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Master in Law Program

2023-2024

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Every day, professionals in a wide range of fields engage the law in their work, from innovating medical treatments and new technologies to launching businesses or crafting effective public policy.

The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is a national leader in legal education, offering unrivaled opportunities to physicians and nurses, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, educators, technology developers, public servants, and creative professionals.

Our Master in Law (ML) candidates are brilliant individuals who enrich Penn Carey Law’s collaborative, collegial community with their diverse perspectives and deep expertise. The Penn Carey Law ML degree allows these accomplished professionals to immerse themselves in rigorous study of the law and build the legal knowledge necessary to advance their professional and academic goals.

Sophia Lee Signature
Sophia Z. Lee
Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law

Master in Law Degree Candidates at a Glance

Degrees combined with the ML include:

Business Administration

Computer & Information

Technology

Dentistry

Education

Engineering

Environmental Sciences

Liberal Arts

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Medicine

Non-Profit Leadership

Nursing

Public Administration

Public Health

Regulatory Affairs

Social Work

Veterinary Medicine

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

0-5 Years
(34%)
5-10 Years
(24%)
10-20+ Years
(42%)
ML Career Fields: Business/Finance, Education, Biosciences, Non-Profit, Government, Technology/IP, Healthcare
students sitting in a college lecture
47% of ML Degree candidates hold 1 or more advanced degrees
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50% of admitted applicants are pursuing another advanced degrees at time of application
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ML degree candidates average 11+ years of professional experience at time of application

The Master in Law Program

Through Penn Carey Law’s unique Master in Law (ML) degree program, you can immerse yourself in the legal concepts that impact your industry every day. Our specialized curriculum combines a solid foundation in the U.S. legal system with the opportunity to select courses that intersect with your discipline, better positioning you as a leader and visionary in your field.

No matter the professional or academic focus, the ML program equips individuals with the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage the risks and complex needs of organizations within an evolving legal and regulatory landscape. The ML may also be combined with other graduate programs at Penn—many students complement primary degrees in medicine, business, education, engineering, and public policy with the ML degree.

The ML Program offers additional possibilities to engage with the law, including the Certificate in Law and ad hoc ML courses for members of the Penn Community and summer courses for visiting students.

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ML Course Offerings

ML Foundational Courses

U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

ML Elective Courses

American Constitutional Law
LAWM 5050

Technology Law and IP for Non-Lawyers
LAWM 5060

Medical Liability and Negligence
LAWM 5130

Contracts and Negotiations
LAWM 5150

Corporate Governance and Compliance
LAWM 5220

Entrepreneurship and the Law
LAWM 5250

Health Law and Policy
LAWM 5300

Fundamentals of U.S. Legal Research (Asynchronous)
LAWM 5360

Healthcare Compliance, Ethics & Governance (Synchronous)
LAWM 5410

Health Law and Comparative Health Systems Overview (Asynchronous)
LAWM 5560

Patent Law (Asynchronous)
LAWM 5760

Master in Law Degree Requirements

Three foundational ML courses cover the essential areas of law in the United States, providing students with the skills and knowledge to succeed at Penn Carey Law and throughout their careers. Students then specialize, choosing additional coursework in their areas of interest from ML electives and the upper-level JD curriculum.
Close-up photograph perspective of UPENN Carey Law Master in Law Program students glancing away from the camera as a guy is clapping and two other women next to him are focusing on something

8 Courses Minimum

Full or Part Time
(8CUS/24SH)

4 ML COURSES:

3 Required Foundational

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 5110

General Business Law

LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 5290

and 1 ML Elective

REMAINING COURSEWORK:

1 required JD course (3SH)

from upper-level JD curriculum

and 3 courses (9SH)

from ML curriculum or upper-level JD curriculum

Sample Curricular Plans

Human Resources Professionals

Emma Grigore LPS’16, ML’20 portrait wearing red dress
Emma Grigore LPS’16, ML’20
PHR (HRCI)
Director of Human Resources, The Wharton School
“Penn Carey Law’s ML program will give you the confidence to understand and effectively manage the legal issues you might confront in your career. From navigating contracts to understanding employment law issues, I found myself applying what I learned in class almost immediately in my HR position.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

