Master in Law Program

2021-2022

Law shouldn’t be limited to those who make their careers as lawyers. At the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, our philosophy is that law affects all of us, no matter what field we are in. Our Master in Law candidates are an incredibly diverse and accomplished group of professionals and students who make up an integral part of our collegial and collaborative Law School community. They infuse our classrooms with their experiences as physicians, nurses, technologists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and more. In turn, ML candidates receive an education that immerses them in legal study and illuminates the connections between the law and the wide range of related fields in which they have developed expertise.

Theodore Ruger

Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law

Master in Law Degree Candidates at a Glance

ML degree candidates average
11+ years of professional experience
at time of application

Degrees combined with the ML include:

Computer & Information Technology

Dentistry

Education

Engineering

Environmental Sciences

Liberal Arts

Business Administration

Medicine

Non-Profit Leadership

Nursing

Public Administration

Public Health

Regulatory Affairs

Social Work

Veterinary Medicine

47% of ML Degree candidates
hold
1 or more advanced degrees

The Master in Law Program

The Master in Law (ML) degree offers accomplished professionals and talented students the opportunity to immerse themselves in learning the law that impacts their work and day-to-day lives. The specialized curriculum combines a solid foundation in the U.S. legal system with specific knowledge of the legal issues and processes that intersect with many disciplines.

ML degree candidates design their own educations. No matter the professional or academic focus, the ML Program provides the knowledge and skills to navigate complex issues and effectively manage the risks and needs of organizations as law and regulations continue to evolve. In addition, the ML can be combined with other graduate programs at Penn—many students complement their primary degrees in medicine, business, education, engineering, public policy, and more with the ML degree.

In addition to the degree, the ML Program offers other possibilities to engage with the law including the Certificate in Law and ad hoc ML courses for members of the Penn Community and summer classes for visiting students. Visit our website to learn more.

ML Course Offerings

ML Core Courses

LAWM 511

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 528

General Business Law

LAWM 529

Navigating the Regulatory State

ML Elective Courses

LAWM 505

American Constitutional Law

LAWM 506

Technology Law and IP for Non-Lawyers

LAWM 513

Medical Liability and Negligence

LAWM 515

Contracts and Negotiations

LAWM 522

Corporate Compliance

LAWM 525

Entrepreneurship and the Law

LAWM 530

Health Law and Policy

LAWM 536

Fundamentals of U.S. Legal Research (online)

LAWM 556

Health Law and Comparative Health Systems Overview (online)

LAWM 576

Patent Law (online)

ML Degree Requirements

The degree begins with core foundational ML courses that cover the essential areas of law — U.S. Law, Regulatory Law, and Business Law — equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the law school and throughout their careers. ML students then specialize with additional coursework in their areas of interest from the ML electives and JD curriculum.

8 REQUIRED COURSES, FULL or PART TIME

4 ML COURSES

3 Foundational Core

1 ML elective

4 JD COURSES

If desired, ML electives may be substituted for a maximum of 3 JD electives

Sample Curricular Plans

Human resources focus

Emma Grigore, PHR, ML’20

Chief People Officer, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

“The Law School’s ML program will give you the confidence to understand and effectively manage the legal issues you might confront in your career. From knowing the particulars of contracts to understanding employment law issues, I found myself applying what I learned in class almost immediately in my HR position.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

Employee Benefits

LAW 602

Employment Discrimination

LAW 659

Corporate Compliance

LAWM 522

Fundamentals of US Legal Research

LAWM 536

Labor Law

LAW 509

Healthcare Focus

Manoj Mittal, MD, ML’18

Physician, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Faculty, Perelman School of Medicine

“The ML program has been incredibly rewarding and an invaluable complement to my medical career. 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 so be better prepared to practice, teach, and research in today’s complex healthcare environment.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

Health Law and Policy Fundamentals

LAWM 530

Health Care Fraud: Investigation and Prosecution

LAW 588

Comparative Health Systems and Law

LAW 916

Health Care Financing

LAW 939

Drug Product Liability Litigation

LAW 943

privacy/ intellectual property focus

Sarah Finnerty, ML’18

Assistant Vice President and Privacy Program Manager, Blackstone

“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 — the same way as people who have been in the space as lawyers — has been invaluable.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

