MLS grads smile widely at their convocation ceremony

MLS admission

What is the MLS program?

Earning a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University offers students the chance to advance their careers – or start a new one entirely – with unmatched flexibility and customization. With over 20 unique emphasis areas, students can complete the 30-credit MLS program either online or on campus with flexible part-time and full-time pathways. If you want to understand legal principles and apply them to your field of interest without actually becoming a lawyer, the MLS at ASU Law is for you.

Our FastApp process fast-tracks your application and only takes 10 minutes. A traditional LSAT exam is not required, and the program features world-renowned faculty and innovative courses to hone your skills.

Contact MLS admissions

Meet with an advisor

The exterior of the Beus Center for Law and Society

Application deadlines

The next MLS cohort starts on January 12, 2026

Please note: There are different start dates for summer courses. Online courses begin in late May, whereas ground courses will likely start in June and July.

Application components

There is no application fee

Completed applications must be submitted online to ASU Law and include the following:

Required materials

Applicants must include a transcript from each undergraduate and graduate school they have attended. The application will require you to upload a PDF. Unofficial transcripts are accepted in the FastApp.

Your resume should include details about your educational background, work history, military service, leadership roles, honor societies, scholarships, extracurricular activities, community service, honors and awards, publications, foreign language proficiencies, and any other significant achievements and involvements. In your work history, please include significant previous professional experience completed during and post-college, including the organization name, dates of employment and hours worked. Your resume should be no more than three typed pages and the font size should be 11 point or higher.

Additional materials that may be requested if a decision cannot be made based on your FastApp

A sample of your writing, written in the English language and a minimum of three pages.

If you answered “Yes” to any conduct-related questions in your application, you must provide a detailed explanation here. Please describe the circumstances, relevant dates, individuals or institutions involved and the outcome of the situation. Include any context that may help reviewers understand the event, as well as what you learned or how you have grown as a result. This information allows the admissions committee to evaluate your application fully and fairly.

ASU Law accepts up to two letters of recommendation to tell us about your academic and/or professional ability to participate in the program.

Transcripts from all institutions attended, including the transcript showing a bachelor's degree was conferred

Two MLS graduates smile at the MLS convocation ceremony

Admission details

Review process

U.S. educated applicants can apply through our FastApp process, which streamlines the application process and may allow for an offer of conditional admission to the MLS program while the applicant continues to submit any additional requested documentation. Possible outcomes from FastApp submission may include:

Conditional admission
A request for supplementary documents
A request to complete the full MLS application with accompanying documents
Denial

International applicants

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University is one of the country’s preeminent law schools, with a wide range of emphases and unique experiences. ASU Law’s world-class faculty provide students with unparalleled opportunities to gain insights and practical skills needed to address legal challenges on a global scale. Spend a year with us to improve your English, network with future lawyers and develop the knowledge and skills you need to help you succeed, no matter where your future leads you.

Please refer to the special instructions for Foreign Educated Applicants.

MLS admission

On This Page:

What is the MLS program?

Application deadlines

The next MLS cohort starts on January 12, 2026

Application components

There is no application fee

Required materials

Unofficial transcripts

Resume

Additional materials that may be requested if a decision cannot be made based on your FastApp

Writing sample

Explanations to affirmative answers to any conduct questions

Two letters of recommendation

Official transcripts

Admission details

Review process

International applicants