The M.L.S. Degree Program Mission
The Master of Legal Studies program at Trinity Law School is designed to give a broad understanding of law and legal systems for those students and professionals who seek to advance their careers in areas that involve legal compliance, regulations, contracts, negotiations, business, property, or human rights. The program provides a general introduction to legal principles that gives students already in the work force the ability to aid their employers in legal issues. The program will also provide students with the ability to assess the effectiveness of counsel retained by employers and use legal services effectively. In addition to a general survey of law and legal systems, the Trinity Law School M.L.S. will provide opportunities for students to concentrate their degree program in Human Rights, Human Resources, Nonprofit Management, Church and Ministry Management or Bioethics.
The Master of Legal Studies degree program is a 30-unit online degree program. Students complete a core curriculum of 15 units and must choose from one of six 15-unit tracks for a total of 30 units. "Except as provided in rule 4.30 of the Admissions Rules (Legal education in a foreign state or country), completion of a professional law degree program at this law school other than for the Juris Doctor degree does not qualify a student to take the California Bar Examination or satisfy the requirements for admission to the practice law in California. It may not qualify a student to take the bar extermination or to satisfy requirement for admission to the practice of law in any other jurisdiction. A student intending to seek admission to practice law should contact the admitting authority in the jurisdictions where the student intends to qualify to sit for the bar examination or to be admitted to practice for information regarding their legal education requirements."
MLS Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the M.L.S. program, the graduate will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the law in areas applicable to a wide range of business and management positions.
2. Apply the law as a tool for effective and ethical decision‐making.
3. Identify and formulate the legal issues and theories that impact their professional career.
4. Effectively interact with attorneys regarding the application of legal solutions to business and ministry challenges.
5. Recognize and resolve ethical issues by applying knowledge of secular law and biblical principles to content area topics.
Accreditation
Trinity Law School is a school of Trinity International University, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree Requirements
To graduate with a Master in Legal Studies degree, students must successfully complete 30 units of study. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above is required for the degree.
Academic Year
The academic calendar consists of modular classes meeting for seven-week periods with a one-week break between each module. Full time students will complete the program in two years. Please see the calendar in this catalog or at tls.edu for module start and end dates, registration deadlines, and holidays.
Transferring units from Trinity Law School JD program
Students who either have completed courses at Trinity Law School or have graduated with their Juris Doctor degree from Trinity Law School can transfer up to 18 units from the completed Juris Doctor units toward the 30 required units for the Master of Legal Studies degree. These students must complete a minimum of 12 Master of Legal Studies units.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities requiring special arrangements will be accommodated upon petition accompanied by supporting documentation of the disability and upon approval of the Registrar. Special accommodations will be carefully tailored to meet the documented need in accordance with the Trinity Law School disability policy. An informational packet detailing the services available for students with disabilities can be obtained from the Records Office.
Students with a Bachelor’s Degree from a Foreign School
Trinity Law School accepts students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree at a foreign institution. Students who have completed course work or earned degrees from foreign institutions must submit transcripts through a foreign credit evaluation service to determine eligibility for transfer credit. In addition, students for whom English is not the first language must demonstrate English competency by earning a minimum TOEFL score of 92 for the internet based examination, 237 for the computer examination, or 580 for the paper examination.
Student Handbook
Academic policies and standards in addition to those in this catalog are contained in the Student Handbook, which is issued to each student at the beginning of every academic year. In case of any conflict, the standards contained in the catalog are controlling.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| MLS 505 | Philosophy and Theology of Justice | 3 |
| MLS 521 | Contracts | 3 |
| MLS 541 | Torts | 3 |
| MLS 558 | Legal Fundamentals | 3 |
| MLS 702 | Business Organizations | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
There are 6 tracks to choose from (15 hours):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Track | ||
| Concentration | ||
| MLS 600 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| MLS 660 | Property | 3 |
| Electives (3 courses) | 9 | |
| Choose electives from those listed below or from the other 5 tracks | ||
| Criminal Law | ||
| Criminal Procedure | ||
| Wills, Trusts, and Estates | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Management Track | ||
| Concentration | ||
| MLS 400 | Human Resources Compliance | 3 |
| MLS 531 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| Electives (3 courses) | 9 | |
| Staffing and Compensation Administration | ||
| Employment Discrimination | ||
| Labor Law and ADR | ||
| Performance Assessment | ||
| Strategic Planning | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Human Rights Track | ||
| Concentration | ||
| MLS 600 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| MLS 901 | International Criminal Law | 3 |
| MLS 923 | Introduction to International Human Rights Law | 3 |
| Electives (2 courses) | 6 | |
| Introduction to Bioethics | ||
| The Theory and Law of Armed Conflict | ||
| The Right to Life and the Law | ||
| The Rights of Women, Children, and Families | ||
| The Rights of Minorities | ||
| Religious Liberty and the Law | ||
| Genocide and the Law | ||
| Study Abroad | ||
| Human Trafficking and Economic Development-Cambodia | ||
| International Human Rights Forum - Strasbourg, France | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Nonprofit Organizations Track | ||
| MLS 850 | Exempt Organizations | 3 |
| MLS 861 | Nonprofit Law | 3 |
| Electives (3 courses) | 9 | |
| Property | ||
| Religious Organizations | ||
| Strategic Planning | ||
| International Non-Government Organizations | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Church and Ministry Management Track | ||
| MLS 600 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| MLS 850 | Exempt Organizations | 3 |
| MLS 861 | Nonprofit Law | 3 |
| Electives (2 courses) | 6 | |
| Staffing and Compensation Administration | ||
| Property | ||
| Religious Organizations | ||
| Strategic Planning | ||
| Religious Liberty and the Law | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bioethics Track | ||
| MLS 600 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| MLS 700 | Introduction to Bioethics | 3 |
| Electives (3 courses) | 9 | |
| The Right to Life and the Law | ||
| Current Issues in Bioethics | ||
| Classic Cases in Bioethics | ||
| Readings in Bioethics | ||
| Bioethics Seminar | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
