Educational Opportunities in the Master in Law Program for Penn Affiliates
We appreciate the voices of those with diverse personal and professional experiences in the Law School classroom. Whether you are interested in complementing your career or studies in another discipline, we are certain you will find coursework and programs of study that interest you and meet your needs at the Law School.
The Law School invites Penn professional, graduate, & upper-class undergraduate¹ students and faculty/staff who wish to incorporate a legal perspective in the issues that intersect with their professional fields and academic interests to take a class² or pursue the advanced credentials of the Certificate in Law or the Master in Law Degree.
View the 2023-2024 Master in Law Viewbook
¹ Upper-class undergraduate students must consult with their programs or advisors before applying for the Certificate or the Degree.
² First-year required JD courses are reserved for the first-year JD cohort only.
Master in Law (ML) Degree
A Master in Law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School provides the expertise in the legal issues that intersect with your professional field and/or academic interests. Students enrolled in the program’s specialized curriculum will gain a solid understanding of how the U.S. legal system functions coupled with the law in their areas of interest. The flexible nature of the degree enables candidates to design unique and individualized study plans.
ML degree candidates take courses in the ML and JD curriculum providing educational interactions with JD students and other professionals and students from across the University. All benefit from developing a rich and diverse professional network comprised of future attorneys and professionals in many diverse fields.
The ML degree is intended to provide exposure to critical issues in the law; however, it will not permit a student to sit for any state’s bar examination or otherwise allow recipients to practice law. The American Bar Association regulations do not permit the application of ML classes toward a JD degree.
Eight courses are required to complete the Master in Law degree. The degree is structured for the completion of 4 ML foundational courses and 4 courses from the JD curriculum(excluding the 1L required curriculum) - with each course equal to 1CU or 3SH. There is some flexibility between these two categories according to the below requirements. Coursework for the degree may be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.
The ML foundational core courses provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamental aspects of law and legal principles across disciplines and are specifically designed for those not intending to practice law.
The Upper-level JD courses required for the degree provide Master in Law degree students the opportunity to sit alongside and interact with JD students, enriching the classroom environment with unique perspectives and experiences while simultaneously enabling a better understanding of how lawyers approach and analyze legal issues in various disciplines.
Three required ML core courses
- LAWM 511 - U.S. Law and Legal Methods (recommended as the first class)
- LAWM 528 - General Business Law
- LAWM 529 - Navigating the Regulatory State
One ML elective (choose from the following)
- LAWM 505 - American Constitutional Law
- LAWM 506 - Technology Law
- LAWM 522 - Corporate Compliance
- LAWM 530 - Health Law and Policy Fundamentals
- LAWM 513 - Medical Negligence & Tort Law Fundamentals
- LAWM 515 - Contracts and Negotiations
- LAWM 525 - Entrepreneurship & Start-Up Law
- LAWM 536 - Fundamentals of US Legal Research (online)
- LAWM 556 – Health Law and Comparative Health Systems Overview (online)
- LAWM 576 - Patent Law (online)
Four JD electives (or a combination of JD & ML electives with a minimum of 1 JD course)
- JD Elective
- JD or ML Elective
- JD or ML Elective
- JD or ML Elective
Note
*Members of the Penn community may take one or more ML courses either as standalone courses of interest or before or without enrolling in the ML degree program. When an offer of admission to the program is offered, a maximum of two ML courses taken prior to matriculation into the ML degree program may be used toward the ML degree requirements. Applicants must request this approval to the program when an application is submitted.
*Classes Taken Prior to Acceptance
Two credit units (CUs) maximum prior to acceptance can be applied toward the 8 CUs required for graduation. ML degree candidates must satisfy both ML substantive requirements and ML total CU requirements.
A student having completed LAWM 511, LAWM 528, and LAWM 529 for a grade prior to application, will be permitted 2 CUs to count toward the 8 CU requirement.
Dual Degree Programs
Cross disciplinary education is highly valued at the University of Pennsylvania. We welcome students to enhance their graduate studies with legal education. Dual-degree candidates may request credit towards their Master in Law degree for up to two law-relevant classes taken outside of the law school while enrolled in a dual or joint program. These courses must come from their primary program, be deemed relevant to their Master in Law studies, and subject to the policies and approvals of their primary academic program and the academic faculty advisor of the Master in Law program. Per University policy, no coursework is permitted to count toward more than 2 program credentials.
Interested in combining a degree not shown below? Contact us at Master@law.upenn.edu. Students have combined the following degrees with the Master in Law degree:
Ed.D/ML EMBA/ML EMPA/ML MBA/ML |
MPA/ML MPH/ML MRA/ML MSAG/ML MSE/ML VMD/ML |
MSOD/ML MSSP/ML NPL/ML Ph.D. ED/ML Ph.D. Wharton/ML |
Take a Course With Us
Master in Law courses are specifically designed to offer background and expertise to members of the Penn community in a variety of subject matters. The Master in Law Curriculum is offered during Fall, Spring, and Summer terms.
