University of Pittsburgh School of Law Online Programs
In the modern workplace, where all aspects of an organization’s operations are impacted by laws and regulations, having a legal education is a valuable asset to both your career and to your company. The law is more than just an art or a science; it influences almost every decision—both personally and professionally—and Pitt Law’s Online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) program and specialized certificates are here to help those without a JD degree learn what they need to get ahead. Online specialty certificate programs are also available on a stand-alone basis for those not seeking a master’s degree.
The Online MSL is a 30-credit advanced degree designed for professionals like you. Enhance your career with a versatile program offering multiple specializations—Corporate Compliance, Health Care Compliance, Human Resources Law, International Business Law, and Sports, Entertainment, and Arts Law—to learn what matters most for your career. The online certificate programs are earned by completing 15 credits in the area of your choosing. As the premier provider of online graduate legal education in Pennsylvania, Pitt Law combines academic excellence with flexible learning options designed for working professionals.
Video Transcript
Pitt Law has been a leader in legal education for over 125 years. Now, our master's studies and law degree is online.
I am Marily Nixon. I am a professor of practice at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and I direct the online Master of Studies and Law program there. What is the online MSL at Pitt Law? It's a two-year program that gives students the opportunity to earn a master's degree and also a certificate in a specialization of their choice. This is a part-time program, all online, asynchronous, so students can complete the work when it works for them.
Natalie Novak:
What I have found that makes the Pitt Law online experience unique is that there really are professors across the board who are committed to your success in the program. And even though it's an online program, they really find ways to make it engaging for everyone.
Marily Nixon:
Our program is built around the idea that every student is unique. Every student has their own interests and their own priorities. So in our program, you can start with the one year of online MSL core courses, which teach you all the basic topics that one-year JD students learn in law school. And then you can choose to go on to a specialization. We have several specializations students can choose from, um, from healthcare compliance to human resources law to corporate compliance, to international business law, and we're growing those specializations as well. So a student can start with the core courses and then move on to their specialization for their second year of study, or they could do it the other way if that works best for them. They could start with a specialized course of study and then finish their degree with the online MSL core courses. So we really have set the program up to give it the maximum flexibility so it works for the most students possible.
Natalie Novak:
If your job intersects with some sort of legal or regulatory realm where you're wanting to learn more and bring more to the table and create better arguments and you grow and work, or you know, maybe you're looking for a career change to get into something with a little bit more of a legal element or healthcare compliance, for instance, I would 100% recommend this program.
Marily Nixon:
We don't aim to be a huge program. We aim to be a program that delivers a really high quality and enjoyable experience to our students, and that combined with the incredible expertise of our professors who are academic experts and very experienced practitioners, really sets the Pitt Law program part. We look forward to having you join the Pitt Law community.
Online Law Programs Designed for Your Success
Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
Graduate Certificates
This will only take a moment.
Are you considering a master’s degree in law or a graduate certificate to take your career to the next level? Pitt Law’s Master of Studies in Law online program is designed for professionals seeking to enhance their careers with a versatile alternative to the traditional three-year JD degree. The certificate programs are ideal for those who are not currently looking to pursue a master’s degree.
Complete the form to get a program brochure for Pitt Law’s Online MSL plus your chosen specialization, or your chosen certificate program, delivered to your inbox.
A Nationally Respected Online Law Program—Rooted in Pennsylvania, Recognized Nationwide
With deep roots in the Pittsburgh legal community, the University of Pittsburgh School of Law brings a unique perspective to its online programs. Our faculty includes practicing attorneys and legal experts from across the nation who incorporate real-world experiences into the curriculum. Students benefit from connections to Pittsburgh’s thriving legal sector, which encompasses major law firms, corporate legal departments, nonprofits, and government agencies. At Pitt Law, students gain access to nationally respected faculty and a curriculum designed to serve professionals across the country.
Our students come from Pittsburgh and beyond to receive what Forbes Magazine has hailed as Pitt’s “New Ivy” education,1 recognition that underscores the prestige and employability our graduates enjoy. Our online law school programs are accessible to Pennsylvania residents and others. Whether you’re located in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or anywhere in between, you can access a world-class legal education without relocating or disrupting your career.
Established Experts With an Innovative Edge
The University of Pittsburgh School of Law has educated legal minds since 1895 and has one of the oldest Master of Studies in Law (MSL) programs in the country. This storied history has led to a modern-day MSL program that has a reputation for academic and professional excellence in legal communities. Pitt Law places an emphasis on practical knowledge for career acceleration. For over 20 years, we have invested in individuals who are ready to develop a well-rounded understanding of evolving laws and regulations that govern business today. Now, Pitt Law is proud to offer this established MSL program online.
Pitt Law’s online legal studies program offers five specializations and certificates, a strong bench of faculty, and a curriculum designed to flex to your busy schedule—making now the perfect time to start your studies.
Why Choose a Pennsylvania-Based Law School With Online Options?
Choosing the University of Pittsburgh for your online legal education provides unique advantages that extend beyond the curriculum. As one of the most respected law schools in the Atlantic Coast, we offer:
- Reputation and Recognition: Benefit from the credibility of a law school known throughout Pennsylvania and beyond for its rigorous academic and recognition as a “New Ivy”1
- Robust Professional Network: Connect with alumni working throughout Pennsylvania’s legal, business, and public sectors
- Regional Industry Connections: Located in a major legal and business hub, Pitt Law provides students with insight into the legal landscape shaped by Pittsburgh’s law firms, corporations, and public institutions
- Accessible, Flexible Format: Advance your education on your schedule, whether you’re in Pittsburgh, along the Atlantic Coast, or anywhere across the country
- Recognition Within the State: Earn a degree from a law school that employers throughout Pennsylvania and beyond recognize and respect
Whether you’re advancing your current career or pivoting to a new field, an online law degree from Pitt Law positions you for success in a dynamic professional landscape.
The MSL degree has enhanced my legal credibility with lawyers and administrators I work with. One of the most rewarding parts of being an MSL student was being fully integrated into the law school. I had access to the same resources and the same classes as the JD students, which provided me with a true law school experience and a lawyer’s perspective when working with my attorney colleagues on compliance-related matters.
Why Pitt Law?
As Affordable as it is Prestigious
Backed by Legacy. Focused on Innovation.
Individualized Attention Makes the Difference
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What’s the difference between the MSL and a certificate?
How are online courses structured?
Do I need to be a Pennsylvania resident to enroll?
How does Pitt Law compare to other Pennsylvania law schools?
How do Pitt Law’s online programs compare to programs offered by other schools?
Forge ahead.
Schedule a call with one of our knowledgeable advisors to discuss if the online experience is the right fit for you.
Find Us in Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
School of Law
3900 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Spring 2026 Admissions Deadlines
- Retrieved on August 13, 2025, from forbes.com/sites/emmawhitford/2024/04/29/the-new-ivies-as-employers-sour-on-the-super-elite-these-20-colleges-shine/