Elevate Your Legal Career With a Master of Law Studies

Thanks so much for sitting down for this chat, Christina. Before we dive deeper into the MLS program, can you share a brief overview of your background and what led you to the MLS program at GGU?

So, I actually graduated from the GGU School of Law in 2015. It wasn’t long after I graduated and passed the bar that I began working at GGU within the Academic Achievement program for the law school. In 2019, I transitioned to Law Student Affairs, where I continue to work. When the MLS program was established a few years ago, I began advising MLS students in addition to my law school responsibilities.

With recent shifts in the law school, I took on the role of Director of the MLS program in the fall of 2024. I still continue to advise all MLS students, but now I also get to be more involved in the program’s overall development and programming. I’ve been at GGU for a really long time now — since 2012, actually — first as a student and now as a program director.

As someone who has been a law student and now a program director, what would you say are some of the most significant benefits students gain from the MLS program at GGU?

I think the really cool thing about the Master of Law Studies program is that it’s ideal for individuals who work in or are interested in the legal field but may not want to or be able to fully commit to law school. It’s an excellent way to gain a deeper understanding of the law and become more well-versed in legal principles. This degree can lead to new career opportunities in roles like paralegal or legal assistant, or it can enhance the careers of those already in such positions by providing more in-depth, foundational legal knowledge.

Another advantage is that the MLS is a one-year program, designed to be completed across three terms. This quick completion time is perfect for students who may have limited time or resources compared to a longer JD program. I think the fact that our program is hybrid makes it really desirable to students as well. Students aren’t required to be on campus every day — they typically come to campus only a couple of times per term. This flexibility is perfect for working professionals and even for students who reside outside the Bay Area.

Lastly, some of our students do want to pursue a JD in the future, but they’ve been out of school for a long time and want to get their feet wet by doing a graduate program first. Especially since the MLS is only a year-long program, this is a nice way to introduce themselves to legal education and see if law school is actually something they want to pursue down the line. And it can even boost their credentials to help them get into a really good law program.

We’ve had several students leave the MLS program and go on to a JD program, and it’s really an excellent jumping-off point. With this degree, you’ll be taking a lot of the same types of classes you’d take in law school, just in a slightly different format. It’s such a versatile degree, and there are just so many directions and career paths that students can take after the MLS program.

Speaking of career paths, are there any typical roles or industries that students pursue after graduating from the MLS program?

The career paths for MLS graduates are super mixed. As I mentioned, a significant number of our students do decide to pursue law school after completing the MLS, with some staying at GGU Law and others attending different law schools. In terms of direct career paths, many graduates find success in administrative roles within the legal field, such as paralegals or legal assistants. Some students are already in these roles when they enroll, seeking to deepen their legal knowledge to advance in their careers.

Beyond traditional legal support roles, an MLS degree provides a really strong background for careers in human resources, business, tech, social work, or other legal-adjacent fields that would benefit from a strong understanding of legal principles. The degree offers graduates a lot of career options rather than confining them to a single path.

Could you give an overview of some of the key skills and knowledge that students can expect to develop in this program?

Our Master of Law Studies students will develop a lot of skills similar to those learned in a JD program. Students build essential legal research skills, engage in legal analysis, and learn to “think like a lawyer.” This involves developing the skills of being able to learn what the law is, recall and understand the black letter law, but then go that one step further of being able to apply that knowledge to specific case facts to arrive at logical conclusions. That’s something that is taught in law school; it’s a skill that’s necessary to pass the bar and to go on and be a lawyer. So, very similarly, they’ll learn that in this program because we do teach the law through cases just like we do in law school. And then, like I mentioned, they’ll get a little bit of legal research foundational skills.

One really exciting development is the inclusion of new artificial intelligence (AI) courses starting this summer. Our students will have the opportunity to gain foundational knowledge in AI and learn how to apply it effectively in the legal field. I think is a skill that is incredibly important right now because AI is becoming so much more prevalent in the legal field. So, those courses are going to really serve our students and make them extremely marketable in the job market because not many professionals in this field have specialized AI knowledge.

