Program Overview

Master of Science in Legal Administration

The Master of Science in Legal Administration (MSLA) program at the Sturm College of Law is designed to prepare students for a successful career in legal management. Since 1972, the MSLA program has provided students with the knowledge and skills to run a law firm or legal organization, both nationally and internationally.

Program Overview

All courses are delivered in an asynchronous online format, allowing students to fit the program within their schedule. Students may attend full-time or part-time, depending on their schedule and needs, and graduate in one to four years.

Degree Requirements

The MSLA program requires 30 semester hours of credit. The program is fully online with no residency requirement. Courses are offered across Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Required courses include:

• Accounting and Financial Management in Legal Business (MSLA 4410)
• Communication, Writing, and Research in Legal Business (MSLA 4380)
• Applied Leadership and Management Theory (MSLA 4151)
• Project Management (MSLA 4954)
• Law Firm Communications and Technology (MSLA 4385)

Concentrations

Law Firm Administration

The Law Firm Administration concentration educates students to operate a law firm or legal organization. By blending political science, business, and management as it applies to the legal field and legal culture, students will explore all aspects of managing a law firm. Graduates of the Law Firm Administration concentration advance their careers through positions like human resources management directors, practice area marketing specialists, marketing directors, training specialists, networking managers, etc.

Capstone Project and Externship Information

The Capstone Project/Externship is an MSLA program requirement that is typically pursued when a student has completed at least 50% of the required coursework or in the last term of study. The Capstone allows students to apply knowledge acquired during coursework through experiential opportunity in a law firm, legal organization, or court. The host organization is asked to provide relevant, real-world experience for the student. Host supervisors plan the agenda, monitor performance, and evaluate the student.

• Students may use their current place of employment to fulfill the externship requirements.
• If a separate placement is sought, students are required to obtain pre-approval of the host site from the Program Director.
• Students must complete at least 150 hours of field work when in a placement that is not their current job.
• Students must also complete a related research project culminating in a research paper of 20-25 pages.

Advanced Standing MSLA

The Advanced Standing MSLA is available to current and graduated JD students. Advanced Standing students complete 27 credit hours rather than the 30 semester hours required in the traditional MSLA program. All classes are completed online.

• Advanced Standing students are exempt from taking the following classes:
  • Research and Writing for the Legal Administrator
  • Introduction to the US Judicial System
  • Capstone/Externship

JD & MSLA Dual Degree

The MSLA program blends well with the JD degree. The dual-degree program can be completed in 3.5 years. Students receive a cross-credit allowance of 10 credits toward the JD degree. Students may complete the dual-degree program in two ways:

• Master students first complete the MSLA coursework and then, once admitted, begin the JD.
• Law students complete the first year of JD classes, then MSLA classes may be interspersed with second- and third-year JD coursework.