
Who is my reader?
What is my reader’s relationship to me?
Why am I writing this?
Once you have a better understanding of who your audience is and what they want to learn, you can better determine what information to include and how to present it.
In this article, we will cover five legal writing tips for non-lawyers that can be utilized across professions that intersect with the law. These include how to write in an active voice versus a passive voice and why it’s important to physically alter your document before you reread it.
1. Use Simple Verbiage and an Active Voice
Though it’s tempting to use complicated words, writing in plain English tends to be the most effective. Plain English is a communication that provides information in a clean, simple manner. It uses everyday language and avoids technical terms and complex sentence structures. The goal of plain English is to make information accessible to a wide range of readers, no matter their expertise or background.
“Be mindful of your audience and use the appropriate tone when communicating with others,” advises Anne Hudson, adjunct faculty and senior faculty research librarian at DePaul College of Law. “That will set the stage for whatever specific document you are producing.”
Keep clarity in mind when evaluating word choice and do not include unnecessary adjectives and adverbs.
In addition, it is important to write in an active voice versus a passive voice. An active voice begins with the subject followed by the verb and the object. For example, Jack played basketball is an active sentence. A passive voice begins with the object and ends with the subject. Basketball was played by Jack is a passive sentence. An active writing voice is more clear and confident.
2. Make Easy Transitions From One Idea to the Next
A document often includes a number of different ideas. It is important to be able to connect these ideas with simple transitions. One way to do this is by using connector words and phrases, which serve as guideposts for your readers. These words and phrases fall into different categories.
Connector words like “but” and “although” show how the next idea is different from the first idea. The connector phrase “for that same reason” lets your reader know that the next idea corresponds with the first one. And a connector phrase like “in addition” tells your reader that you are going to add on to the original idea.
Writing short sentences is another way to make your writing clearer. Short sentences allow your readers to process one idea at a time. If you need inspiration to write clearly, look no further than from business magnate and investor Warren Buffet, who is lauded for his succinct and accessible writing style on financial briefs.
3. Stand By Your Work (and Stop Using Modal Words)
Lawyers must establish credibility through their words. If a lawyer leans on words that make them sound uncertain or even evasive, they risk undermining their position in a negotiation, argument or legal dispute. They need to make sure their words are as decisive as possible.
Words like “might,” “maybe,” “perhaps,” and “can” are called modal words. They signal that other possibilities or insights are possible. While there are situations that require ambiguity, using more definite language makes you come across as confident and decisive. It also makes it clear that you stand by your statements and ideas.
The use of modal words is not always bad—there are times when you will need to express possibility, conditional situations or even uncertainty (see our tip on understanding your audience). The key is to use modal words judiciously.
4. Read Your Work Again and Again
In her book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, author Anne Lamott devotes a whole chapter to the necessity of writing less-than-stellar first drafts. When you first put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) it’s easy to get excited about a concept and to miss words or fail to make connections between ideas. For these reasons, rereading your work is vital.
The first step to gaining clarity is to take some time away from what you’ve written. This allows you to see your project with fresh eyes.
Next, change the document visually to trick your mind into thinking someone else wrote it. When you’ve been working on a piece for a long time, your mind will fill in words that are missing on the page. In order to read the document as something new, consider doing the following:
– Print out the document instead of reading it on screen
– Use a different type of font
– Change the color of the current font
By making small visual changes to the document, your mind responds as it would to someone else’s work, which gives you a better chance of catching small mistakes.
Another way to review your work is by reading it out loud. You can do this yourself or by using a text-to-speech feature. Seeing a sentence on a page and hearing it spoken will change your perception of the writing. You will hear how your words flow in a way that you couldn’t get just by reading them in your head.
5. Practice to Improve
“The only way to improve your legal writing or any kind of writing is to keep doing it.”–Julie Schrager, legal writing coach at Schiff Hardin LLP, 10 Tips For Better Legal Writing
Whether you want to improve your basketball game or you want to become proficient at playing the oboe, the same advice applies: practice.
Use the tips throughout this article when writing your next document, and remember that it takes time to change a habit. Give yourself the opportunity to concentrate on updating one or two things, like simplifying your words or writing clearer transitions. Once you feel comfortable with a new aspect of writing, you can incorporate an additional suggestion.
About the DePaul College of Law Master of Legal Studies Program
The online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) from the DePaul College of Law provides professionals the knowledge and skills they need to navigate complex legal landscapes, understand legal research and collaborate with legal advisors.
