If you’re a high-achieving professional, it’s likely that your responsibilities are always growing, increasing in complexity, and expanding well beyond what you learned in your bachelor’s degree. Compliance auditing, contract negotiations, and strategizing on how to respond to changing regulations all require a level of legal knowledge you may not have, but definitely need. So, the question becomes what legal degree is going to best serve your current and future career.
The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) and Juris Doctor (JD) represent two paths that professionals may pursue. However, they have very different outcomes. Understanding how these degrees differ is essential to choosing a program that aligns with the work you intend to do.
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What Is a Master of Legal Studies (MLS)?
A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) gives professionals who do not intend to practice as attorneys a strong understanding of law. The program introduces students to the legal principles and regulatory systems that shape business, government, healthcare, technology, and other industries.
Professionals in complex legal and regulatory environments need legal literacy and analytical skills, even if they aren’t attorneys, so the degree is commonly pursued by managers, policymakers, and specialists who make high-impact decisions.
For example, a healthcare administrator needs to understand how frameworks like HIPAA and EMTALA work in order to make informed decisions that protect both their organization and the patients they serve. In corporate business settings, managers and leaders need to balance profit maximization with risk management, and staying compliant with law and regulation is a key way to avoid fines and maintain the strong reputation that keeps clients happy.
What Is a Juris Doctor (JD)?
A Juris Doctor (JD) is a professional degree in law that prepares graduates to become licensed attorneys. The program provides comprehensive training in legal analysis, writing, advocacy, and ethical responsibilities, along with foundational coursework in subjects such as constitutional law, contracts, torts, criminal law, and civil procedure.
After earning a JD, graduates typically complete additional requirements, such as passing a bar examination, to practice law. The degree is the standard credential for individuals seeking careers in legal practice and litigation.
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MLS vs. JD: Key Differences at a Glance
The MLS vs. JD decision largely comes down to what careers you’re interested in. MLS graduates pursue careers where legal knowledge allows them to make better decisions, while JD graduates are eligible to take the bar exam and practice law as attorneys. There are also some logistical considerations, such as time commitment, cost, and admissions requirements.
| Master of Legal Studies | Juris Doctor | |
| Career Outcome | Applying legal knowledge in professional settings | Practicing law |
| Bar Eligibility | Not eligible | Eligible |
| LSAT Required? | Usually not required | LSAT required |
| Time to Completion | 1–2 years | 3 years |
How to Choose between a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) and a Juris Doctor (JD)
The following framework walks through four considerations: your career goals, depth of training required, time and financial commitment, and admissions.
What Are Your Career Goals?
If your goal is to represent clients in court or advise on litigation strategy, a traditional law degree is the appropriate path. The JD prepares graduates for licensure as an attorney and the professional responsibilities that follow.
An MLS may better suit your needs if you want to be a more effective leader when regulatory constraints impact decisions. Some key responsibilities that indicate it’s time for you to earn your MLS include:
- You collaborate with legal teams in a corporate setting
- You are (or want to be) the decision-maker that your organization trusts when risk, compliance, and regulation complicate business strategy
- You interpret and implement compliance programs
- You negotiate contacts
What Legal Knowledge Do You Need?
An MLS helps non-lawyer professionals understand contracts, identify legal risks, and recognize how laws will affect operations. JD requires advanced study of legal analysis and procedure so graduates are prepared to practice law.
MLS Curriculum Focus: Applying Law
Rather than focusing on legal procedure or litigation strategy, an MLS curriculum will emphasize foundational legal knowledge and skills such as:
- Compliance and regulatory strategy
- Risk assessment and management
- Ethical organizational decision-making
- Legal reasoning and research
- Cross-functional collaboration with legal teams
- The structure of the US legal system
Many MLS programs offer focused tracks so that students can gain career-focused skills. For example, at Wake Forest University School of Law, students can pursue a generalized MLS or choose from tracks in Business Law and Compliance, Health Law and Policy, Human Resources, or Financial Services.
JD Curriculum Focus: Practicing Law
Most JD programs follow a three-year sequence designed to build full legal practice competency. First-year coursework covers foundational subjects for bar exam preparation and legal reasoning across all practice areas:
- Contracts
- Torts
- Civil procedure
- Constitutional law
- Legal writing
Upper-level study introduces electives, clinics, and experiential learning. These opportunities prepare students to specialize in a particular area of law if they so choose.
Understanding the Boundary of Licensure
To practice law, attorneys must pass the bar exam in the state where they intend to work. In almost all states, you must have a JD from an accredited law school to qualify for the exam.
While graduates of a JD program are usually eligible to sit for the bar in their state, the MLS does not fulfill this requirement. The MLS degree is built for non-lawyer professionals who need to understand and apply legal knowledge within their own field.
How Much Time and Money Can You Invest?
The MLS and JD will vary in total investment depending on program format and institution.
MLS
Many MLS degrees are structured with working professionals in mind, offering flexible formats that allow students to continue working:
- Online courses → No need to spend time commuting to a campus
- Asynchronous learning → You don’t have to attend classes at a scheduled time
- Part-time formats → Supports working professionals who can’t manage more than one or two classes at once
- Year-round course offerings → Maintains your momentum and shortens overall completion time
Because of these flexible options, most MLS programs can be completed in just one to two years.
Tuition varies by institution and format, but total tuition for an MLS is typically much lower than the average cost of a JD degree. Online options can also reduce associated costs, like living costs, commuting costs, and missed wages from taking time off of work.
JD
Most JD programs last three years and require full-time commitment. Some law schools offer part-time or evening programs, allowing working professionals to remain employed, but these tend to extend completion timelines.
Tuition varies widely across public and private institutions, but a full JD program can reach six figures. Scholarships and in-state rates can reduce that figure significantly, but the JD generally represents a large investment.
What Are the Typical Admissions Requirements?
Understanding what each degree requires, from standardized testing to prior academic performance, can help you plan your next steps.
MLS Admissions
MLS programs typically require you to have an accredited bachelor’s degree and submit standard admissions materials like academic transcripts, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and a résumé. MLS programs are most effective for students who want to apply legal insight to the industries they already work in, so professional experience is a typical requirement.
Most MLS programs do not require LSAT scores. Many universities (including Wake Forest Law) are moving away from requiring GRE/GMAT scores as well, as this highly general standardized test is not necessarily a strong factor in student success.
JD Admissions
JD programs require a bachelor’s degree and standard admissions materials. Most JD applicants will also need to take the LSAT (although some programs now accept the GRE). Admissions committees weigh undergraduate GPA and test performance alongside writing ability, intellectual preparation, and demonstrated commitment to studying law.
Discover how the Wake Forest Law MLS can advance your career.
Learn more about the Wake Forest University School of Law online Master of Legal Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Return on investment is tied to how you plan to use legal knowledge in your role. For non-attorneys working in compliance, healthcare administration, business, or government, the MLS provides legal fluency that improves decision-making ability and authority, and expands responsibilities.
For a closer look at where the degree leads and how it can benefit you, see our article on what you can do with an MLS degree.
Legal Skills for Highly Regulated Industries: Earn Your Online MLS
Wake Forest University School of Law delivers an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) with a strong return on investment, combining academic rigor with real-world impact and purpose-driven leadership. Students customize their curriculum by choosing from five in-demand tracks:
Wake Forest students enjoy all the benefits of a prestigious law school, including access to tenured law school faculty and a more affordable tuition rate than comparable legal studies programs and MBA programs.
Download a brochure to learn more today, or get started on your application!