Pepperdine Online Master of Legal Studies

Be equipped to stand apart, to excel, and to advance in your career. With the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program, you will learn foundational legal concepts and skills to help you perform your best, communicate with knowledge, and lead with confidence.

  • Flexible Online Program—Complete the 26-unit degree in 12 months full time or 24 months part time.
  • No GRE, GMAT, or LSAT Required—At Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, we prioritize your record of aptitude and leadership qualities over test scores.
  • Global Alumni Network—Join a world-wide alumni network (over 60 countries), offering unparalleled opportunities for professional connections and career growth.

12–24 Months

to complete

26 Units

total coursework

Flexible

study options

WSCUC

accreditation

Enhance Your Legal Skills. Advance in Your Field.

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s online Master of Legal Studies program enables nonlawyers to develop superior legal expertise and credentials to advance within their chosen field. Students analyze and interpret legal concepts to make more informed decisions at work and enhance their professional credibility with their partners, clients, constituents, and employers.

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law is an ABA-accredited top-ranked law school.1

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Pepperdine Caruso Law’s online Master of Legal Studies distance education degree program has been granted acquiescence by the American Bar Association (ABA).

The Master of Legal Studies program is designed for professionals seeking legal knowledge and does not prepare graduates to sit for the bar exam or become licensed attorneys.

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Why Earn a Master of Legal Studies Online

As a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) student at Pepperdine, you will develop a concrete understanding of legal principles and their application. You will learn how the U.S. legal system functions and gain practical knowledge applicable to contracts, negotiation, compliance, and daily business operations.

The MLS degree is ideal for HR professionals, entrepreneurs, employees in corporate and non-profit businesses, and those who work alongside lawyers—anyone seeking opportunities to excel and advance in their field.

Application and Admission Process

Classes start in January, May, and September. Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s admissions committee reviews applications on a rolling basis. Students who apply to the online Master of Legal Studies program by the cohort priority deadline will receive an earlier decision and an application fee waiver.

Please contact an enrollment specialist at 844-707-9208 or admissions@onlinelaw.pepperdine.edu before submitting your application in order to receive the application fee waiver and scholarship information.

The final deadline for the January 2027 cohort is November 6, 2026.

What Are the Application Requirements for the Pepperdine Online MLS?

A bachelor’s degree is required for admission. Pepperdine Caruso School of Law does not require GMAT, GRE, or LSAT scores for admission.

Candidates must submit the following materials to be considered for admission:

  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Résumé
  • Video interview

Learn more about application requirements and online law program admissions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for the online Master of Legal Studies program is charged per unit for a total of 26 units.

Students in the Master of Legal Studies program may explore a variety of financial aid resources, including:

  • Employer tuition assistance
  • Federal loan programs
  • Scholarships for eligible students
Tuition ComponentEstimated Cost
Cost Per Unit
$2,680
Total Units
26
Estimated Tuition
$69,680

Tuition and fees are subject to change. Please refer to the tuition and financial aid page for current figures.

Learn more about tuition and financial aid and explore up-to-date figures.

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Master of Legal Studies Online Curriculum

The Master of Legal Studies curriculum focuses on areas of law that touch nearly every industry, including legal research, litigation, regulatory compliance, negotiation, and torts.

The curriculum can be completed in 12 months full time or 24 months part time.

Required Courses

Consisting of 8 units, the required courses provide students with a fundamental understanding of legal concepts and procedures. Courses include:

Elective Courses

You need to complete 8 elective units to satisfy the Master of Legal Studies degree requirements. Courses are selected from a wide variety of offerings, allowing you to customize your curriculum and explore specific areas of law aligned to your professional and personal interests.

Intellectual Property

Explore legal concepts related to trademarks, copyrights, patents, and the protection of intellectual assets in business and creative industries.

Law of Business Organizations

Study the legal structures governing corporations, partnerships, and business operations, including organizational liability and governance.

Health Law

Examine healthcare regulations, patient privacy requirements, and legal considerations impacting healthcare organizations and professionals.

