Master in the Study of Law

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Work that involves the legal system touches many professions beyond the immediate practice of law. In fact, every industry must comply with legal rules, regulations, and laws—and those industries all need professionals adept at navigating that legal terrain.

Hamline’s Master in the Study of Law combines the foundational training of an ABA-approved paralegal certificate with specific, in-depth study in a chosen concentration area providing a highly-nuanced understanding of how the law and legal system impact your work. Many courses are available online; contact us for more information.

On completion of the Master in the Study of Law from Hamline, students will be able to:

Demonstrate competence in key foundational areas of U.S. law including mastering knowledge of the structure, components, and functioning of the U.S. legal systems.
Find, synthesize, and explain the reasoning and rules contained in legal authorities and apply them to a variety of legal situations using rule based reasoning.
Master appropriate strategies and technologies to retrieve, use, and manage research materials and digital information effectively and efficiently, including effective legal citation.
Understand and fulfill ethical obligations required of professionals who work in legal environments.
Apply advanced legal knowledge and skills in legal practice experience.
Master the skills and knowledge in a specific area:
- Conflict Resolution
- Litigation Support
- Professional Practice Management
- Social Justice

If a graduate student has earned a paralegal degree or certificate from an ABA-approved paralegal program in the past ten years they can can earn the master’s degree in only 22 credits. In this case students can chose to earn the degree entirely online. Please see the program website or contact Hamline’s legal studies department for more information.

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.

MSL Degree Requirements (34 credits and 2.0 GPA)

Core Legal Courses and Paralegal Certificate (20 credits):

Concentration (12 credits):

Conflict Resolution Concentration

And one of:

Litigation Support Concentration

And one of:

Social Justice Concentration

Choose any three of the following courses:

Professional Practice Management Concentration

Capstone (2 credits):

LGST 8495 - Graduate Legal Capstone

Note

The 20-credit core graduate paralegal certificate is approved by the American Bar Association for training paralegals. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to clients or to the public, except as permitted by law. Neither the paralegal certificate nor the Master in the Study of Law degree qualify the recipient to sit for the bar examination or work as a lawyer.

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 (no fee for U.S. residents).
Official transcripts 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. Transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to Graduate Admission or provided in the original sealed envelope. Transcripts are not required for coursework taken at Hamline University.
You can submit a graduate admission test score (e.g., GMAT, GRE, or LSAT) or narrative explaining at least two years applicable professional experience.
A two-page personal statement detailing: 1) why you are pursuing the Paralegal Certificate at Hamline University, 2) how this program will help you meet your career goals, and 3) any applicable professional and/or educational experience.
Professional résumé.
If you have a GPA of 2.5-2.9, you may still be considered for admission. Please also provide:
- A one- to two-page narrative to help the admissions committee assess your academic history and qualifications, in the context of the high standards for academic performance in our program.
- Two letters of recommendation written by people unrelated to you, who are familiar with your academic and/or professional history and who can accurately assess your potential for successful graduate study. Letters must be sent directly to Graduate Admission by the person writing the recommendation.
English language testing is necessary if English is not your native language. 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.