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Juris Doctor &
Master of Legal Studies

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Juris Doctor

The juris doctor prepares students using scholarly and practical education. You will be prepared for the California State Bar Examination. We expect you to be law practitioners and shapers of law and social policy.

Program Requirements

The curriculum is designed to offer students a strong foundation in a variety of legal principles. The first two years of study prepare students for more advanced law classes, while developing their skills in communication, organization, and articulation. Courses in the third and fourth years continue to develop and refine the students’ expertise in interpreting and applying legal theories.

First Year

LAW 100 Intro to Law/Legal Writing (3 units)
LAW 101 Legal Research and Writing I (3 units)
LAW 110/111/112 Contracts I/II/III (9 units)
LAW 120/121/122 Torts I/II/III (9 units)
LAW 130/131 Criminal Law I/II (6 units)

Second Year

LAW 201/202/203 Property I/II/III (9 units)
LAW 210/211/212 Civil Procedure I/II/III (9 units)
LAW 220/221 Evidence I/II (6 units)
LAW 230 Professional Responsibility (3 units)

Third Year

LAW 310/311/312 Constitutional I/II/III (9 units)
LAW 320 Wills (3 units)
LAW 321 Trusts (3 units)
LAW 331 Community Property (3 units)
LAW 410/411 Criminal Procedure I/II (6 units)

Fourth Year

LAW 340/341 Business Associations I/II (6 units)
LAW 350/351 Remedies I/II (6 units)
LAW 430 Advanced Legal Writing (3 units)

Electives

Elective Courses (24 units)

Electives Available:

LAW 330 Family Law (3 units)
LAW 432 Advanced Legal Analysis (3 units)
LAW 440 Income Tax (3 units)
LAW 460 Sales (3 units)
LAW 471 Criminal Trial Practice (3 units)
LAW 472 Civil Trial Practice (3 units)
LAW 474 Moot Court (3 units)
LAW 505 Administrative Law (3 units)
LAW 510 Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 units)
LAW 515 Bankruptcy (3 units)
LAW 531 Educational Law (3 units)
LAW 535 Juvenile Law (3 units)
LAW 542 Employment & Labor Law (3 units)
LAW 550 Workers’ Compensation (3 units)
LAW 565 Advanced Torts (3 units)
LAW 575 Local Government (3 units)
LAW 610 Special Problems in Law (1-5 units)

Master of Legal Studies

This graduate degree prepares you to practice legal analysis in a public or private sector. Your unique set of skills will set you apart from your peers.

Program Requirements

The course requirements generally follow the pattern of the first year of law school, with a focus on contracts and torts. The program is a total of 40 units and can be completed part or full time in one to two years.

Core Courses

MLS 300 Introduction to Law/Legal Writing (4 units)
MLS 301 Legal Research and Writing (4 units)
MLS 310 Contracts I (4 units)
MLS 311 Contracts II (4 units)
MLS 312 Contracts III (4 units)
MLS 320 Torts I (4 units)
MLS 321 Torts II (4 units)
MLS 322 Torts III (4 units)

Capstone Project

MLS 399 Capstone Project (4 units)

Capstone Elective

Capstone Elective (4 units)

Electives:

MLS 330 Family Law (4 units)
MLS 331 Educational Law (4 units)
MLS 335 Juvenile Law (4 units)
MLS 340 Business Association I – Agency (4 units)
MLS 342 Employment & Labor Law (4 units)
MLS 345 Sales (4 units)
MLS 355 Bankruptcy (4 units)
MLS 375 Local Government (4 units)

Learn More
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Frequently Asked Questions

Juris Doctor FAQ

Is the Drivon School of Law accredited?

Yes. The Drivon School of Law at Humphreys University has been continuously accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California since 1983, and Humphreys University is institutionally accredited by WASC. Drivon is a California-accredited law school, not an ABA-approved one.

Can Drivon graduates take the California Bar Exam?

Yes. Graduates of a law school accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California are eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination. Eligibility to sit for the bar in other states varies by state.

When are classes held?

Drivon School of Law classes are held in the evening, available synchronously via Zoom and on campus in Stockton. The evening schedule is deliberate — the program is built for working adults who cannot leave a career to attend law school during the day.

Can I attend Drivon from elsewhere in California?

Yes. Drivon School of Law students attend evening classes virtually from across California. Students living outside California are not eligible to attend Drivon School of Law.

How long has Drivon been training attorneys?

The Drivon School of Law has trained attorneys since 1951 and has been accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California since 1983. It is Stockton’s own law school, serving the Central Valley legal community for over seventy years.

What are the admissions requirements for the JD?

JD applicants submit the law school application with a $40 non-refundable fee, two official transcripts from regionally accredited institutions, an official LSAT score, and a personal statement of 200–800 words. Letters of recommendation are optional. The LSAT is waived for master’s degree holders, who must submit within the first year.

Can I transfer from another law school?

Yes. Drivon School of Law transfer applicants submit the application with a $40 fee, undergraduate and law school transcripts, an LSAT score, a personal statement, and a Letter of Good Standing from their previous law school. Up to 60 quarter units may transfer.

How much does law school cost at Drivon?

Drivon School of Law tuition at Humphreys University is $625 per unit. The application fee is $40, and non-resident law applicants pay $200. Financial aid guidance is handled one-on-one rather than through a call center.

Who teaches at Drivon?

Drivon School of Law faculty are practitioners — judges and practicing attorneys who teach the evening JD program. Class sizes are small enough for personalized attention and for students to build a working network inside the regional legal community.

Master of Legal Studies FAQ

What is a Master of Legal Studies?

The Humphreys University Master of Legal Studies is a graduate law degree for professionals who need to work confidently with legal issues — contracts, compliance, regulation, employment law — without becoming a practicing attorney. It is a full accredited graduate degree, not a certificate.

Who should get an MLS instead of a JD?

Choose the Humphreys University MLS if you work in HR, compliance, healthcare administration, contracts, risk, government, or business operations and need legal fluency. Choose the JD if you intend to practice law and sit for the bar exam.

Do I need to take the LSAT?

No. The Humphreys University Master of Legal Studies does not require the LSAT. Applicants submit a graduate application with a $40 fee and an official bachelor’s degree transcript. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended.

Can I practice law with an MLS?

No. The Master of Legal Studies is not a path to bar admission or law practice. It gives non-attorneys the legal knowledge to do their jobs better and to work effectively with counsel. Students who want to practice should apply to the Drivon School of Law JD program.

How is the MLS taught?

The Humphreys University MLS is taught through the Drivon School of Law, with courses available synchronously via Zoom and on campus in Stockton. Students learn from the same practicing attorneys and judges who teach in the JD program.

How much does the MLS cost?

Master of Legal Studies tuition at Humphreys University is $470 per unit, with a $40 graduate application fee. Federal graduate loans apply — the Humphreys FAFSA school code is 001212.

How long does the MLS take?

The Humphreys University MLS runs on an 11-week quarter calendar with four start dates a year. The MLS takes a year and a half.

Will an MLS help my career?

Employers in compliance, HR, healthcare, insurance, contracts, and government increasingly want staff who can read and apply legal requirements without routing everything to outside counsel. The Humphreys University MLS is a recognized graduate credential from an established Central Valley law school.