Master of Legal Studies
The Master of Legal Studies program is an online academic program offered through WVU Extended Learning and based in the Department of Public Administration. The Department is part of the larger Eberly College of Arts & Sciences.
Career Opportunities
What can I do with a Master of Legal Studies?
Program Requirements
Admission Process
FAQ
The MLS graduate program is designed for professionals practicing in areas such as human relations, criminal and juvenile justice, the court system (including magistrates and probation officers), journalism, social work, regulatory agencies, county and municipal government, business, and other professionals who work with, though not necessarily in, the legal system. This is neither a “pre-law” program nor a paralegal program. It does not prepare graduates to practice law.
This program operates in a cohort model. Cohorts are admitted in the spring and fall terms.
MLS students become part of the greater West Virginia University community. As graduate students in the Department of Public Administration, students have access to all University libraries, facilities, and services, with the added flexibility an online program offers.
The program is administered by the Program Director Nancy Adams, under the oversight of the chair of the Department of Public Administration.
For more information please contact Erin Estell at 304-293-7977, or join an on-site or online Extended Learning Information Session.
What can I do with a Master of Legal Studies?
There is no simple answer to this question. The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program is designed to help mid-career professionals gain a greater understanding of the American legal system in order to assist those who need to work with, but not necessarily in, this system. Within this context, the goal of the MLS program at WVU is to prepare students to advance in their current career fields or to confidently venture into other professional endeavors.
If you enjoy your chosen field, then an MLS can broaden your knowledge base and help prepare you for advancement. If you are looking to change career paths, then an MLS can open a world of opportunities to you. Our graduates have gone on to establish, or move ahead in, careers in a variety of areas. Some of these include:
- Human Services
- Child Protective Services
- Court Administration (including Probation Officers)
- Quality Assurance Programs
- Regulatory Agencies
- Criminal Justice
- Juvenile Justice
- Healthcare Administration
Graduate education involves a high degree of motivation and desire. What any student can do with an MLS degree centers around individual goals, choices, and career planning. In the Master of Legal Studies program we stand ready and able to assist prospective students with structuring these goals.
In addition, MLS students become part of the greater West Virginia University community. As graduate students in the Division of Public Administration students have access to University libraries, facilities, and services (like the Career Services Center) the same as an on-campus student. The MLS program will assist students in taking advantage of these services. It is our goal to provide for a positive educational experience that will prepare students for their place in the professional world.
Please feel free to contact the program office if you would like additional information about the Master of Legal Studies and related career fields.
Career Opportunities
Graduate education involves a high degree of motivation and desire. What any student can do with an MLS degree centers around individual goals, choices, and career planning. In the Master of Legal Studies program we stand ready and able to assist prospective students with structuring these goals.
If you enjoy your chosen field, then an MLS can broaden your knowledge base and help prepare you for advancement. If you are looking to change career paths, then an MLS can open a world of opportunities to you. Our graduates have gone on to establish, or move ahead in, careers in a variety of areas. Some of these include:
- Human Services
- Child Protective Services
- Court Administration (including Probation Officers)
- Quality Assurance Programs
- Regulatory Agencies
- Criminal Justice
- Juvenile Justice
- Healthcare Administration