Earn Your Master of Studies in Law (MSL) | Samford University
Earn your Master of Studies in Law (MSL) at Samford University. Gain foundational legal knowledge and enhance your career with an advanced understanding of law, designed for non-lawyers in various professional fields.
Best
Online Master of Studies in Law Programs (Princeton Review, 2025)
Is This Program for Me?
The Master of Studies in Law (MSL) is designed for professionals who have not already earned a Juris Doctor. Delivered 100% online, this program will provide you the legal knowledge to help you stand out in today’s complex regulatory and compliance landscape. Students can choose from one of four in-demand concentrations or a custom option:
Financial Services Health Law Higher Education Legal Operations Custom Concentration
MSL: Financial Services Regulatory Compliance
The knowledge and skills you will gain through this program will enable you to advance your career with financial institutions such as banks and credit unions, securities brokers, information technology and related vendors, national and community banks, regulatory agencies and law firms. Students and graduates may have job titles such as compliance officer or risk management director or may work in some other capacity in the industry. In addition to general degree outcomes, students will:
Learn best practices for balancing the safeguards for corporate security and consumer protection in a broad range of regulations concerning money laundering, financial fraud, privacy and more;
And be able to provide leadership in the enhancement of consumer protection and quality improvement.
Courses
The financial services regulatory compliance curriculum focuses on understanding and applying the complex laws and regulations governing the post-2008 American financial services industry including the Bank Secrecy Act, Dodd-Frank Act, UDAAP laws, and the CFPB. Compliance program development and enforcement within the broader risk-management framework is an integral component. The future of the regulatory environment, international implications, and advances in payment systems and technologies are also addressed.
View the Curriculum
Student Benefits
The Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) offers discounted certification packages to graduates and allows your degree to qualify you to sit for credentialing exam, once 10 webinars have also been completed.
The Association of Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) offers students a complimentary two-year membership as well as discounted certification packages.
MSL: Health Law and Compliance
This concentration will help you advance in compliance-related roles in the fields of health care administration, nursing, medicine, compliance, and human resources. In addition to general degree outcomes, students will:
- Learn to implement the basic components of an effective corporate compliance program;
- Learn to implement safeguards for privacy and security pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Be able to continuously adapt to the evolving health system in the United States;
- And, be able to provide leadership in the enhancement of patient safety and quality improvement.
Courses
The program includes course work in health law, regulatory affairs, public policy, insurance, and healthcare administration, with a particular emphasis on health care compliance.
View the Curriculum
Student Benefits
The Compliance and Certification Board (CCB) offers free conference registration to current students and credentialing exam eligibility upon graduation
Accreditation
The concentration in health law and compliance is accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB)®. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for any of the following credentialing exams offered by the Compliance Certification Board without having to meet the typical work experience or CEU requirements: Healthcare Compliance (CHC)™, Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC)®, Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC)® Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP)®.
Coordinated Degree with Pharmacy
Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law and McWhorter School of Pharmacy offer a coordinated degree for students who wish to earn both a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and a Master of Studies in Law (MSL) with a concentration in health law and compliance. This program is designed for students currently enrolled in the McWhorter School of Pharmacy. Because of that, the program of study and application process is unique to those students.
Curriculum Academic Policies Application for Pharmacy Students
MSL: Higher Education Law and Compliance
This concentration is designed for professionals interested in the laws, regulations, and compliance considerations that impact higher education. Students will learn the practical compliance skills necessary for advancement in a variety of higher education-related careers and will:
-
- Be able to evaluate programs and policies for potential risk and identify corrective measures;
- Learn to apply best practices for ensuring the privacy of student data;
- Be able to respond to government and accreditor reporting requirements;
- And, be able to continuously adapt to the evolving regulatory framework of higher education in the United States.
Courses
The curriculum is designed for compliance officers, Title IX officers, ADA support and financial aid personnel, accreditation managers, higher education administrators, attorneys and others interested in developing their expertise in the field of education law and compliance.
View the Curriculum
Student Benefits
The Association of Title IX Administrators (atIXa) offers complimentary student membership and discounted conference registrations.