Employee Benefits
LAW 6020

Employment Discrimination
LAW 6590

Corporate Governance and Compliance
LAWM 5220

Fundamentals of U.S. Legal Research
LAWM 5360

Labor Law
LAW 5090

Healthcare Leaders

Manoj Mittal WEV’12, ML’18 portrait
Manoj Mittal WEV’12, ML’18
MBBS (Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University), MRCP (Royal College of Physicians)
Physician, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Faculty, Perelman School of Medicine
“I loved the ML program for the intellectual stimulation it provided me. I recommend it to physicians and students in healthcare and the sciences to better understand the legal and regulatory underpinnings of their work, enhance their training in this domain, and be better prepared to practice, teach, and research in today’s complex healthcare environment.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

Health Law and Policy Fundamentals
LAWM 5300

Health Care Fraud: Investigation and Prosecution
LAW 5880

Comparative Health Systems and Law
LAW 9160

Health Care Financing
LAW 9390

Drug Product Liability Litigation
LAW 9430

Government & Public Policy Changemakers

Ayodeji Aladesanmi ML’23, LPS’23 portrait
Ayodeji Aladesanmi ML’23, LPS’23
Management & Budget Consulting (MBC) Analyst, PFM
“As a student of public policy and management, I found the Law School’s ML program indispensable to my studies at Penn. I focused my ML classes on the laws, rules, and long-standing norms that govern the work of democratically accountable public institutions. Now, as I begin my career in public finance—advising public officials on policy, management, and budget decisions—I am confident that my contributions will be founded in the idea that governments should work efficiently, equitably, and transparently for all people across society.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

American Constitutional Law
LAW 5050

Regulatory Law and Policy
LAW 9310

Law and Candidacy
LAWM 968

Public Management and Leadership
GAFL 7320

Public Law and Public Process
GAFL 6310

Healthcare Strategists

Andrew Thum ML’18, GNu’18, GrN’23 portrait
Andrew Thum ML’18, GNu’18, GrN’23
Director of Nursing Workforce Operations, Jefferson Health
“The ML Program has been incredibly rewarding and an invaluable complement to my career. I have already seen the influence of my education at Penn Carey Law in my role to shape and drive my organization’s nursing workforce strategy, programs, and overall operations across PA and NJ for over 10,000 nurses. I recommend this Program to those who desire a better understanding of the legal and regulatory underpinnings of their work.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

Corporate Compliance
LAWM 5220

Health Law and Policy
LAW 5300

Health Care Financing
LAW 9390

Negotiations in Healthcare
NURSING 5480

Current Issues in Health and Social Policy
NURSING 5400

Privacy/Intellectual Property Experts

Sarah Finnerty ML’18 portrait
Sarah Finnerty ML’18
Program Manager, Engineering Compliance, Google
“I work with privacy professionals, [and] the best part is that I can now engage in conversations that are more ethical and theoretical with people who have vast experience in this field. Being able to think in a different way has been invaluable.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

Technology Law and IP for Non-Lawyers
LAW 5060

Intellectual Property and National Economic Value
LAW 9660

History of Privacy and the Law
LAWM 9300

Patent Law
LAWM 6770

Intro to IP Law & Policy
LAW 5070

Trailblazing Entrepreneurs

Jehan Luth GR’19, ML’22 portrait
Jehan Luth GR’19, ML’22
CEO and Founder, Banyan
“The ML program enabled me to understand the legal framework underlying my business idea, helping me avoid problems and move quickly to seize emerging opportunities. I learned what every entrepreneur should know: the right questions to ask, and how to best utilize counsel. This education was key for the successful launch of my startup.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

Health Law and Policy Fundamentals
LAWM 5300

Technology Law and IP
for Non-Lawyers
LAW 5060

Artificial Intelligence
LAW 9820

Contracts and Negotiations
LAW 5150

Future of Finance
LAW 6650

Pathbreaking Technology & Science Innovators

Kiran Musunuru ML’18, G’24 portrait
Kiran Musunuru ML’18, G’24
MPH (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health), MD (Weill-Cornell Medical College), PhD (The Rockefeller University)

Co-Founder and Senior Scientific Advisor, Verve Therapeutics; Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine

“As a cardiologist engaged in research for a potentially revolutionary treatment to prevent cardiovascular disease, I found the practical, real-world focus of my ML courses extremely relevant, particularly those on IP; the opportunity to take law courses at this important juncture was a dream come true.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

Patent Law
LAW 5760

Intro to IP Law & Policy
LAW 5070

Regulatory Law and Policy
LAWM 9310

Technology Law and IP for Non-Lawyers
LAWM 5060

Drug Product Liability Litigation
LAW 9430

Regulatory/Compliance Professionals

Eve Higginbotham ML’20 portrait
Eve Higginbotham ML’20
SM (MIT), MD (Harvard)