AI can be a really useful tool when you know how to use it correctly, and being able to have our faculty help guide you with that is going to be super valuable. Students will be able to gain practical experience and explore things like how to do legal research using AI tools, which can make processes so much easier and less time-consuming.

We’re debuting these AI classes this summer, and I think they’re going to be such an amazing addition to the curriculum and our students are going to get a ton out of the courses. It’s going to make graduates really appealing to employers in the legal field.

It’s clear that the program puts a lot of consideration into building a very practical curriculum for its students. Can you also share a little bit about the MLS faculty and what kind of expertise they bring to the classroom?

The vast majority of our faculty are seasoned law professors from GGU School of Law. They have varying backgrounds in what kind of law they’ve practiced, but most of them have practiced law in some capacity and have been teaching for many years in the law school. Some faculty members, including myself, have served as adjuncts in the law school, teaching skills-based courses like bar preparation. So, we have a background in teaching skills, rather than just doctrinal law. This background is invaluable, as it allows us to not only teach substantive law but also to impart crucial legal skills necessary for success in the program, in future careers, and potentially in law school.

Our Master of Law Studies students are learning the law from professors who have taught in JD programs for years. If they do go on to law school, the experience they’re getting in their classes in the MLS program is very, very similar to what they’re going to get in a JD program. And if they choose to go on to work in other legal-adjacent roles without becoming a lawyer, they’re learning from people who have actually practiced law and can offer unique insights and practical knowledge about working in the field.

As program director, what do you envision as the future of this program? Do you see the program evolving in any way to meet the needs of students, or the broader legal landscape?

We are very enthusiastic about the future of the MLS program. Our goal is to expand it, making it accessible to more students and incorporating more elective courses, such as our new AI classes. These electives will focus on specific skills that are highly relevant to various legal careers, allowing students to tailor their learning to their interests.

We are also actively looking to increase opportunities for networking and skill-building beyond the core curriculum. This could include workshops with Career Services on resume building, interview techniques, and mock interviews. While it’s a one-year program with limited room for electives, we are very committed to integrating more practical, skills-based classes, like our AI courses, that truly differentiate our graduates in the job market. This program is still relatively new — entering its fourth year — and we see significant potential for continued growth and development.

If someone is considering what type of law program they want to pursue, what advice would you have for them? Why should they consider choosing the Master of Law Studies program?

My first advice would be to definitely do a lot of research. Meet with different schools if possible and really think about what your end goal is. Is a JD program more suited to what you want for your career, or are you wanting to work in the legal field but not actually practice law? If it’s the latter, maybe something like the Master of Law Studies program would be a better fit.

Our MLS program stands out because it’s only one year long, so you can be completely done and graduated within one calendar year. The flexibility of our program is also a huge plus. The online component is primarily asynchronous and self-paced, which means you can easily navigate it even if you’re working full-time, as you’re not required to attend scheduled Zoom meetings during your workday. You can complete assignments at your own pace, typically with a week or so for each one, allowing you to integrate your studies around work or family responsibilities. Whereas law school is very much a full-time job in its first year — you can’t really work while you’re in a JD program unless you’re studying part-time, and it’s just very time-consuming.

So, if your current end goal isn’t to take the bar and become a practicing lawyer, the MLS program could be the perfect choice for you. And, as I’ve mentioned, it does also provide an excellent pathway to law school if you decide you’d like to pursue that option in the future.

Thank you for providing such an in-depth look into the benefits of this degree. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to share about the Master of Law Studies program?

I just want to reiterate that some of the most unique aspects of this degree, beyond its flexibility, are that it’s taught by experienced law professors and that we’re now integrating AI into the curriculum.

The incorporation of AI is incredibly appealing to prospective employers, so having this background will really set our graduates apart when they’re building their careers. And then, the fact that it’s taught by law professors is highly valuable — even though it’s not a JD program, our students gain legal knowledge from professors who teach in JD programs and have practiced law, which provides an incredibly rich learning experience.

It’s truly as close as you can get to law school without actually being in law school.