Technology Law

LAWM 506

Intellectual Property and National Economic Value

LAW 966

History of Privacy and the Law

LAW 930

Patent Law

LAW 677

Intro to IP Law & Policy

LAW 507

Education focus

Kendrick Davis, PhD, ML’17, MSE’14

Chief Research Officer Race and Equity Center & Associate Professor, University of Southern California

“The education system in K-12 and higher education is extremely complex. My ability to effectively recommend policy at the local level required that I have a working knowledge of the legal context in which these decisions need to be made, especially when communicating such recommendations to the Mayor or other cabinet members. The ML gave me the necessary knowledge to navigate these issues in the future.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

American Constitutional Law

LAWM 505

Mental Health Law

LAW 705

Immigration Law

LAW 780

Law of the Professor: Continuing Problems in Higher Ed

LAW 949

Discrimination in Education

LAW 969

finance/ corporate focus

Will Matson, Wharton MBA’19, ML’19

CFO and Head of M&A, Alpine Investors

“I plan to use the ML education in my future career of building businesses that are measured not only for the profit they generate, but also for their positive social impact… I am motivated to do good for society, while doing well in business, and for me the latter achievement is inextricably linked with the former. I believe that this legal education will empower me to achieve this and, as per the Wharton motto, ‘become a pillar of the state, whether in public or private life.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

Corporate Compliance

LAWM 522

Corporate Finance: Legal Aspects

LAW 769

Distressed Dealmaking

LAW 908

Bankruptcy

LAW 646

M&A Through the Business Cycle

LAW 750

entrepreneurship focus

Jehan Luth, MPH, ML’20

CEO and Founder, Banyan

“The ML program enabled me to understand the legal framework underlying my business idea such that I could avoid problems and move quickly to seize the opportunities that arose. I learned what every entrepreneur should know – what questions to ask and how to best utilize counsel. This education was key for the successful launch of my startup.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

Health Law and Policy Fundamentals

LAWM 530

Technology Law

LAW 506

Artificial Intelligence

LAW 982

Contracts and Negotiations

LAW 515

Patents, Innovation and Value

LAW 613

journalism focus

Lori Robertson

Managing Editor, FactCheck.org Annenberg Public Policy Center

“As a journalist, I’ve researched and written about legal and policy issues for years. The ML program has been incredibly valuable in deepening my knowledge and understanding of statutes, cases and the legal framework. Also, the engagement with both ML and JD students has been an enriching experience. I highly recommend the program to anyone with an interest in the law.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

American Constitutional Law

LAWM 505

Visual Legal Advocacy

LAW 979

Election Law

LAW 676

Public Corruption and the Law

LAW 991

Law and Candidacy

LAW 968

healthcare focus

Andrew Thum, MSN/ML’18, DNP’23

Nurse Manager, Jefferson Health; Emerging Nurse Leader, SEPONL

“The ML Program has been incredibly rewarding and an invaluable complement to my career. I have already seen the influence of my education at the Law School in my position as manager of a 32-bed medical surgical unit. I recommend this Program to those who desire a better understanding of the legal and regulatory underpinnings of their work.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

Corporate Compliance

LAWM 522

Health Law and Policy

LAW 530

Health Care Financing

LAW 939

Negotiations in Healthcare

NURSING 548

Current Issues in Health and Social Policy

NURSING 540

Technology & Innovation focus

Kiran Musunuru, MD, PhD, MPH, ML’18

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

“The practical, real world focus of the courses in the ML program has proven extremely relevant. As a cardiologist engaged in research for a treatment with the potential to protect people against cardiovascular disease, the opportunity to take law courses at this important juncture was a dream come true. Going forward, any time I’m doing something in a laboratory, I will always be conscious of the IP implications.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

Patent Law

LAWM 576

Intro to IP Law & Policy

LAW 507

Regulatory Law and Policy

LAW 931

Technology Law

LAWM 506

Drug Product Liability Litigation

LAW 943

regulatory/ compliance focus

Eve Higginbotham, SM, MD, ML’20

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

“I’m often called to be an expert witness and engage in discussions with lawyers. Those interactions piqued my curiosity about how a seasoned medical practitioner might become well-versed in the law. The ML program has helped me zero in on areas of the law that intersect with my medical practice and corporate board governance responsibilities, administrative law concerns and the regulation of medical techniques and treatments.”

