Online Master’s Degree Programs from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law

Top-Ranked for Dispute Resolution¹

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law offers two online master’s degree programs: the online Master of Legal Studies with an optional concentration in dispute resolution and the online Master of Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s Straus Institute, top-ranked for dispute resolution in the U.S. News & World Report 2021 law school rankings.¹

The online programs can be completed in as few as 16 months. No GRE, GMAT, or LSAT scores are required for admission. Bachelor’s degree required.

Choose the Right Program for You

Master of Legal Studies

The online Master of Legal Studies program is designed for nonlawyers looking to develop a broad understanding of US law and legal procedures to better perform law-related job responsibilities and solve complex legal challenges. The curriculum explores a range of legal topics, such as contracts, administrative law, property law, and health law. If you are interested in honing your skills in conflict resolution and mediation, you can select the optional dispute resolution concentration. If you are interested in gaining a solid understanding of employment law to better serve your organization and its employees, you can select the optional human resources concentration.

Master of Dispute Resolution

The online Master of Dispute Resolution program prepares mid-career professionals to use conflict resolution and mediation skills to effectively solve disputes and negotiate complex transactions that arise across private and public sectors and in a variety of industries, such as technology, manufacturing, real estate, and insurance. You will gain an understanding of the root causes of conflict in both domestic and global environments, making you essential in intercepting and resolving disputes before they escalate into larger issues affecting your organization.

In our programs, you will:

Attend live face-to-face classes online and complete weekly self-paced course work.

Customize your learning experience by selecting from a variety of electives that are applicable to different industries and professions.

Learn from the same accomplished faculty who teach on campus.

Benefit from practical learning experiences, such as simulations and mock exercises, to reinforce your learning and to help you apply your knowledge at work. Pepperdine Caruso Law was ranked #14 in the country by National Jurist for practical training in 2021.²

Attend two on-campus learning experiences in Malibu, where you will network with classmates, faculty, and experts in the field while participating in exercises that put your newly learned skills into practice.

Ready to improve your legal skills and advance in your career? Request more information about our online master's degree programs.


¹ U.S. News & World Report, 2021 Best Dispute Resolution Programs (Accessed September 2021) (https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/dispute-resolution-rankings)

² PreLaw Magazine, 2021 Best Schools for Practical Training (Accessed September, 2021) (https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/frame.php?i=700652&p=&pn=&ver=html5)