Our curriculum covers essential legal topics such as research and writing, regulatory compliance, negotiation, communication and organizational management. With three concentration options available in data privacy and cybersecurity law, business law and general legal studies, students can tailor their education to their specific interests and career goals.
Courses are taught by dedicated faculty who are working lawyers and renowned legal scholars. They embed interactive learning components into the coursework, including simulation exercises and practice-based assignments, which allow students to hone their skills before applying them to their own workplaces.
Applicants from all backgrounds are welcome; no prior legal experience and no test scores are required to apply. Through our professional experience waiver, students can receive up to six credit hours (out of the 30 required for the degree) based on their relevant work experience, allowing them to earn their degree in a shorter time frame.
Learn more about the online MLS by downloading a brochure, or get started on your application today.
Comments Off on Why Understanding the Law Makes You a Better Manager Managers have an essential responsibility to create a safe, equitable and welcoming workplace for their employees. With the global talent shortage at a 16-year high, managers face increased pressure to maintain an environment that retains staff and attracts new talent.
In this fast-paced and highly dynamic employment landscape, business law offers a reliable framework for managers to make better-informed decisions that build trust among employees and prioritize stability at an organization.
“It is a business imperative for today’s leaders to have a working knowledge of labor and employment laws to ensure they make optimal decisions while minimizing and mitigating risks,” says Elizabeth Sheyn Brown, JD, who is general counsel and chief administrative officer at CSC Generation Holdings and an adjunct professor in the DePaul College of Law.
A foundational knowledge of the law empowers you as a manager to navigate legal complexities, mitigate risks and resolve conflicts effectively. At the same time, it can empower you to promote a work environment that makes employees feel respected and more inspired to produce innovative work.
Brown understands this first-hand: “As someone who has provided outside and in-house counsel for business leaders and companies, I have personally seen how having such knowledge helped them (and their companies) succeed—and how the lack of such knowledge caused negative financial [repercussions] and other impacts.”
How Legal Knowledge Helps Build Stronger Work Environments
“Business leaders who understand core employment laws can more confidently and safely manage others, face fewer lawsuits and experience a faster advancement trajectory,” said Philippe Weiss, JD, who is president of Seyfarth at Work and adjunct professor in the DePaul College of Law.
Weiss highlighted three pivotal areas where employment law expertise can have a transformative impact for managers:
Recognizing boundaries—By understanding the most recent equal employment opportunity laws, you can stay within the guardrails and delineate between risky and appropriate decisions or interactions.
Responding in the moment—Learning effective strategies for addressing potential discrimination, misconduct, safety lapses or accommodation difficulties empowers you to skillfully handle complaints and concerns in a legal and supportive manner, without overreacting, underreacting or compromising legal integrity.
Reducing complex laws to simple, actionable management—There are hundreds of overlapping local, state and federal employment laws that are subject to change within the current employee climate. Managers who can translate these regulations into consistent management decisions will create fairer and more transparent workplaces.
Managerial consistency is key. When managers demonstrate a reliable and uniform approach to applying policies, employees understand what is expected of them, leading to increased trust and a more stable work environment.
As a result, team members are more likely to produce innovative work that drives positive growth within the organization. In fact, a Gartner survey found that employees who perceived their work experiences as more fair improved their performance by 26%, and employee retention increased by 27%.
Prioritizing Safety for a Harm-Free Workplace
Beyond a stable environment, a workplace must also be a safe one. Managers who are careless or inconsistent in following safety regulations will find themselves at risk for lawsuits or, worse, risk physical or mental harm to their employees.
Nearly every U.S. workplace must comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), whose standards are designed to protect workers from hazards and to create safe and healthy workplaces. Beyond OSHA, many industries must follow additional regulations specific to their area of work, such as communicating about hazardous materials, reducing noise exposure or having an emergency action plan ready to go.
Knowing and following these safety laws is not just a matter of compliance, but a responsibility with vital consequences.
Embracing Fairness by Effectively Handling Complaints
Even among the best of teams, conflicts are inevitable in spaces where people work closely together. Knowing labor laws will help you address concerns effectively; thinking like a lawyer can guide your approach:
Analyze the facts: Examine the details of the conflict, gathering relevant information to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
Evaluate the legal implications: Consider how employment laws plus your company’s policies and regulations may apply, assessing the potential legal ramifications of the conflict.
Apply problem-solving skills: Utilize critical thinking to find fair solutions that reconcile conflicting interests while staying within legal boundaries.
