Vanderbilt Law School has announced a generous staff discount for its new online Master of Legal Studies program. The two-year MLS program is for busy professionals who are looking to deepen their understanding of the legal system and become more sophisticated and confident in navigating the law. Courses are designed by Vanderbilt’s full-time tenured faculty and are targeted to provide working professionals in a variety of fields with a nuanced understanding of the U.S. legal system.
“The online master of legal studies is a transformative degree program for an array of working professionals, including our own staff,” said C. Cybele Raver, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “To be highly innovative, organizational cultures require advancing professionals to navigate a variety of legal and regulatory pressures, even if they will never practice law vocationally. This program will provide graduates with the knowledge to confidently take risks and boldly lead their organizations into the future.”
The MLS program is a collaboration between Vanderbilt Law School and the newly established Office of Digital Education. The curriculum, faculty and courses provide online students with a world-class Vanderbilt Law School experience.
The Office of Digital Education has built a custom immersive online environment designed to foster student engagement and community. Each course has been developed through the Office of Digital Education specifically for the MLS program using best practices for online learning to provide a first-rate classroom experience that serves busy professional students. By combining asynchronous videos, reading and exercises with biweekly live classes, discussion boards and the option to complete a short course on campus during the second year, the Office of Digital Education has worked side by side with the Law School to embody the culture of discovery, collaboration and innovation that make Vanderbilt unique.
As of August 22, 2023, Vanderbilt University staff who are eligible for the employee tuition benefit (administered by EdAssist) can use the benefit to receive 70 percent off the cost of tuition for one three-hour credit course per semester. In addition, the Law School is pleased to offer a 25 percent tuition scholarship on one three-hour credit course per term to any eligible Vanderbilt University employee enrolled—a combined benefit of 95 percent off the cost of tuition for one of the three-hour credit courses per semester.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center staff who are eligible for the employee tuition benefit can use the VUMC employee benefit (administered by EdAssist) to receive 70 percent off the cost of tuition for one three-hour credit course per semester. VUMC staff do not qualify for the additional 25 percent tuition scholarship.
“We are excited to make this investment in our Vanderbilt staff colleagues and look forward to welcoming them to our classes,” said Chris Guthrie, dean of Vanderbilt Law School and John Wade—Kent Syverud Professor of Law. “We are confident that this program will be beneficial to them and to the university.”
The Master of Legal Studies program is currently accepting applications for its first term, which begins Jan. 9, 2023. Eligible Vanderbilt employees who wish to take advantage of this special scholarship should apply to the program no later than Dec. 26 for spring 2023 enrollment. If you wish to learn more about the online master of legal studies, visit the program’s website to request a brochure.