Vice Dean for Inclusion and Diversity, Senior Fellow LDI Health Economics; Professor of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine

“As someone often called as an expert witness and engaged in discussions with lawyers, I wanted to know how a seasoned medical practitioner could become well-versed in the law. Penn Carey Law’s ML program was the answer and has helped me zero in on legal areas that intersect with my medical practice and corporate board governance responsibilities, administrative law concerns, and the regulation of medical techniques and treatments.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

Health Law and Policy Fundamentals
LAWM 5300

Corporate Governance, Ethics, and Compliance
LAW 7040

American Constitutional Law
LAW 5050

Fundamentals of U.S.
Legal Research
LAW 5360

Healthcare Finance
LAW 9390

Finance/Corporate Innovators

Will Matson ML’19, WG’19 portrait
Will Matson ML’19, WG’19
President, Apex Service Partners
“I plan to use my ML education to build businesses measured not only by generated profit but also by their positive social impact. I am motivated to do good for society while doing well in business, and for me the latter is inextricably linked with the former. The ML degree will empower me to achieve this.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

Corporate Governance and Compliance
LAW 5220

Corporate Finance: Legal Aspects
LAW 7690

Distressed Dealmaking
LAWM 9080

Bankruptcy
LAWM 6460

M&A Through the Business Cycle
LAW 7500

Education Thought Leaders

Kendrick Davis GEng’14, ML’17, PhD’18 portrait
Kendrick Davis GEng’14, ML’17, PhD’18
Associate Professor of Research, University of Southern California; Former Chief Research Officer, USC Race & Equity Center
“The education system in K-12 and higher education is extremely complex. My ability to effectively recommend local policy required a working knowledge of the legal context of these decisions, especially when communicating recommendations to the mayor or other cabinet members. The ML gave me the necessary knowledge to navigate these issues.”
U.S. Law and Legal Methods
LAWM 5110

General Business Law
LAWM 5280

Navigating the Regulatory State
LAWM 5290

American Constitutional Law
LAWM 5050

Mental Health Law
LAW 7050

Immigration Law
LAW 7800

Law of the Professor: Continuing Problems in Higher Ed
LAW 9490

Discrimination in Education
LAW 9690

JD Course Sampling*

* For a complete and current list, please visit CourseFinder on our website.
Business & Finance

