Master’s in legal studies · Standalone law qualification
Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
University of Chicago Law School · Chicago, Illinois, United States
Currently offered, next intake unconfirmed
- Award
- Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
- Subject
- Legal theory
- Format
- On campusone-year; 27 credit hours
- Price
- Not published
About this program
One-year non-JD degree for PhD students and established scholars who want legal training for their research; 27 credit hours chosen with a faculty advisor.
- School and department
- University of Chicago Law School
- Subject or specialization
- Legal theoryRecorded only where the official program page names it as a focus, not for individual modules.
- Teaching language
- English
Qualification and recognition
- Qualification
- Master’s in legal studies
- Purpose
- Designed for nonlawyersDesigned for people who do not intend to practise law, as the provider describes it.
- Exact award
- Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
- Credential type
- DegreeA degree awarded by a degree-granting institution.
- Academic credit
- Credit-bearing
- Awarding institution
- Not stated on the pages we checked
- Access and price model
- PaidPaid enrolment.
Professional eligibility must be confirmed with the relevant regulator. Where an official source has been recorded for a jurisdiction, see professional pathways. Academic recognition is not professional recognition.
Verified in official recordAmerican Bar AssociationProgram approval
Scope: J.D. program (Council-approved law school)
Verified in official recordHigher Learning CommissionAccreditation
Reference: Accredited since 01/01/1913
Scope: Institutional accreditation of the parent institution, University of Chicago (IPEDS ID 144050); the law school is part of it
Structure and schedule
- Duration
- one-year; 27 credit hours
- Delivery
- On campusTaught at the listed campus.
- Physical attendance
- Regular physical attendance
- Schedule
- Not published
- Required components (internships, residencies, exams, visits)
- In residence like JD students.Shown separately from the teaching duration.
- Teaching location
- Hyde Park campus1111 East 60th Street
Admissions, prerequisites and intakes
- Prior law degree
- Not stated
- Prior degree
- Not stated
- Work experience
- Not stated
- Admission test
- Not stated
Stated audience: Researchers, Nonlawyers. Audience tags are recorded only where the official page says who the program is for.
- International applicants
- Not confirmed
Fees
Original currency is authoritative. Each fee keeps its basis (per term, per year, per credit, whole program) and the academic year it applies to and is never converted or added up for you.
Tuition is not published on the pages we checked. That does not mean the program is free: ask the institution for current fees, equipment costs and any deposit or refund terms.
Funding
MLS tuition scholarship Scholarship
Guaranteed for eligible students · full tuition charges covered and competitive stipends for living expenses
Sources and verification
Not published on the program’s source pages: price, prerequisites, schedule, dated intake or deadline.
Sources and how this was checked
Last checked 1 November 2026. Each fact carries a verbatim quote that is re-checked against the live page. Research methodology.
Sources (checked 1 November 2026)