MSL: Legal Operations
This concentration is designed for law firm professionals who seek career advancement by developing expertise in the growing field of legal operations. This program will prepare students for career opportunities as firm administrators. In addition to general degree outcomes, students will:
- Be prepared for leadership roles in a variety of law office settings;
- Understand the business of law and ways to positively impact profitability;
- Be able to apply and adapt the formal processes and principles of project management to the legal environment;
- Be able to apply process improvement techniques and strategies for the benefit of the firm;
- Understand the legal and ethical responsibilities of a manager with respect to electronically stored information;
- Be able to identify and evaluate resources necessary for effective management of litigation and e-discovery;
- And be able to recognize and respond appropriately to ethical issues including complicity, breach of confidentiality, improper communication, and conflicts of interest.
Courses
The courses address specialized ethical considerations inherent in the management of litigation and electronically stored information (ESI).
View the Curriculum
Student Benefits
The Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP) offers automatic eligibility to sit for the CeDP exam upon graduation, as well as discounted membership and other certifications.
The Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS) offers a discounted certification exam package to graduates.
MSL: Custom Concentration
In addition to the required core legal courses above, MSL students have the option to create a customized course of study by choosing from a variety of courses offered through our regulatory compliance concentrations.
Upon completion of this program, students will synthesize and explain the fundamental principles of American law and procedure, apply an understanding of legal principles to a particular area of professional focus, demonstrate research skills relevant to professional practice, communicate about legal issues with attorneys and others, recognize policy implications in decision-making, and develop expertise in self-designed area of study.
View the Curriculum
Program Objectives
Upon completion of the Master of Studies in Law, you will be equipped to:
- Utilize U.S. legal databases to locate statutes, regulations and court decisions;
- Analyze policy and compliance issues from ethical, legal and economic perspectives;
- Interpret and evaluate cost-effectiveness and outcomes to inform decision-making;
- And communicate complex ideas, both orally and in writing, using legal industry-specific terminology.
Career Preparation
Through real-world course work and practical training from our expert faculty, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to excel in specialized legal environments. You’ll graduate ready to collaborate effectively with attorneys, compliance experts and other legal professionals, while mastering the specialized competencies essential for career success. Our graduates work in a variety of compliance-related fields and corporations.
“As a 20+ year business professional, obtaining the MSL was the most logical step in ensuring I would be able to confidently lead with the knowledge of the law in the workplace. ”
“There is no doubt in my mind that Cumberland’s MSL program, in combination with decades of experience, has prepared me to contribute at an exceptional level in this role and beyond.”
—Barika Hamilton, MSL ’23, Director, UAB Family Clinic
“From the outset, Cumberland’s MSL program was the ideal platform for my graduate studies, blending rigorous legal training with practical applications for nonlawyers. ”
“The depth of legal understanding I gained has not only set me apart in my research endeavors but also enhanced my perspective on various industry-specific issues. This unique blend of legal knowledge and industry insight has been a key differentiator in my career. ”
—Withrow Newell, MSL ’22, instructor, University of Montevallo
“My experience at Cumberland School of Law was truly transformative. Obtaining my Master of Studies in Law with a focus in financial services regulatory compliance was a lucrative investment, to say the least.”
“During my time in the program, I generated an elaborate network of scholars, educators, attorneys and other field professionals. This program armed me with expanded knowledge of applicable governing regulations and regulatory enforcement and I’m able to quickly adapt to constant regulatory changes."
—Tasia Craig, MSL ’21, Home Equity Retirement Originator, Mutual of Omaha
Admission and Application Requirements
Key Dates for Fall 2026
- Application Open: Sept. 2, 2025
- Application Deadline: July 15, 2026
- FAFSA Deadline: July 15, 2026
- Fall 2026 Term Begins: Aug. 24, 2026
Completed Application
All applicants must complete and apply. All materials must be submitted through the online system which includes detailed instructions. It is the applicant’s responsibility to log into his or her application to confirm that all required materials have been received.
Official Transcript
Transcripts are considered official only when sent directly from the issuing institution to Samford University. We require official transcript(s) noting a 3.0 GPA from all previously attended undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate institutions. Transcripts may be submitted in the following ways:
- Email (Preferred): Transcripts may be sent electronically from the institution to admission@samford.edu.
- Electronic Services: Transcripts may also be sent through authorized electronic transcript services such as:
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Parchment
- Scrip-Safe
- Or any other secure electronic transcript delivery service
- Please select Samford University as the recipient during the ordering process.
- Mail: If electronic delivery is not available, official transcripts may be mailed to:
Samford University
Office of Admission
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229
Please allow ample time for transcript orders to be processed.
Other Admission Requirements
- One letter of recommendation
- Professional resume
- Personal essay
International Applicant Information
