Master of Jurisprudence

Short description: One year law degree for nonlawyers

Not to be confused with Master of Laws (LLM), pursued as a specialization by students who already hold a law degree.

A Master of Jurisprudence[1] is a graduate-level professional degree in law and legal studies. It is designed for those with a bachelor's degree in a non-law field of study. The degree does not qualify an individual for bar admission.

The degree may go by several names,[2] including a Master in Law,[3] Master of Science in Law,[4] Master of Legal Studies,[5] Master of Science in Legal Studies,[6][7] Juris Master,[8] and Master of Studies in Law.[9]

## Overview

Offered within United States law schools, Master of Jurisprudence curriculum is often studied by those who want more legal knowledge and a deeper understanding of the American legal system, without a Juris Doctor (J.D.), which may include people who will work closely with lawyers or in law-adjacent activities.[10] This can often include business professionals, those who work in government, or community activists.[11][12]

Skills obtained in the Master of Jurisprudence can include understanding regulations and reading contracts,[13] understanding complex legal issues,[14] drafting policy, reviewing legal documents,[2] and gaining a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system.[15]

Some Master of Jurisprudence program offerings may have specific concentrations like Entertainment and New Media Law,[16] IP and Technology Law,[17] International and Comparative Law,[18] Corporate and Business Law,[19] or Health Law,[20] or may be part of any number of dual degree programs.[21]

The Master of Jurisprudence program typically ranges between 30 and 45 credit hours. Many Masters of Legal Studies degrees can be completed in 9 to 16 months.[2] Some part-time programs offer longer timelines, up to 4 years.[22][20] Some universities offer Juris Master's programs online.[23][24]

While some classes may be shared with J.D. candidates, the Master of Jurisprudence does not prepare recipients to sit for the bar exam to practice law, but rather provides a better understanding of legal issues related to the recipient's chosen field.[25]

For example, football player Chase Griffin reported he chose pursuing this degree, studying entertainment, media, and sports law because he wanted to understand the contract side of his talent and production work.[26]

## References

1. ↑ University of Washington (2024-04-30). "Master of Jurisprudence" (in en). https://www.law.uw.edu/academics/mj/.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 University of Southern California. "FAQ - On-Campus MSL" (in en-US). https://gould.usc.edu/academics/degrees/residential-msl/faq/.
3. ↑ University of Pennsylvania. "Master in Law" (in en). https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/master-in-law/.
4. ↑ Northwestern University. "About the Master of Science in Law (MSL) Degree | Northwestern Pritzker Law" (in en). https://www.law.northwestern.edu/academics/degree-programs/msl/.
5. ↑ "Master of Legal Studies | M.L.S. Degree Program | UCLA Law" (in en). https://law.ucla.edu/academics/programs/master-legal-studies.
6. ↑ University of San Diego. "The Masters of Science in Legal Studies (MSLS) - School of Law - University of San Diego" (in en). https://www.sandiego.edu/law/academics/msls/.
7. ↑ Cornell University (2020-06-05). "Master of Legal Studies (MSLS) - eCornell" (in en-US). https://online.cornell.edu/cornell-law-school-msls/.
8. ↑ George Mason University. "Home | Juris Master | Antonin Scalia Law School" (in en-US). https://jurismasters.gmu.edu/.
9. ↑ University of Southern California. "Master of Studies in Law (MSL) Degree" (in en-US). https://gould.usc.edu/academics/degrees/msl/.
10. ↑ University of Pennsylvania Penn Carey Law School (2025). "Master in Law Frequently Asked Questions" (in en). https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/master-in-law/faqs.php.
11. ↑ University of Washington (2024-04-30). "Master of Jurisprudence" (in en). https://www.law.uw.edu/academics/mj/.
12. ↑ St. Mary's University School of Law (2025). "Master of Jurisprudence Degree - St. Mary's Law" (in en-US). https://law.stmarytx.edu/academics/programs/master-of-jurisprudence/.
13. ↑ Northeastern University (2025). "Online Master of Legal Studies - Designed for Non-Lawyers Seeking Practical Legal Knowledge" (in en). https://legalstudiesmastersonline.northeastern.edu/online-mls/.
14. ↑ University of California - Los Angeles. "Master of Legal Studies | M.L.S. Degree Program | UCLA Law" (in en). https://law.ucla.edu/academics/programs/master-legal-studies.
15. ↑ University of Southern California Gould School of Law. "Seven benefits to earning a master of studies in law degree" (in en-US). https://gould.usc.edu/news/seven-benefits-to-earning-a-master-of-studies-in-law-degree/.
16. ↑ University, Loyola Marymount (2025). "Master of Science in Legal Studies Specialization Entertainment and New Media Law" (in en). https://www.lls.edu/admissions/degreeprograms/masterofscienceinlegalstudiesmls/mlsspecializations/entertainmentnewmedialaw/.
17. ↑ Ohio State University (2025). "Master in the Study of Law" (in en-US). https://online.osu.edu/masters-degree/master-studies-law/.
18. ↑ St. Mary's University School of Law (2025). "International and Comparative Law Concentration" (in en-US). https://law.stmarytx.edu/academics/programs/master-of-jurisprudence/international-law/.
19. ↑ University, Delaware Law: Widener (2025). "Master of Jurisprudence Corporate/Business Concentration" (in en). https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/prospective-students/non-jd-programs/master-of-jurisprudence-mj-degrees/mj-in-corporate-business-law/.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Ohio State University Online. "Master in the Study of Law" (in en-US). https://online.osu.edu/masters-degree/master-studies-law/.
21. ↑ University, Delaware Law: Widener. "MJ MBA Corporate Compliance · Delaware Law: Widener University" (in en). https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/prospective-students/non-jd-programs/master-of-jurisprudence-mj-degrees/mj-in-corporate-business-law-mba/.
22. ↑ University of Pennsylvania. "Master in Law" (in en). https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/master-in-law/.
23. ↑ Stetson University Admissions Team (2025). "The Pros and Cons of an Online Master of Jurisprudence" (in en-us). https://lawblog.law.stetson.edu/pros-cons-online-master-jurisprudence.
24. ↑ Florida State University. "Juris Master Online Program | College of Law". https://law.fsu.edu/academics/academic-programs/juris-master-online-program.
25. ↑ Stetson Law (2025). "Does a Master of Jurisprudence Make Me a Lawyer?" (in en-us). https://lawblog.law.stetson.edu/does-a-master-of-jurisprudence-make-me-a-lawyer.
26. ↑ Fleming, Margaret. "How a UCLA quarterback has scored over 30 NIL deals, including the 3-page document he sends to brands" (in en-US). https://www.businessinsider.com/ucla-quarterback-chase-griffin-mastered-nil-influencer-marketing-college-athlete-2023-7.

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