Sample Curricular Plan

U.S. Law and Legal Methods

LAWM 511

General Business Law

LAWM 528

Navigating the Regulatory State

LAWM 529

Health Law and Policy Fundamentals

LAWM 530

Corporate Governance, Ethics, and Compliance

LAW 704

American Constitutional Law

LAW 505

Fundamentals of US Legal Research

LAWM 536

Healthcare Finance

LAW 939

JD Course Sampling*

* For a complete and current list, please visit our website.

Administrative Law

Advanced Issues in Private Finance

Advanced Topics in Technology and Policy

Anatomy of a Divorce

Animal Law and Ethics

Antitrust: Mergers, IP & Vertical Restraints

Artificial Intelligence Law

Black Lives Matter in Historical Perspective

Business Strategy, Private Equity and Corporate Law

China and International Human Rights

Church & State in America: Contemporary & Historical Perspectives

Climate Change Law and Policy

Commercial Finance – Secured Transactions

Comparative Health Systems and the Law

Conflict of Laws

Constitutional Interpretation

Consumer Financial Regulation

Copyright

Corp Gov, Ethics, Compliance

Corporate Finance: Economics and Law

Corporate Restructuring

Corporate Taxation

Corporations

Crimmigration

Crisis Management

Cybercrime

Deals: Economic Structure of Transactions & Contracting

Development and Diversity of American Criminal Law

Discrimination in Education

Election Law

Empirical Law and Economics

Employee Benefits

Employment Discrimination

Energy Law and Climate Change

Entertainment Law

European Union Law

Family Law

Fashion Law

Federal Income Taxation

Federal Indian Law

Finance, Economics and Law of Financial Crises

FinTech Challenge

First Amendment

Food Systems, Sustainability and the Law

Foreign Relations Law

Freedom, Responsibility and Neuroscience

General Counsel

Health Care Financing

Health Care Fraud: Investigation and Prosecution

Health Law and Policy

Immigration Law

In-House Counsel/Corporate Generalist

Intellectual Property Transactions

Intelligence Law Seminar

International Business Transactions

International Human Rights

International Investment Arbitration

International Tax

International Trade Regulation

Labor Law

Land Use Law

Law and Candidacy

Law and Commerce in American History

Law and Economics

Law of Financial Institutions

Law of Investigations

Law of the Professor: Cont Problems in Higher Education

Law of the Sea

Local Government Law

M&A Through the Business Cycle

Mediation Theory and Skills

Mental Health Law

Mergers and Acquisitions

Military, Law, and Society

Money Laundering

National Security Law

Nonprofit Organizations: Law, Governance and Ethics

Oil and Gas Law

Patent Law

Patents, Innovation and Value

Pharmaceutical Regulation and Enforcement

Power & Privilege in Public Service

Private Action: Antitrust, RICO & the Class Action

Prosecution and Defense in the 21^st Century

Public Corruption and the Law

Real Estate Transactions

Refugee Law

Regulatory Law and Policy

SEC Enforcement

Securities Regulation

Social Media Law

Sport and Law in Comparative Perspective

Structuring Venture Capital and Private Equity Transactions

Tax Policy Seminar

Topics in Defamation

Trade Secrets

Trade War: Economic Laws of National Security

Trademarks

Transformation of the Financial Sector

Trusts and Estates

Unincorporated Business Entitites

Visual Legal Advocacy

White Collar Crime

Administrative Law

Advanced Issues in Private Finance

Advanced Topics in Technology and Policy

Anatomy of a Divorce

Animal Law and Ethics

Antitrust: Mergers, IP & Vertical Restraints

Artificial Intelligence Law

Black Lives Matter in Historical Perspective

Business Strategy, Private Equity and Corporate Law

China and International Human Rights

Church & State in America: Contemporary & Historical Perspectives

Climate Change Law and Policy

Commercial Finance – Secured Transactions

Comparative Health Systems and the Law

Conflict of Laws

Constitutional Interpretation

Consumer Financial Regulation

Copyright

Corp Gov, Ethics, Compliance

Corporate Finance: Economics and Law

Corporate Restructuring

Corporate Taxation

Corporations

Crimmigration

Crisis Management

Cybercrime

Deals: Economic Structure of Transactions & Contracting

Development and Diversity of American Criminal Law

Discrimination in Education

Election Law

Empirical Law and Economics

Employee Benefits

Employment Discrimination

Energy Law and Climate Change

Entertainment Law

European Union Law

Family Law

Fashion Law

Federal Income Taxation

Federal Indian Law

Finance, Economics and Law of Financial Crises

FinTech Challenge

