Master of Legal Studies Curriculum

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s online Master of Legal Studies is a 26-unit program. All students will complete the required courses and residencies. Students can then tailor their learning experience by choosing from an array of elective courses. The courses are taught in six 8-week sessions across the calendar year. Students can typically complete the program in 16–24 months. See sample full and part time course schedules.

Students who desire to broaden their understanding of concepts in law that include business, healthcare, education, and advocacy can complete the general elective courses. Students who would like to hone their focus and gain skills in arbitration and conflict mediation, can pursue the dispute resolution concentration. Students who would like to learn the fundamental legal principles of human resources, including employment law and employee dispute resolution, can pursue a human resources concentration. The online Master of Legal Studies program also enables students to select a blend of both general and dispute resolution elective courses to best meet their academic and professional goals.

The dispute resolution concentration consists of six courses. Three of those courses—Legal Research and Writing for Non-Lawyers, Negotiation Theory and Practice, and Civil Procedure and Litigation—are required core courses. You will also need to take two required concentration courses and choose one elective.

The human resources concentration consists of six courses. Two of those courses—Negotiation Theory and Practice and Contracts—are required core courses. You will also need to take two required concentration courses and choose two electives.

Students in this concentration will 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, non-profit employees, compliance officers, and others.