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.

View the 2023-2024 ML Viewbook

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.

View details on ML course offerings

Visit the Coursefinder to view courses in the JD curriculum

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: 

DMD/ML Ed.D/ML EMBA/ML EMPA/ML MBA/ML MES/ML MD/ML

MPA/ML MPH/ML MRA/ML MSAG/ML MSE/ML MSN/ML VMD/ML

MSOD/ML MSSP/ML MSW/ML NPL/ML Ph.D. ED/ML Ph.D. Wharton/ML

 Application process & requirements for the Master in Law Degree

The Law School welcomes members of the Penn community to engage in our program by taking a course with us. Whether you are interested in sampling courses in the ML program before applying to the ML degree or certificate, or if you are exploring the future possibility of applying to a law school’s JD program, we are certain you will find courses that interest you and meet your needs.

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.

View the Master in Law Curriculum

Enroll in a class

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 more information about taking individual classes at the Law School, please visit the Registrar’s website.

For additional enrollment and course information, contact the Registrar’s Office:
215.746.7822 / sragins@law.upenn.edu

• 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)