First Amendment

Food Systems, Sustainability and the Law

Foreign Relations Law

Freedom, Responsibility and Neuroscience

General Counsel

Health Care Financing

Health Care Fraud: Investigation and Prosecution

Health Law and Policy

Immigration Law

In-House Counsel/Corporate Generalist

Intellectual Property Transactions

Intelligence Law Seminar

International Business Transactions

International Human Rights

International Investment Arbitration

International Tax

International Trade Regulation

Labor Law

Land Use Law

Law and Candidacy

Law and Commerce in American History

Law and Economics

Law of Financial Institutions

Law of Investigations

Law of the Professor: Cont Problems in Higher Education

Law of the Sea

Local Government Law

M&A Through the Business Cycle

Mediation Theory and Skills

Mental Health Law

Mergers and Acquisitions

Military, Law, and Society

Money Laundering

National Security Law

Nonprofit Organizations: Law, Governance and Ethics

Oil and Gas Law

Patent Law

Patents, Innovation and Value

Pharmaceutical Regulation and Enforcement

Power & Privilege in Public Service

Private Action: Antitrust, RICO & the Class Action

Prosecution and Defense in the 21^st Century

Public Corruption and the Law

Real Estate Transactions

Refugee Law

Regulatory Law and Policy

SEC Enforcement

Securities Regulation

Social Media Law

Sport and Law in Comparative Perspective

Structuring Venture Capital and Private Equity Transactions

Tax Policy Seminar

Topics in Defamation

Trade Secrets

Trade War: Economic Laws of National Security

Trademarks

Transformation of the Financial Sector

Trusts and Estates

Unincorporated Business Entitites

Visual Legal Advocacy

White Collar Crime

Admissions

We look for professionals and students who are intellectually curious with strong academic records and professional experiences, demonstrating through their application a well-articulated desire to engage in the rigorous academic challenge that this Program presents and to contribute to our accomplished, vibrant, and engaged community. Detailed application instructions are found on our website.

Jennifer Caughey and Mohammad Mousavian talking at a table

Jennifer Caughey DMD/ML ’19, Mohammad Mousavian DMD ‘19/ML’18

The Law School Community

The power of diversity at the Law School creates a supportive and inclusive community where collaboration and teamwork are valued. We appreciate the breadth of experiences and perspectives brought to the law school and are willing to engage colleagues and faculty in ways that respect and celebrate the many distinctions in philosophy and experience that appear in a community as abundant in ideas and backgrounds as Penn Law.

In addition to the rich, interdisciplinary curriculum, ML degree candidates are encouraged to take advantage of the varied extra-curricular opportunities at the Law School, including involvement with student affinity groups, engaging with centers and institutes and attending many events throughout the year.

Master in Law Faculty Perspectives

ML lecturers are renowned academics and practitioners with many years of experience in their fields, bridging legal principles and practice. Appreciating that ML degree candidates often enter into the Program without a law background, our lecturers make legal concepts digestible while providing students with solid foundations for their future JD courses.

As an ML degree candidate, you will also have the opportunity to take classes and interact with prominent faculty teaching in the JD curriculum.

For more about our distinguished faculty, visit www.law.upenn.edu/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.”

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.”

Andrew Kandel, Esq.

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.”

Emily Largent, JD, PhD, RN

Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine

“I appreciate the range of personal and professional experiences that the 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.”

Donyale Reavis, Esq.

Founding Partner, Reavis & Associates, PC

“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.”

Contact the
Master in Law Program

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

or scan QR code:

Email: master@law.upenn.edu

Catharine Restrepo, Esq. L’93
Executive Director, Master in Law Program

Michael Knoll
Theodore K. Warner Professor of Law
Academic Director, Master in Law Program

Natalie Dury Green
Director of Operations, Master in Law Program

Kait Johnstone
Assistant Director, Master in Law Program

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.