View all elective courses

On-Campus Residencies

You will have the chance to apply legal concepts in real-world situations during two in-person weekend residencies on Pepperdine’s campus in Malibu. During these residencies, you will network with your peers and faculty while completing a 1-credit course and engaging in a variety of case studies and mock trials.

Dual Degree

If you’d like to continue your studies after earning your MLS degree, you will have the option to earn a Master of Dispute Resolution in less time and fewer units than our typical offering. The MDR degree will only require an additional 20 units and will prepare you to artfully negotiate complex transactions and judiciously resolve conflicts between parties.

Learn more about earning an MLS/MDR degree.

Optional Concentrations

You can also choose to focus your MLS degree to meet your career goals by choosing a concentration in dispute resolution, human resources, or litigation.

Dispute Resolution

Hone your legal skills in arbitration and conflict mediation by selecting the dispute resolution concentration. As the need for conflict resolution and negotiation skills increases, a formal educational background in dispute resolution is an optimal choice for many legal professionals.

Dispute resolution courses are taught through Pepperdine Caruso Law’s Straus Institute, ranked #3 law school for dispute resolution by U.S. News & World Report.2

Human Resources

Gain a solid understanding of the legal system and employment law. Through specialized coursework, you will strengthen your ability to accomplish daily responsibilities such as hiring and termination, noncompetition and confidentiality agreements, and salary negotiation.

Litigation

Focus on litigation-specific coursework and build the expertise required for professionals in the legal industry including, but not limited to, managers, paralegals, legal assistants, legal clinic workers, nonprofit employees, compliance officers, and others.

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Learning Outcomes for the Master’s in Legal Studies Online

The online Master of Legal Studies program prepares students to apply their legal knowledge to critical reasoning, written and oral communication, and professional skills.

  • Identify and interpret foundational legal concepts in the areas of substantive law, legal theory, and procedure.
  • Use legal analysis to examine and interpret cases, statutes, and regulations.
  • Define the scope of a legal research question, determine key concepts, and retrieve relevant information using simple search techniques.
  • Describe the fundamental structure and process for how the US legal system works, with emphasis specific to their area of interest.
  • Recognize basic and obvious ethical issues and grasp the complexities or interrelationships among them.

Accessible, Accomplished Faculty

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law faculty combine academic excellence with real-world legal experience, helping you build practical legal knowledge you can apply across industries.

Shelley Ross Saxer

Laure Sudreau Endowed Professor of Law

Caruso School of Law

Topics

  • Land Use
  • Property
  • Environmental Law
  • Social-Ecological Resilience and Sustainability
  • Negotiation
  • Water Law

Biography

Professor Shelley Ross Saxer is a nationally recognized legal scholar whose work focuses on property law, land use, environmental law, and dispute resolution. She has authored multiple legal publications and has extensive experience helping students understand how legal frameworks shape business, policy, and organizational decision-making.

Learn more about Professor Shelley Ross Saxer

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Online Learning Experience

Pepperdine’s online Master of Legal Studies program combines live online classes with modern digital learning tools designed for working professionals.

As a student, you will participate in scheduled synchronous classes that encourage direct interaction with faculty and peers while accessing coursework, assignments, and resources through Pepperdine Canvas, the university’s online learning platform.

The online format allows you to continue working while earning your degree and apply legal concepts directly within your professional environment.

Online Master of Legal Studies Class Profile

Our online Master of Legal Studies program includes students with diverse backgrounds, professional experiences, and viewpoints. These various perspectives improve the classroom experience by creating more nuanced discussion and debate.

Curious to know how students from different backgrounds are leveraging the skills they are learning in our program? View our Student Profiles page.

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Choosing the Right Graduate Degree for Your Goals

When considering a graduate degree, it is important for professionals to think not just about the credentials behind their names but also the skills that will closely align with their goals. Earning an MLS can have similar benefits to earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Juris Doctor (JD), but the MLS degree offers a focused curriculum that prepares students with knowledge of relevant legal concepts that can be used in a variety of roles and industries.

