Master of Science in Law (M.S.L.)
McGeorge offers the Master of Science in Law (MSL) to professionals who seek the benefits of advanced training in legal reasoning and analysis but who do not require the JD degree for their career plans. In today's economy with so many highly regulated industries, state and federal agencies, and other professional fields impacted by law, professionals deal with law-related issues every day. Our MSL program is designed to help professionals gain and apply the legal skills they need.
Optional areas of focus include:
McGeorge faculty will work with each student to develop a customized curriculum with a rigorous legal grounding that is infused with real-world examples, skills-based learning, and experiential opportunities. Students will also experience intense interaction and collaboration with a cohort of like-minded professionals who are seeking to increase their own skills. Finally, opportunities will be created for each student to put their new skills to work in California’s capital city.
Questions?
Contact the Graduate & International Programs Office
Email | 916.739.7019
Master of Science in Law Curriculum
Students accepted into the program can anticipate receiving guidance from our nationally and internationally renowned faculty on individual curricular plans. Students can go full or part-time; 26 units are required to earn the M.S.L. degree, which includes two required courses, a set of elective choices, and for those who are interested, a supervised capstone paper or project.
Required Courses
| LAW 101 | Contracts/Analytical Skills | 4 |
| LAW 212 | Intro. to Legal Analysis | 2 |
| Optional Additional Foundational Courses | ||
| LAW 115 | Criminal Law | 2-4 |
| LAW 125 | Property | 4 |
| LAW 131 | Torts | 4 |
| Elective Courses - Organized by Concentration | ||
| Students may elect to choose from a variety of courses, and to customize their course selections to meet their interests and career goals. The lists below, organized by concentration, are just an example of courses students may wish to enroll in. Please note that some electives are not offered every year. Please be sure check the academic schedule for a current list of offerings. | ||
Government Law & Policy Concentration (Online Program)
Required Courses
| LAW 212 | Intro. to Legal Analysis | 2 |
| LAW 110 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 505 | Legislatures and Lawmaking | 3 |
| LAW 502 | The Executive Branch and the Administrative State | 3 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 1-2 |
| LAW 217 | Leadership in Organizations for Graduate Students | 1 |
| LAW 567-O | Election Law - Online | 3 |
Water & Environmental Law
Required Courses
| LAW 212 | Intro. to Legal Analysis | 2 |
| LAW 110 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 505 | Legislatures and Lawmaking | 3 |
| LAW 502 | The Executive Branch and the Administrative State | 3 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 1-2 |
| LAW 699I | Leadership and Organizations | 2 |
| LAW 507 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 230 | Water Resources Law | 2-3 |
Criminal Justice
| LAW 115 | Criminal Law | 2-4 |
| LAW 165 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| LAW 174 | Evidence | 4 |
| LAW 308 | Art of Plea Bargaining | 1 or 2 |
| LAW 440 | Family Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 517 | Statutes and Regulations | 3 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 2-3 |
| LAW 550 | Immigration Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 576 | Intro to Capital Lawyering | 2 |
| LAW 619 | International Criminal Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 2 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 882 | California Parole Hearings and Litigation | 1 |
Health Concentration
| LAW 110 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 304 | Mental Health - Policy and Law | 2 |
| LAW 433 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 503 | Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| LAW 517 | Statutes and Regulations | 3 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 2-3 |
| LAW 570 | Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 572 | Public Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 576 | Intro to Capital Lawyering | 2 |
| LAW 579 | Affordable Care Act Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 2 |
| LAW 745 | Elder Law and Social Policy | 3 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
Human Resources Concentration
| LAW 110 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 405 | Worker's Compensation Law | 2 |
| LAW 433 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 2-3 |
| LAW 576 | Intro to Capital Lawyering | 2 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 2 |
| LAW 780 | Sexual Orientation and Gender ID | 2 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 826 | Negotiating Disputes Into Deals | 1 |
Government Law & Policy Concentration (Online Program)
| LAW 513-O | Lobbying & Politics | 3 |
| LAW 507 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 230 | Water Resources Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 510 | Natural Resources Law | 3 |
| LAW 991 | Directed Research, Graduate Level | 1-2 |
| or LAW 989 | Master's Thesis | |
| LAW 567-O | Election Law - Online | 3 |
Government and Public Policy Concentration
| LAW 163 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 209 | Local Agency Practice | 2 |
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 503 | Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| LAW 513 | California Lobbying & Politics | 2 |
| LAW 517 | Statutes and Regulations | 3 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 2-3 |
| LAW 568 | California Initiative Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 576 | Intro to Capital Lawyering | 2 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 2 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 822 | Lawmaking in California | 2 |
Water and the Environment Concentration
| LAW 230 | Water Resources Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 232 | Foundations of Water, Natural Resources and Environmental Law Practice 1 | 2 |
| LAW 235 | Environmental Practice | 3 |
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 501 | CA Enviro. Cases & Places | 1-2 |
| LAW 503 | Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| LAW 507 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 510 | Natural Resources Law | 3 |
| LAW 511 | Climate Change Law & Policy | 2 |
| LAW 517 | Statutes and Regulations | 3 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 2-3 |
| LAW 576 | Intro to Capital Lawyering | 2 |
| LAW 620 | International Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 621 | International Water Resources Law Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 2 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
Water and the Environment Law Concentration (Online Program)
| LAW 513-O | Lobbying & Politics | 3 |
| LAW 567-O | Election Law - Online | 3 |
| LAW 510 | Natural Resources Law | 3 |
| LAW 621 | International Water Resources Law Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 991 | Directed Research, Graduate Level | 1-2 |
| or LAW 989 | Master's Thesis | |
| LAW 576-O | Government Law & Policymaking | 3 |
Questions?
Contact the Graduate & International Programs Office
Email | 916.739.7019
Learning Outcomes
- Identify legal issues that arise in student’s professional context; Recognize and make use of legal language and field knowledge; Find and evaluate legal resources in library and online.
- Identify and distinguish legal sources; interpret legal texts, such as statutes and cases; apply legal methodology to differentiate and prioritize legal issues, to deduce likely outcomes, and to evaluate competing positions.
- Select, apply, and adapt interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills in professional context; employ legal methodology in professional writing tasks.
- Collaborate with lawyers and others to evaluate and resolve legal issues.
- Identify legal ethical issues that arise in one’s profession and develop strategies to address them consistent with legal precepts.