Program Overview

Overview of the Master of Studies in Law (MSL) Program

The Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degree at Colorado Law is a one-year, 28-credit program designed for students who hold at least an undergraduate degree and seek legal training short of a full Juris Doctor (JD). This program prepares students for emerging job markets that require some legal knowledge, enabling them to excel in positions where legal tasks are assigned to non-lawyers.

Ethics and Compliance Curriculum

The ethics and compliance track within the MSL program trains students to become compliance and ethics officers in large corporations, nonprofit entities, colleges, universities, and hospitals. These organizations need professionals to lead effective in-house programs, ensuring compliance with statutes and regulations. This track prepares students to develop, improve, and manage ethics and compliance programs, helping organizations obey the law, reduce the risk of fraud and misconduct, and mitigate legal liability and reputation risk.

Requirements for the MSL Program

To complete the MSL program, students must satisfy the following requirements:

• Completion of 28 credits of coursework, approved in advance by the faculty director, with a numerical average of 2.0 or better.
• Completion of Introduction to US Law for MSL Students.
• Demonstration of domain expertise within a specialty track by completing the requirements for the chosen specialty, as determined by the faculty director.
• Satisfaction of any conditions imposed at the time of admission.

Course Requirements for the Ethics and Compliance Track

The Ethics and Compliance track requires 28 credits, including:

1. Communications for Compliance Professionals
2. Compliance
3. Ethical Organizations and Professionals
4. Either Accounting for Lawyers or Special Topics in Compliance: Investigations, unless waived by the track’s faculty director due to prior coursework in accounting
5. Electives from a list approved by the faculty director

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for Colorado Law’s students include:

• Knowledge and understanding of legal theory and doctrine
• Related substantive knowledge, including societal context
• Legal analysis
• Legal research skills
• Oral and written communication
• Professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system
• Other professional skills

These outcomes are designed to achieve the law school’s mission of providing a state-of-the-art legal education, advancing knowledge through scholarship, and serving as a vehicle for meaningful public service. The MSL program, including the Ethics and Compliance track, is tailored to meet these goals by preparing students for careers where legal knowledge and compliance expertise are essential.