Photograph: Eagle statue outside law school.

Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.)

Washburn Law's Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) degree is for individuals engaged in professional work who may benefit from formal exposure to the study of law.

Prospective students come from a wide range of parallel professions including

  • accounting
  • business
  • children and family services
  • criminal justice
  • environmental studies
  • government
  • healthcare
  • human resources
  • journalism
  • library services
  • oil and gas
  • real estate development
  • tribal officials

The program provides a legal background that will complement the professional interests of the participants, strengthen their ability to interact effectively with the legal community, and provide professional certification of these accomplishments.

Students in Washburn's Master of Studies in Law program must:

  • Complete an Introduction to Law course and a foundational course (i.e., Civil Procedure I, Constitutional Law I, Contracts I, Criminal Law, Property, Torts) at the beginning of their M.S.L. studies.
  • Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved work within the individualized professional pathway determined on the basis of the student’s professional background and career goals.
  • Complete all such credit hours within four calendar years beginning with the first semester after enrollment.

Applications are being accepted.

Short URL for this page:
http://washburnlaw.edu/msl

Faculty Member
Photograph: Emily Grant.

Emily Grant
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law

M.S.L. Program Notes

Completion of an M.S.L. degree does not qualify recipients to practice law. The M.S.L. degree also does not qualify graduates for admission to the bar.

Credit earned towards an M.S.L. degree cannot be counted towards a J.D. degree prior to admission to that program.

M.S.L. students who wish to pursue a J.D. degree must follow the same application process as J.D. applicants, including taking the LSAT exam.

Students enrolled in the J.D. program who wish to transfer to the M.S.L. program must follow the M.S.L. application process. J.D. students admitted to the M.S.L. program may transfer a maximum of 15 credit hours.

Students who are academically dismissed from the J.D. program may apply to the M.S.L program. However, the M.S.L program is not intended to be an alternative degree for students who have been academically dismissed from Washburn Law or another law school. Thus, while academic dismissal from law school is not an absolute bar to admission, such a dismissal, absent exceptional facts, would be a difficult hurdle to overcome in the M.S.L admission process.

Completion of the M.S.L. degree program at Washburn Law does not entitle a student to practice law, nor qualify a student to apply to take the attorney licensing exam (the bar exam) in any U.S. jurisdiction.