Communicate effectively: Communicate clearly, using precise language and maintaining a professional tone to address the conflict and advocate for appropriate resolutions.
This is especially important if a manager must handle harassment or discrimination complaints under the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC oversees the laws that make it illegal to discriminate because of a person’s race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. EEOC complaints are serious matters, and managers must ensure a fair and unbiased investigation.
The best managers do more than respond approximately to complaints—they actively cultivate a work environment where such issues are less likely to occur in the first place. Drawing on their knowledge of employment and anti-discrimination laws, these managers proactively implement preventive measures such as comprehensive training programs, clear communication channels, and strong anti-discrimination policies. They show, not just state, that their organization values respect and diversity.
Preparing for Team Member Leave and Accommodation Requests
Every manager needs to be prepared for requests under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Knowing the nuances of these laws makes it easier for managers to handle leave requests in a way that respects their employees’ rights while minimizing disruptions to their organization’s operations.
Under the FMLA, eligible employees are entitled to take unpaid leave for qualifying medical reasons, including the birth or adoption of a child, serious health conditions or to care for family members. The ADA meanwhile requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to help individuals with disabilities perform their job duties and to ensure that they have equal access to employment benefits and privileges.
For either type of request, managers need to engage in open communication with the employee, as well as with departments such as human resources. The manager should be ready to present options for reasonable accommodation options, know what resources are available to help and be able to communicate these options to the requestor and to the larger team.
Managers who possess a fundamental understanding of FMLA and ADA laws are better equipped to create solutions that not only meet legal obligations but also truly take into consideration the well-being of their employees.
How Knowing Business Law Can Advance Your Career
So far, we have delved into how legal knowledge empowers you as a manager to support your employees and benefit your employer. However, these skills can also have a lasting influence on your own professional growth and career advancement.
“Regardless of one’s profession or industry, the ability to personalize and target legal policy messages, confidently partner with attorneys and guide others towards compliance best practices all serve as powerful professional differentiators,” says Professor Weiss.
Besides the knowledge you add, legal training can improve your practical abilities to:
Communicate complex ideas clearly while also bridging the gap between legal professionals and nonlawyers.
Negotiate with confidence so that you can navigate contract discussions and secure more favorable positions.
Think with an analytical mindset, enabling you to approach problems methodically and arrive at informed decisions.
Be a stronger advocate, both for your own positions and for your team’s needs, so that everyone’s voice is heard.
An excellent way to add these skills is through a comprehensive legal education program that provides opportunities to practice negotiation, communication and more in a supportive environment.
The Role of a Master of Legal Studies in Effective Leadership
“Completing an online master of legal studies (MLS) program helps students expand their business and legal knowledge, which positions them to effectively work cross-functionally and to take on increasingly more senior and/or legal adjacent roles,” says Professor Brown.
For those who want to learn about the law, but do not plan to practice, a master of legal studies is an ideal option. Designed for professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, an MLS degree focuses on a basic understanding of the law and building crucial legal skills. Courses cover topics such as regulatory compliance, negotiation and communication, legal research and writing.
Managers should look for MLS curricula that include courses specific to law and organizational management. Some, like the online Master of Legal Studies from the DePaul College of Law, may even provide a concentration in business law that allow students to further tailor the degree to what business leaders need to know.
Also, look for a program that includes opportunities to practice skills within a collaborative environment. For example, in Professor Weiss’s “Communication and Negotiation” course, students and their peers engage in dynamic role-playing and other synchronous group activities to hone their skills in responding to workplace challenges.
“In order to credibly ‘talk the law’ within their organizations, our students engage in a series of small-group exercises built around realistic discrimination, transactional, government and general compliance situations,” he explained. Students also get the chance to practice serving as “compliance translators” and, over the term, their coursework contributes to a communications roadmap that they can integrate into their own managerial practices.
“Managers will have acquired the tools, skills and concepts to better cultivate a welcoming and safe environment, encourage innovative work, and position themselves as multi-faceted leaders,” says Weiss.
About the DePaul College of Law Master of Legal Studies Program
The online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) from the DePaul College of Law provides professionals the knowledge and skills they need to navigate complex legal landscapes, understand legal research and collaborate with legal advisors.
Our curriculum covers essential legal topics such as research and writing, regulatory compliance, negotiation, communication and organizational management. With three concentration options available in data privacy and cybersecurity law, business law and general legal studies, students can tailor their education to their specific interests and career goals.
Courses are taught by dedicated faculty who are working lawyers and renowned legal scholars. They embed interactive learning components into the coursework, including simulation exercises and practice-based assignments, which allow students to hone their skills before applying them to their own workplaces.
