Specialized Online Law Certificate Programs
Pitt Law is an established leader in delivering quality online education in law to non-JD professionals, as well as attorneys looking to further specialize in specific industries or areas of the law. Through our graduate certificate programs in Corporate Compliance, Health Care Compliance, Human Resources Law, International Business Law, and Sports, Entertainment, and Arts Law professionals in a wide variety of fields can gain a deeper understanding of the law and how it impacts their professional lives.
Students who complete a certificate program are eligible to apply for the MSL program. The certificate program is an excellent starting point if you are unsure about committing to a full master’s degree. Admission to the MSL program is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance in the certificate program, including meeting academic standards and deadlines, and is at the discretion of the MSL program director.
Online Law Certificate Details
- 15 credits
- 100% online
- Certificates can be completed in 10 months
- Most courses are 8 weeks in length
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.
Advance Your Career with Law Certificate Programs for Non-Lawyers
Certificate Program vs. Master’s Degree: Which is Right for You?
Earning a certificate in your chosen field of study will give you specialized skills and knowledge on a specific topic. Online law certificates are ideal to fine-tune your skills to complement your professional experience, or to gain further expertise needed to advance in your career. You can typically apply what you learn in your courses to your work right away. Your professors bring a wealth of real-world experience to your classes that makes what you’re learning applicable to your day-to-day work.
Graduate certificates may help your transition to a new field of work, giving you the necessary familiarity and expertise in your chosen specialization and improving your networking opportunities.
Like a certificate program, a master’s degree will help you develop skills, but it will further provide you with the strategic vision to apply those skills in a number of work environments. Master’s programs award a formal graduate degree and are typically more transferable between industries.
If you are debating between a law certificate program and the MSL program, consider your career goals, the types of skills, knowledge, and credentials you are looking to gain, and the time and money you can invest into a program. Check out our blog post on the value of earning an MSL degree.
If you conclude that you are not looking to pursue a full-time master’s program, one of our certificate programs may be the right fit. All of our graduate certificate programs are of the same caliber as our degree courses. In each of our programs, you will:
- Learn and interact with faculty who are professionals with advanced degrees and experience in your professional field
- Focus on acquiring knowledge of the law critical to your professional advancement
- Study and complete coursework based on your own schedule from any location.
- Network with colleagues and classmates through our engaging online learning platform and group projects
I’ve been out of school for so long. And with the workload that I have, I wasn’t sure that I was going to be able to handle the two-year MSL program. I didn’t know what to expect at all, but I did exceptionally well in the certificate program.
Meet Director of Online Programs Alan Meisel
Professor Meisel is the principal author of the treatise, “The Right to Die: The Law of End-of-Life Decisionmaking” (Wolters Kluwer), now in its third edition, and publishes widely in the fields of health law and medical ethics in numerous medical, legal, and ethical journals.
Professor Meisel is just one of Pitt Law’s experienced and renowned faculty who enthusiastically teach both the online and on-ground programs.
FAQs: What You Need to Know About Legal Certificate Programs
How long does a certificate program take?
What are the requirements for admission?
What resources will be available to me as a student?
How technologically savvy do I need to be?
As a Pitt Online student, you will have access to our online Student Orientation course, tutorials and the Student Handbook. Additionally, you’ll have access to our 24/7 technical resources to support any questions about the online course system and materials.