Legal Studies, Experiential Concentration, MLS

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The Master of Legal Studies, MLS allows students to gain practical legal knowledge and skills without pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD). Students learn legal analysis, research, and writing while building expertise relevant to careers in business, technology, compliance, law enforcement, and public service. Students can choose between a part-time or full-time option for the standard MLS.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of fundamental legal concepts and their practical application across diverse professional settings, enabling them to identify legal issues and contribute informed perspectives to organizational decision-making.
Graduates will be able to identify relevant legal issues, apply legal principles to factual situations, and develop reasoned approaches to problems within their professional roles.
Graduates will be able to conduct targeted legal research appropriate to their professional needs, assess the relevance and authority of legal sources, and synthesize information to support decision-making.
Through concentration coursework and capstone or externship experiences, graduates will develop the capacity to work independently on legal issues within their fields, exercise professional judgment, and maintain standards appropriate to their professional contexts.
Graduates will be able to explain legal concepts clearly to both legal and non-legal audiences, prepare documents that incorporate legal analysis, and present legal information persuasively in professional settings.
Graduates will understand the ethical implications of legal decisions, recognize conflicts between legal requirements and organizational goals, and make informed choices that reflect professional integrity.
Graduates will demonstrate awareness of how legal principles intersect with diverse populations and perspectives, recognize opportunities to advance equity through their professional roles, and work effectively across different contexts and communities.

Major Requirements (32 units)

The Master of Legal Studies, Experiential Concentration, MLS is a full-time program with enhanced professional development through the School of Law’s externship program. Students in the Experiential Concentration complete the same foundation courses and coursework (24 units) as the standard MLS, then add an 8-unit externship for a total of 32 units.

Required Courses (6 units)

Master of Legal Studies (MLS) students must complete 6 required units. Students will complete these courses during undergraduate studies at USF (Accelerated Pathway) or prior to beginning in-residence coursework (Standalone Pathway). In addition to the courses below, students are required to complete a short orientation module (Professional Foundations Workshop).

LAW 575 - Foundations of US Law
LAW 580 - Principles of Legal Writing

Track Electives (12 units)

MLS students are required to take 12 units of electives in a subject matter track or they can choose a track.

Available Tracks:

General
Business and Corporate Law
AI and Emerging Technology Law
Privacy & Intellectual Property Law
Criminal Justice and Policy
Environmental and Energy Law
Immigration Law
Labor & Employment Law

Capstone Project (2 units)

The capstone requirement can be completed through a seminar with faculty supervision or an externship with supervision of the Director of Externship Programs and will culminate in either a legal research project, applied fieldwork or practicum, or policy or regulatory analysis paper.

Electives (4 units)

Students can choose from available MLS track electives courses for the final 4 units of electives.

Externship Program (8 units)

Externship units can be integrated into Semesters 1-2 OR completed after coursework in the final semester). Enrollment in an externship course is dependent on approval by the Director of Externship Programs.