M.L.S. and LL.M. Programs

For professionals who want to bring specialized knowledge and an enhanced understanding of the role of the law across industries without the time and expense associated with a J.D. program, the Columbus School of Law also offers the Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.). 

The Master of Legal Studies program from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law offers flexibility, versatility, and broad-ranging instructional excellence.

The 26-credit program equips students with both a general understanding of the American legal system and specific knowledge of their chosen field of interest. During the first semester, all students enrolled in the M.L.S. program take Introduction to American Law and Legal Methods. This introductory course designed exclusively for M.L.S. students provides an overview of the American legal system and teaches the process of legal analysis. All M.L.S. students will conclude their studies by working with a faculty member on a final project. The remaining credits allow candidates to further their knowledge in their chosen field of interest.

The M.L.S. degree program enhances the ability of professionals to work with lawyers and legal issues, to gain a deeper knowledge of a particular legal field, and to understand laws and regulations. Students can choose to concentrate in the fields of compliance and corporate responsibility, criminal justice, employment and human resources, intellectual property, or political law. Alternatively, students may choose a general U.S. law option, which allows students to design a course of study that best suits their interests and needs.

M.L.S. degree recipients will be able to distinguish themselves in their chosen profession based on the specialized knowledge they have gained regarding the role of the law across industries and in particular disciplines.

Master of Laws Program (LL.M.) graduates acquire a credential that will serve them throughout their legal career. Students gain specialized knowledge, receive practical training, and form a network of professional contacts. The Law School curriculum enables LL.M. students to tailor a program of study suited to their career interests and aspirations.

The Master of Laws is an advanced program of legal study that is customized to the needs of the individual student. LL.M. candidates, mentored by expert faculty, plan a course of study in one of the following concentrations: Law and Technology, Securities Law, or Comparative and International Law. Foreign LL.M. students have the option to pursue a curriculum that helps prepare them for a U.S. bar examination, while acquire a broad understanding of the U.S. common law system. Through the law school’s extensive curricular offerings, LL.M. candidates enhance their knowledge for practice by acquiring significant expertise in the area of specialization they have selected, as well as honing their skills in U.S. legal research, analysis, and legal writing.

Committed to providing the highest quality legal education in an increasingly global society, the Columbus School of Law offers its LL.M. degree program to graduates of U.S. and foreign law schools.

Catholic Law is situated in our nation’s capital, the legal and political center of the United States. Washington, D.C. is also the hub for governmental and non-governmental international organizations. LL.M. students may avail themselves of all the opportunities that Washington, D.C., has to offer due to our convenient location and easy access to public transportation.