Bankruptcy

Business Strategy, Private Equity, and Corporate Law

Commercial Finance – Secured Transactions


Corporate Finance: Economics and Law

Corporate Reorganization

Corporate Taxation

Corporations

Crisis Management

Deals: Economic Structure of Transactions & Contracting

Economic and Regulatory Policy for Global Markets

Empirical Law and Economics

Employee Benefits

Employment Discrimination

ESG: Current Developments in Public Corporation ESG Initiatives

Fashion Law

Federal Income Taxation

Finance, Economics and Law of Financial Crises

Financial Regulation

International Business Transactions

International Investment Arbitration

International Tax

International Trade Regulation

Labor Law

Law and Economics

Law of Financial Institutions

M&A Through the Business Cycle

Mergers and Acquisitions

Money Laundering

Private Action: Antitrust, RICO & the Class Action

Real Estate Transactions

Shareholder Activism

Startups and Venture Capital

Structuring Venture Capital and Private Equity Transactions

Tax Policy Seminar


Education

Discrimination in Education


Higher Education Law and Policy

Law of the Professor: Continuing Problems in Higher Education

Regulatory & Compliance

Administrative Law

Consumer Financial Regulation

Corporate Ethics, Compliance, and Social Responsibility

Networks, Platforms and Utilities: Law and Policy

Oil and Gas Law

Regulatory Law and Policy

SEC Enforcement

Securities Regulation


Technology

AI and Implicit Bias

Antitrust: Mergers, IP & Vertical Restraints

Artificial Intelligence Law

Blockchain and the Law

Copyright

Cybercrime

Intellectual Property Transactions

Intro to Intellectual Property Law

Law, Technology, and Access to Justice

Law of Autonomous Vehicles

Patent Law

Patents, Innovation, and Value

Privacy and Racial Justice

Privacy Law

Social Media Law

Trademarks


Healthcare & Pharmaceutical

Comparative Health Systems and the Law

Drug Prices, Patents, and Politics

Freedom, Responsibility, and Neuroscience

Health Care Financing and Equity

Health Care Fraud: Investigation and Prosecution

Health Law and Policy

Health Law in Practice

Mental Health Law

Pharmaceutical Regulation and Enforcement


Government & Policy

Access to Justice

American Criminal Law

Animal Law and Ethics

Church & State in America: Contemporary & Historical Perspectives

Climate Change Law and Policy

Community Lawyering to End Mass Incarceration

Conflict of Laws

Conservative Political Legal Thought

Constitutional Interpretation

Criminal Justice Reform

Criminal Law Foundations and Policy

Election Law

Energy Law and Climate Change

Entertainment Law

Family Law

First Amendment

Immigration Law

International Human Rights

Juvenile Justice

Land Use Law

Law and Candidacy

Law and Morality of War

Law and Sexuality

Local Government Law

National Security Law

Power, Injustice, and Change in America

Public Corruption and the Law

Race, Law, and Resistance

Refugee Law

State Constitutional Law

Strategic Lawyering for Social Justice

The Supreme Court

Voting Rights

Women, Law, and Leadership

Business & Finance

Bankruptcy

Business Strategy, Private Equity, and Corporate Law

Commercial Finance – Secured Transactions


Corporate Finance: Economics and Law

Corporate Reorganization

Corporate Taxation

Corporations

Crisis Management

Deals: Economic Structure of Transactions & Contracting

Economic and Regulatory Policy for Global Markets

Empirical Law and Economics

Employee Benefits

Employment Discrimination

ESG: Current Developments in Public Corporation ESG Initiatives

Fashion Law

Federal Income Taxation

Finance, Economics and Law of Financial Crises

Financial Regulation

International Business Transactions

International Investment Arbitration

International Tax

International Trade Regulation

Labor Law

Law and Economics

Law of Financial Institutions

M&A Through the Business Cycle

Mergers and Acquisitions

Money Laundering

Private Action: Antitrust, RICO & the Class Action

Real Estate Transactions

Shareholder Activism

Startups and Venture Capital

Structuring Venture Capital and Private Equity Transactions

Tax Policy Seminar


Education

Discrimination in Education


Higher Education Law and Policy

Law of the Professor: Continuing Problems in Higher Education

Regulatory & Compliance

Administrative Law

Consumer Financial Regulation

Corporate Ethics, Compliance, and Social Responsibility

Networks, Platforms and Utilities: Law and Policy

Oil and Gas Law

Regulatory Law and Policy

SEC Enforcement

Securities Regulation


Technology

AI and Implicit Bias

Antitrust: Mergers, IP & Vertical Restraints

Artificial Intelligence Law

Blockchain and the Law

Copyright

Cybercrime

Intellectual Property Transactions

Intro to Intellectual Property Law

Law, Technology, and Access to Justice

Law of Autonomous Vehicles

Patent Law

Patents, Innovation, and Value

Privacy and Racial Justice

Privacy Law

Social Media Law

Trademarks


Healthcare & Pharmaceutical

Comparative Health Systems and the Law

Drug Prices, Patents, and Politics

Freedom, Responsibility, and Neuroscience

Health Care Financing and Equity

Health Care Fraud: Investigation and Prosecution

Health Law and Policy

Health Law in Practice

Mental Health Law

Pharmaceutical Regulation and Enforcement


Government & Policy

Access to Justice

American Criminal Law

Animal Law and Ethics

Church & State in America: Contemporary & Historical Perspectives

Climate Change Law and Policy

Community Lawyering to End Mass Incarceration

Conflict of Laws

Conservative Political Legal Thought

Constitutional Interpretation

Criminal Justice Reform

Criminal Law Foundations and Policy

Election Law

Energy Law and Climate Change

Entertainment Law

Family Law

First Amendment

Immigration Law

International Human Rights

Juvenile Justice

Land Use Law

Law and Candidacy

Law and Morality of War

Law and Sexuality

Local Government Law

National Security Law

Power, Injustice, and Change in America

Public Corruption and the Law

Race, Law, and Resistance

Refugee Law

State Constitutional Law

Strategic Lawyering for Social Justice

The Supreme Court

Voting Rights

Women, Law, and Leadership

Admissions

We look for talented professionals and students who are intellectually curious with strong academic records and ambitious professional profiles. Applicants should demonstrate a well-articulated desire to engage in the rigorous academic challenge that the ML program presents and to contribute to Penn Carey Law’s accomplished, vibrant community. Visit our website to find detailed application instructions.
Jennifer Caughey DMD/ML’19, Mohammad Mousavian DMD‘19/ML’18

The Penn Carey Law Community

Our supportive, inclusive community values collaboration and teamwork. We appreciate the breadth of experiences and perspectives that every member of our community brings to the Law School and engage our colleagues and faculty in ways that respect and celebrate the many distinctions in philosophy and experience.

