Master in the Study of Law (M.S.L.)

An alternative to the traditional three-year J.D. degree, the Master  in the Study of Law (M.S.L.) degree is designed to help accomplished  professionals in other disciplines expand their knowledge of legal  principles and the U.S. legal system. At Ohio State, students in the  M.S.L. program attend self-selected classes along side full-time law  students at one of the country’s top 10 public law schools.

The M.S.L. degree offered by The Ohio State University Moritz  College of Law is designed as a flexible program for people who want to  learn about the law in order to strengthen their professional skills.  Does law crossover into your area of expertise? Would knowing about  certain legal practices, laws and regulations help advance your career?

To receive the M.S.L. degree, a student must satisfactorily complete  30 semester hours at the Moritz College of Law. A full-time student  typically will be able to complete the program in one academic year.  Part-time students generally will be expected to complete the  requirements for the M.S.L. degree within four academic years.

Students will join J.D. candidates in first-year and advanced  courses taught by award-winning professors. The College’s faculty  includes six former U.S. Supreme Court clerks and dozens more have  equally remarkable careers as attorneys and educators.

To provide students with a solid foundation in legal principles and  doctrine, Moritz includes three traditional first-year courses in its  M.S.L. curriculum. Beyond that, students can work with the Faculty  Director to design their own curriculum, or complete a concentration in  one of the following areas:

• Business Law
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Dispute Resolution
• Intellectual Property
• International Law
• Labor and Employment Law