Master in the Study of Law: Conflict Resolution Concentration

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The Master in the Study of Law (MSL) program is consistent with Hamline’s mission as an urban liberal arts university and extends important benefits of a legal education, including critical thinking, advocacy, and problem solving to students who are not enrolled in a J.D. program.

The typical MSL student is a professional who is currently working or has worked in any number of disciplines who believes he/she would benefit from understanding legal principles and the American legal system, but does not want to attend three years of law school in order to earn the J.D. degree and obtain a law license. Students might come from areas such as business, human resources, health care, journalism, real estate, government agencies, and NGOs and have experienced situations where understanding basic legal principles would add value to their current employment. The MSL degree offers students a rigorous, integrated approach to legal education by immersing them in the “culture of law” and enabling them to be sophisticated consumers of legal advice and information. Students gain a nuanced understanding of how their work affects and is affected by the American legal system, while receiving training in practical dispute resolution and problem-solving tools applicable in all work environments.

MSL Degree Requirements (30 credits and 2.0 GPA):

Foundations in Law (11 credits):

Foundations in Problem-Solving (4 credits)

Conflict Resolution Concentration (12 credits)

Capstone (3 credits)

LGST 8495 - Capstone

Note

This program is not approved by the American Bar Association for training paralegals and does not qualify recipients for the practice of law. MSL credits are not transferable to a JD program, should a student decide to pursue a JD after completing MSL courses. Find out more about Hamline’s Paralegal Certificate or practice law with a Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

MSL Application Requirements:

Completed application.
Official transcript from all colleges attended. You must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S., with a GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or a comparable degree from an officially recognized college or university outside of the U.S.
You can submit a graduate admission test score (e.g., GMAT, GRE, or LSAT) or narrative explaining at least two years applicable professional experience.
Personal statement - The 2 to 3 double-spaced page statement should address the reasons you have elected to pursue an MSL degree in general and why specifically at Hamline. You should also comment on your professional plans following completion of the degree. The committee weighs this statement heavily in the decision-making process and also considers it a writing sample.
Résumé.
Two letters of recommendation are required (no more than three will be accepted). If you received your baccalaureate degree more than two years prior to applying to the MSL program, you may seek recommendations from a supervisor or someone who is familiar with your professional abilities, and applied knowledge and skills. We strongly discourage you from seeking recommendations from personal contacts or relatives.
If English is not your native language, you must submit evidence that you possess a sufficient level of English to undertake graduate studies at Hamline University. You can demonstrate your English proficiency in one of the following ways: 1) A minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 600 (paper-based format), 250 (computer-based) or 100 (iBT); or 2) A minimum score of 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or 3) A minimum score of 90 on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). Please note: Scores more than two years old are not accepted.

The admission committee reviews applications and renders admission decisions approximately three to four weeks after receipt of a completed application file. We highly suggest that you apply by December 1 for the Spring semester and by July 1 for the Fall semester. This will allow for adequate placement in courses and for timely completion of the financial aid process.

State Eligibility

Hamline University, like all higher education institutions, must follow individual state regulations before enrolling students outside of Minnesota in its online programs. Hamline can enroll students residing in most states, but please confirm whether your state is among the eligible states.