Master of Science in Law Residential Format

The Master of Science in Law degree has a full-time, in-person degree format that can be completed in nine months at Northwestern Pritzker Law’s downtown campus in Chicago, Illinois.

The MSL degree has a unique curricular structure that allows MSL students to experience a wide variety of classes, topics, formats, and pedagogical techniques. The degree program operates on the semester system, with each semester divided into two eight-week terms. Each eight-week term includes a seven-week session and a one-week session, known as “Power Week.” The seven-week sessions include foundational and in-depth classes, while the Power Weeks include more specialized and workshop-type classes. 

Most classes in the MSL full-time degree program are scheduled Monday through Friday, in both daytime and evening timeslots. The MSL curriculum also includes optional occasional weekend classes, offered during both the fall and spring semesters. While full-time MSL students take most of their classes in-person, they are permitted to take up to 9 credits in online elective classes. 

Full-time MSL students are in class an average of 12 to 15 hours per week. For each hour spent in class, there is an average of two hours of out-of-class work and preparation.