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    Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin

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  providing a highly-nuanced understanding of how the law and legal system impact your work. All courses are available online.

Graduate students who have already earned a paralegal degree or certificate from an ABA-approved paralegal program in the past ten years can earn the master’s degree in only 22 credits. Please see the program website or contact Hamline’s legal studies department 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.

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)


Electives (12 credits):


After completing the 5 Core Legal and Paralegal Certificate courses, you may choose any 12 credits of electives from any of the following courses. If possible, you should choose one course in each of the areas below to give you a breadth of general understanding in the language of law and legal procedure, however, you may choose the 12 credits that best fit your schedule and your own personal and educational goals.

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.

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