If you are interested in taking a summer class: Complete the Summer Registration Form
If you are enrolled in a degree program at Penn, or you are Penn Staff/Faculty and have previously taken a course at Penn: Submit a Request to Take a Law Course Form
If you are Penn Staff/Faculty and are not enrolled in a degree program at Penn and have not previously taken a course at Penn: Complete the Staff/Faculty request to Take a Master in Law Course Form
Course-Specific Enrollment Notes
- Course enrollment may, in some cases, require the permission of the Penn Carey Law faculty member. If so, you will be notified as to how to follow up once you submit your request.
- Students should consult with their departmental advisor about acceptance of Penn Carey Law credits.
- Enrollment requests will be fulfilled based on the law school’s priority system.
- Graduate students at Penn can take Upper-Level JD courses without matriculating into the Master in Law programs if space is available. Review course offerings and course descriptions on the Course Finder.
- All individuals taking classes at the Law School are responsible for reviewing the rules & procedures of exams.
Additional Resources
Penn Carey Law is conveniently located at 3501 Sansom Street between 34th and 36th Streets, a short walk from all University departments.
Currently, the Law School’s upper-level curriculum is based on a semester-hour system, where 3 semester hours are equivalent to 1 CU.
For additional enrollment and course information, contact the Registrar’s Office:
215.746.7822 / sragins@law.upenn.edu
Sample Curricular Plans
- LAWM 511 - U.S. Law and Legal Methods (required)
- LAWM 528 - General Business Law (required)
- LAWM 529 - Navigating the Regulatory State (required)
- LAWM 530 - Health Law and Policy Fundamentals (ML elective)
- LAW 588 - Health Care Fraud: Investigation and Prosecution (elective)
- LAW 916 - Comparative Health Systems and Law (elective)
- LAW 939 - Health Care Financing (elective)
- LAW 943 - Drug Product Liability Litigation (elective)
- LAWM 511 - U.S. Law and Legal Methods (required)
- LAWM 528 - General Business Law (required)
- LAWM 529 - Navigating the Regulatory State (required)
- LAWM 506 - Technology Law (ML elective)
- LAW 966 - Intellectual Property and National Economic Value (elective)
- LAW 952 - Intellectual Property Theory Colloquium (elective)
- LAW 677 - Patent Law (elective)
- LAW 507 - Intro to IP Law & Policy (elective)
- LAWM 511 - U.S. Law and Legal Methods (required)
- LAWM 528 - General Business Law (required)
- LAWM 529 - Navigating the Regulatory State (required)
- LAWM 522 - Corporate Compliance (ML Elective)
- LAW 769 - Corporate Finance: Legal Aspects (elective)
- LAW 908 - Distressed Dealmaking (elective)
- LAW 646 - Bankruptcy (elective)
- LAW 750 - M&A Through the Business Cycle (elective)
- LAWM 511 - U.S. Law and Legal Methods (required)
- LAWM 528 - General Business Law (required)
- LAWM 529 - Navigating the Regulatory State (required)
- LAWM 505 - American Constitutional Law (ML elective)
- LAW 705 - Mental Health Law
- LAW 780 - Immigration Law
- LAW 949 - Law of the Professor: Continuing Problems in Higher Education
- LAW 969 - Discrimination in Education
- LAWM 511 - U.S. Law and Legal Methods (required)
- LAWM 528 - General Business Law (required)
- LAWM 529 - Navigating the Regulatory State (required)
- LAWM 505 - American Constitutional Law (ML elective)
- LAW 979 - Visual Legal Advocacy (elective)
- LAW 676 - Election Law (elective)
- LAW 991 - Public Corruption and the Law (elective)
- LAW 968 - Law and Candidacy (elective)
- LAWM 511 - U.S. Law and Legal Methods (required)
- LAWM 528 - General Business Law (required)
- LAWM 529 - Navigating the Regulatory State (required)
- LAWM 530 - Health Law and Policy Fundamentals (ML Elective)
- LAWM 505 - American Constitutional Law (elective)
- LAWM 522 - Corporate Compliance (elective)
- LAWM 536 - Fundamentals of US Legal Research (elective)
- LAW 509 - Labor Law (elective)
Upcoming Events
View AllJanuary 23, 2024
Overview of the US Judicial System with Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo (Invitation Only)
Overview of the US Judicial System with Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
January 25, 2024
Master in Law Skills Session with Professor Simon (Invitation Only)
Each semester, the ML program provides the opportunity for every student enrolled in an ML course to attend what we fondly call a “crash course, law school skills session.” Presented by Professor Jessica Simon, the session will cover the basics of how to begin and get the most out of your law school classes, including tips for best strategies for reading and summarizing cases, outlining, and note-taking. Whether you are just starting your academic journey in the ML Program or are several classes in, many degree candidates find this session an invaluable resource. We hope you consider attending and look forward to your participation! A boxed lunch will be provided for those who RSVP to attend in person. This is a hybrid event. Please register here.
Keep Exploring
For a closer look at Penn Carey Law’s many other education programs, including Continuing Legal Education for practicing attorneys, see our section on Legal Education Programs.