Master in the Study of Law Program

Online program details

Hamline’s master’s degree provides legal education for paralegals, legal specialists, business and industry leaders, compliance experts, and other professionals who want to understand the legal system, but don’t want to practice law.

Core courses (22 credits):

• Foundations in Law (4 credits)
• Legal Writing and Research (4 credits)
• Civil Litigation Survey and Procedure (4 credits)
• Transactions and Contracts in Business (4 credits)
• Regulation in America (4 credits)
• Capstone (2 credits)

Fully online. Core courses have the added component of virtual classes one day per week, 7-8:30 p.m. CST.  

Concentrations and electives (12 credits):

Focus your studies in one of four concentrations to master a unique area of interest that will make you stand apart from the competition. All concentration courses are offered online.

Conflict Resolution

Understand how alternative legal processes and individual communication skills can be used to peacefully and effectively resolve disputes in organizations, communities, and across cultural and other differences.

• Theories of Conflict (2 credits)
• Negotiation (2 credits)
• Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution (2 credits)
• Designing Conflict Systems (2 credits)

and

• Mediation and Arbitration (4 credits); or
• Employment Law (4 credits)

Education Law and Compliance

As more organizations experience pressure to adhere to educational laws, prepare yourself to understand, interpret, and guide compliance in this complex landscape.

• Education Law and Ethics (4 credits)
• Employment Law (4 credits)
• Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution (3 credits)
• Human Relations in Organizations (2 credits)

Litigation Support

Gain advanced knowledge of civil trial practice to work in support roles in law firms, court administration, or jobs in corporations that routinely require litigation preparation and interaction with legal professionals.

• Advanced Litigation Survey (4 credits)
• E-discovery (4 credits)

and one of the following:

• Employment Law (4 credits)
• Family Law (4 credits)
• Mediation and Arbitration (4 credits)

Professional Practice Management

Through a combination of business and legal courses, best understand and navigate the complex business and legal issues facing law firms and other professional practice groups and to lead the business side of those organizations.

• Leading in Organizations (4 credits)
• Data Analytics and Decision Making (4 credits)
• Employment Law (4 credits)

Social Justice

This concentration is for those interested in advocacy roles, activism, and the legal issues that impact individuals and disenfranchised or underrepresented communities.

Choose three courses from the following:

• Family Law (4 credits)
• Immigration Law (4 credits)
• Environmental Law and Justice (4 credits)
• International Human Rights Law (4 credits)
• Employment Law (4 credits)