In addition to the rich, interdisciplinary curriculum, ML degree candidates are encouraged to take advantage of a variety of robust extracurricular opportunities, including student affinity groups, centers and institutes, and campus events throughout the year.

central view down a line of individuals meeting at an orientation

Master in Law Faculty Perspectives

ML lecturers are renowned academics and practitioners with years of experience in their fields. Appreciating that ML degree candidates often enter the program without a law background, the twenty-five lecturers and faculty teaching in the ML program distill complex legal concepts, bridging legal principles and practice, to provide ML degree candidates with a solid foundation for JD elective courses. As an ML degree candidate, you will also learn from Penn Carey Law’s standing faculty.

Rebecca E. Clayton, Esq.

Adjunct Professor of Law and Associate
General Counsel Nexxt, Inc.
“The Master in Law program is an exceptional opportunity for professionals in varied disciplines to gain a strong legal background to inform and enhance their decision-making. The wide-ranging experiences of the ML students fosters an engaging and vibrant learning environment.”
Rebecca E. Clayton, Esq.
Rebecca E. Clayton, Esq.

Rebecca E. Clayton, Esq.

Adjunct Professor of Law and Associate
General Counsel Nexxt, Inc.
“The Master in Law program is an exceptional opportunity for professionals in varied disciplines to gain a strong legal background to inform and enhance their decision-making. The wide-ranging experiences of the ML students fosters an engaging and vibrant learning environment.”
Andrew Kandel, Esq. C’82, L’86

Andrew Kandel, Esq. C’82, L’86

Chief Compliance Officer & Co-General Counsel,
Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.
“The Master in Law program provides a unique opportunity to teach not just the law, but the real life and practical application of the law. In addition, my course greatly benefits from the diverse experiences of a mix of graduate students, undergraduates, faculty, and other practicing professionals.”

Donyale Reavis, Esq. L’99, G’99

Vice President, Goldman Sachs
“No matter how fast or how often the face of traditional and start-up businesses change, bandwidth and capacity are timeless. As an ML student, you are trained to analyze, identify, and assess threats and opportunities through the lens of legal compliance and protection, and as a result, leave with exponentially greater bandwidth and capacity around assessing threats and developing protection strategies.”
Donyale Reavis, Esq. L’99, G’99
Donyale Reavis, Esq. L’99, G’99

Donyale Reavis, Esq. L’99, G’99

Vice President, Goldman Sachs
“No matter how fast or how often the face of traditional and start-up businesses change, bandwidth and capacity are timeless. As an ML student, you are trained to analyze, identify, and assess threats and opportunities through the lens of legal compliance and protection, and as a result, leave with exponentially greater bandwidth and capacity around assessing threats and developing protection strategies.”
Michael Gerhardt

Michael Gerhardt

Burton Craige Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence, University of North Carolina School of Law, Scholar-in-Residence & Director of Content, National Constitution Center
“As a constitutional scholar, having been called to testify several times before Congress regarding constitutional interpretation, I enjoy interacting and sharing these experiences with ML students as we analyze the Constitution and how it shapes our daily lives and the political life of this nation.”

Emily Largent Nu’06

Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine
“I appreciate the range of personal and professional experiences that ML students bring to my classroom. Their unique perspectives guide our learning, enrich our discussions, and highlight the significant—and sometimes surprising—role of law and policy in all our lives.”
Emily Largent Nu’06
Emily Largent Nu’06

Emily Largent Nu’06

Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine
“I appreciate the range of personal and professional experiences that ML students bring to my classroom. Their unique perspectives guide our learning, enrich our discussions, and highlight the significant—and sometimes surprising—role of law and policy in all our lives.”
* For a complete and current list, please visit our website.
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Contact the
Master in Law Program

Visit our website at
www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/master-in-law/

or scan QR code:

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Email: master@law.upenn.edu

All information in this viewbook is subject to change as our programs are constantly evolving. For the most up to date information, please visit our website.

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