Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
Overview
A Master of Studies in Law (MSL) is the first to be offered in Lebanon and the MENA region. This program is offered by Ivy League institutions in the US. MSL is a 30- to 39-credit professional graduate program that is designed for those who do not have a bachelor’s degree in law but want to understand legal principles and apply them to their field of interest.
Candidates for the Master of Studies in Law are expected to enroll in a minimum of 30 to 39 credit hours depending on his/her undergraduate degree, which is generally completed in two academic years (30 credits for Business and Political Science students, and 39 credits for other majors). The required MSL curriculum includes Contract Law, Corporate law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Legal Ethics, and Legal Writing and Research.
Students have the option to choose between a thesis or a project and a Special Topics in Commerce Law course to graduate. The balance of the curriculum will be composed of free elective courses regularly offered in the Master of Law (LLM) program, which allows MSL students to take courses alongside LLM students and learn from their more practiced peers.
Mission
The MSL at the Lebanese American University is to provide professionals and graduate students from diverse fields with a solid foundation in legal concepts, institutions, and reasoning. The program equips non-lawyers with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand, navigate, and apply legal frameworks relevant to their industries and professions, while fostering ethical awareness and informed decision-making.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of the program, graduates will:
- Provide Foundational Legal Knowledge:
Equip non-lawyer professionals with a comprehensive understanding of fundamental legal principles, institutions, and reasoning. - Enhance Professional Competence:
Enable graduates to apply legal knowledge in their respective fields such as business, healthcare, technology, policy, and management. - Develop Analytical and Critical Thinking:
Foster the ability to interpret laws, regulations, and policies, and assess their impact on organizational and societal contexts. - Promote Ethical and Informed Decision-Making:
Encourage responsible and ethical application of legal knowledge in professional practice. - Strengthen Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
Prepare graduates to work effectively alongside legal professionals, bridging the gap between law and other disciplines.
Learning Outcomes
The Master of Studies in Law (MSL) program admits a small number of non-law degree holders who are interested in obtaining a basic legal familiarity to explore and implement the relation of law to their disciplines. This program is open to those who are not interested in a bachelor’s degree in law but who are interested in acquiring legal understanding. The MSL Program aims to support students to:
- Analyze legal problems.
- Improve their efficiency when their work involves legal principles.
- Enhance their effectiveness in drafting legal documents.
- Acquaint professionals with basic legal research.
- Prepare them to apply the principles of legal ethics.
- Develop methods of persuasive verbal and written advocacy.
- Combine the science of business and law in their professions.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the graduate programs offered at the Adnan Kassar School of Business follows the LAU general graduate requirements.
In addition, applicants to the program must satisfy the following requirements:
- Meet LAU’s English language proficiency standards.
- Hold a minimum GPA of 2.75/4.0 (or equivalent).
- Provide letters of recommendation.
- Complete an interview if requested.
Relevant professional experience is not required but is considered an asset. Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission.
Applicants with a GPA below 2.75 may be admitted on probationary status. Probation can be removed after completing:
- 12 credits with at least a 3.0 GPA, or
- 6 credits with a 3.2 GPA, minimum grade B in all courses, and no repeats.
Graduate Assistantship
Funding in the form of graduate assistantships pays for tuition in part or in full, in exchange for research or teaching support for faculty. All prospective students who register for six credits a semester are eligible to apply for assistantships. More information is found in the Graduate Academic Rules and Procedures.
Eligibility & Steps for New Students:
- Apply to the MSL program and pay the $40 application fee (online or in cash).
- Activate your Portal after receiving your login details via email (within 3 working days).
GA Application Requirements:
- Complete and submit the GA application via Portal.
- Provide transcripts:
- Non-LAU students: official transcript.
- LAU students: unofficial transcript.
- Current MSL students:
- <12 credits: undergraduate + graduate transcripts
- ≥12 credits: unofficial graduate transcript only
- Recent NSSF work certificate (less than 1 month old).
- Updated CV.
Curriculum
Holders of degrees in business or political science are required to complete 30 credit hours. All other students must complete 39 credit hours.
The degree is completed in two academic years. To graduate, a student must choose between a written thesis (6 credits) or a Project (3 credits) and a Special Topics in Commerce Law course (3 credits).
1. Candidates with a degree in business or political science must complete a total of 30 credits, as follows:
Course Requirements (15 credits)
- MSL811 Contract Law (3 cr.)
- MSL812 Corporate Law (3 cr.)
- MSL813 Legal Ethics (3 cr.)
- MSL831 Legal Research and Writing (3 cr.)
- MSL876 Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
Thesis or Project (6 credits)
Free Electives (9 credits)
- MSL845 Corporate Finance Laws and Regulations (3 cr.)
- MSL846 Corporate Governance (3 cr.)
- MSL852 Family Business and Offices (3 cr.)
- MSL853 Secured Transactions (3 cr.)
- MSL854 International Financial and Banking Regulations (3 cr.)
- MSL855 Corporate Insolvency Law and Bankruptcy (3 cr.)
- MSL856 International Intellectual Property (3 cr.)
- MSL861 International Courts and Processes (3 cr.)
- MSL865 Law of Mergers, Acquisitions and Restructurings (3 cr.)
- MSL866 International Trade (3 cr.)
- MSL872 Islamic Banking and Finance (3 cr.)
- MSL875 Project Finance and Public-private Partnerships (3 cr.)
- MSL877 Negotiation (3 cr.)
- MSL880 Topics in Business Law (3 cr.)
- MSL897 Internship (3 cr.)
- MSL898 Project (3 cr.)
- MSL899 Thesis in Business Law (6 cr.)
2. All other candidates must complete a total of 39 credits, as follows:
Course Requirements (15 credits)
- MSL811 Contract Law (3 cr.)
- MSL812 Corporate Law (3 cr.)
- MSL813 Legal Ethics (3 cr.)
- MSL831 Legal Research and Writing (3 cr.)
- MSL876 Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
Thesis or Project (6 credits)
Additional Course Requirements (9 credits)
Free Electives (9 credits)
- MSL845 Corporate Finance Laws and Regulations (3 cr.)
- MSL846 Corporate Governance (3 cr.)
- MSL852 Family Business and Offices (3 cr.)
- MSL853 Secured Transactions (3 cr.)
- MSL854 International Financial and Banking Regulations (3 cr.)
- MSL855 Corporate Insolvency Law and Bankruptcy (3 cr.)
- MSL856 International Intellectual Property (3 cr.)
- MSL861 International Courts and Processes (3 cr.)
- MSL865 Law of Mergers, Acquisitions and Restructurings (3 cr.)
- MSL866 International Trade (3 cr.)
- MSL872 Islamic Banking and Finance (3 cr.)
- MSL875 Project Finance and Public-private Partnerships (3 cr.)
- MSL877 Negotiation (3 cr.)
- MSL880 Topics in Business Law (3 cr.)
- MSL897 Internship (3 cr.)
- MSL898 Project (3 cr.)
- MSL899 Thesis in Business Law (6 cr.)
Note: MSL classes are initially offered in the afternoon once a week. Alternative delivery strategy may be used at a later point.
Recommended Study Plan
Year One
Fall (6 credits)
Spring (12 credits)
Year Two
Fall/Spring (6-12 credits)
- MSL876 Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
- MSL Elective (3 cr.)
- MSL899 Thesis (6 cr.)
or
MSL898 Project (3 cr.) and MSL880 Special Topics in Commerce Law (3 cr.