Applicants from all backgrounds are welcome; no prior legal experience and no test scores are required to apply. Through our professional experience waiver, students can receive up to six credit hours (out of the 30 required for the degree) based on their relevant work experience, allowing them to earn their degree in a shorter time frame.
Learn more about the online MLS by downloading a brochure, or get started on your application today.
Law can be an exciting and lucrative field, but beyond the high-stakes and high-pressure careers of attorneys, there are many careers that value legal skills and knowledge.
If you’re interested in a career in law, want to work in an industry adjacent to law or your current role intersects with the legal field, there are three graduate degrees that can expand your knowledge and boost your career potential: the Master of Legal Studies (MLS), the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Laws (LLM).
In this article, we break down the various advanced degrees, what to expect when pursuing each and their potential career outcomes.
A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) offers a focused curriculum that can equip you with essential legal research and analysis skills. But is it the right move for you? To help you decide, we’ve asked an experienced law instructor to share her thoughts on the MLS degree.
Anne Hudson is the senior faculty research librarian and an adjunct professor in DePaul’s College of Law, where she teaches courses in legal writing and legal research. She previously worked at the Department of Justice in the environmental enforcement, civil rights and civil case divisions.
Here are Professor Hudson’s four essential insights on MLS programs.
1. A Master of Legal Studies is a specialized degree that’s distinct from a JD, LLM degree or paralegal program.
“An MLS is more academic and in-depth than a paralegal program, as the degree covers how the law influences every aspect of our lives. These programs also spend time discussing the history and development of the law.
“While a Juris Doctor (JD) or a Master of Laws (LLM) prepares students to practice law, an MLS equips students to work in legal roles without becoming practicing attorneys.”
2. Be ready to do a lot of research — it’s a crucial skill for any legal role.
“Legal research is at the foundation of the law. In order to work in the legal field, or even in law-adjacent positions in industries such as health or business, you must be able to find and apply the relevant laws. This requires strong legal research skills.”
3. Artificial intelligence is not going to change the need for skilled legal professionals.
“The law has always impacted the daily lives of American citizens and those seeking legal status, and it always will. Consequently, there will always be a need for individuals who can find and apply the relevant laws to various situations.
“The emergence of search engines like Google — and, more recently, artificial intelligence — has led some to believe technology could replace legal professionals. However, this hasn’t been the case.
“In fact, our evolving legal landscape will increasingly require skilled individuals who can navigate the complexities of technology and its impact on society.”
4. Your professors want you to succeed, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“Reach out to your professors! We can provide you with the information you need, set up meetings with you and offer support and feedback. You should feel comfortable asking to meet with us — we are excited to get to know each of our students.”
Effective communication is beneficial no matter what industry you work in. For those who work in the legal field, it is essential. Lawyers and other legal professionals know that every word written and arranged must be able to stand up to scrutiny. In fact, there are times when an entire court case can hinge on a comma.
Clear legal writing is so important that the government created an act around it: The 2010 Plain Writing Act requires that federal agencies use clear government communication that the public can understand.
This emphasis on clarity isn’t just a guideline for official agencies; it’s a principle that should guide all writers across all industries. So how do you write more effectively? The first step is understanding who you are writing for.
This article by the American Bar Association (ABA) gives the reader a few questions to ponder about their potential audience:
Managers have an essential responsibility to create a safe, equitable and welcoming workplace for their employees. With the global talent shortage at a 16-year high, managers face increased pressure to maintain an environment that retains staff and attracts new talent.
In this fast-paced and highly dynamic employment landscape, business law offers a reliable framework for managers to make better-informed decisions that build trust among employees and prioritize stability at an organization.
“It is a business imperative for today’s leaders to have a working knowledge of labor and employment laws to ensure they make optimal decisions while minimizing and mitigating risks,” says Elizabeth Sheyn Brown, JD, who is general counsel and chief administrative officer at CSC Generation Holdings and an adjunct professor in the DePaul College of Law.
A foundational knowledge of the law empowers you as a manager to navigate legal complexities, mitigate risks and resolve conflicts effectively. At the same time, it can empower you to promote a work environment that makes employees feel respected and more inspired to produce innovative work.
Brown understands this first-hand: “As someone who has provided outside and in-house counsel for business leaders and companies, I have personally seen how having such knowledge helped them (and their companies) succeed—and how the lack of such knowledge caused negative financial [repercussions] and other impacts.”