MLS vs. JD vs. MBA

DegreeIntended AudienceCan Practice Law?Typical Focus
MLS
Non-lawyers
No
Legal literacy, compliance, and professional legal knowledge
JD
Aspiring attorneys
Yes
Legal practice and bar preparation
MBA
Business professionals
No
Business leadership and management

Career Opportunities with a Master of Legal Studies Degree

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law students come from various backgrounds and work in diverse industries, and an MLS helps them perform their law-related responsibilities more effectively. With a Master of Legal Studies, you will be better able to interpret legal concepts and understand the law as it relates to your job.

What Can You Do with a Master of Legal Studies Degree?

Professionals with a Master of Legal Studies degree may work in industries where legal knowledge, compliance awareness, negotiation, and regulatory understanding are valuable.

Career PathCommon Work SettingsEstimated Median Annual Salary (2026)
Compliance Manager
Corporate, Finance, Healthcare
$122,9863
Human Resources Manager
Private Industry, Enterprise Organizations
$140,0304
Healthcare Administrator
Hospitals, Clinics, Healthcare Systems
$117,9605

Additional Areas Where MLS Knowledge Can Be Applied

Beyond the roles outlined above, graduates may also apply their legal knowledge in areas such as:

  • Government and public policy
  • Corporate operations
  • Nonprofit leadership
  • Legal support services

Read more about career possibilities with an MLS degree here

FAQs About the Online Master in Legal Studies

  • Yes. As part of the application process, candidates complete a video interview. This is not a live panel with an enrollment specialist; rather, it is an asynchronous, recorded video submission where you respond to pre-set prompts.

  • Yes. The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is a rigorous, graduate-level degree specifically engineered for professionals in a variety of industries to work in law-related roles or on law-adjacent tasks. It is specifically designed for non-lawyers who require advanced legal knowledge without the intention of practicing law.

  • The MLS is widely considered a high-value credential, particularly for professionals operating within highly regulated sectors.

  • Professionals holding an MLS often command strong earning potential, though compensation varies based on industry, location, and function.

  • An MLS is ideal for leaders who must communicate effectively with legal counsel but do not require the licensure to represent clients.

  • You can tailor your MLS degree to your specific career goals by selecting a concentration.

  • An MLS is designed for non-lawyers, while an LLM is intended for individuals who already hold a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

    The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is tailored for professionals who do not intend to become licensed lawyers but require a comprehensive grasp of the law to advance their careers.

  • No. The Master of Legal Studies does not qualify graduates to sit for the bar exam or practice law.

  • No. The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) and Juris Doctor (JD) are distinct degree programs with different curriculums and learning outcomes.

  • No. The LSAT is not required for the Master of Legal Studies program.

  • The program can be completed in as few as 12 months full time or 24 months part time.

  • Yes. Students are required to participate in two in-person residencies totaling 2 units of academic credit.

  • During these mandatory residencies, students engage in hands-on experiential learning and build personal connections that foster professional success.

  • The primary benefit of the online format is the ability to balance rigorous education with your existing professional and personal commitments.

  • Students participate in live, synchronous online classes that encourage direct interaction with faculty and peers.

    Students access coursework, assignments, and academic resources through Pepperdine Canvas, the university’s online learning platform.

Return to footnote reference

Pepperdine University partners with 2U to support the delivery of these online programs. Pepperdine University has full control over the programs, including all core academic functions. Click here to learn more about 2U’s roles and responsibilities.

  1. Pepperdine University Rankings. (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 6 July 2026. ↩︎
  2. Best Dispute Resolution Programs. (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 6 July 2026. ↩︎
  3. Compliance Manager Salary. (2026). Economic Research Institute (ERI). Retrieved 14 July 2026. ↩︎
  4. Human Resources Managers. (2025). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 6 July 2026. ↩︎
  5. Medical and Health Services Managers. (2025). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 6 July 2026. ↩︎