UMKC School of Law’s online Master of Legal Studies compliance emphasis gives professionals the legal foundation to navigate highly regulated, high-risk environments. Designed to be accessible for working professionals, this Master of Legal Studies in compliance master’s program lets you develop practical legal knowledge while continuing to advance your career. Our students benefit from an advanced understanding of how compliance systems should work and the confidence to apply that knowledge across your organization.

Who Is This Emphasis For?

A compliance emphasis is an excellent fit for current and aspiring compliance professionals who want to protect their organization from financial or reputational damage. These roles tend to be high-pressure, but benefit from strong compensation and steady demand.

Some professionals who benefit from master’s level compliance knowledge include:

  • Compliance officers
  • Regulatory affairs specialists
  • Risk management analysts
  • Corporate compliance attorney
  • Chief compliance officers (CCO)

In a Master of Legal Studies program, students are already leaders. They face ethical challenges every day, and it’s critical that they receive the right training to navigate those challenges effectively.

Barbara Glesner Fines

Barbara Glesner Fines, Professor of Law

Compliance Emphasis Master’s Curriculum

All courses in UMKC’s MLS emphasize the skills you need to understand, interpret and apply legal principles in various professional contexts.

In addition to foundational legal studies courses, an advanced ethics course, additional electives and a final capstone, students pursuing an MLS with a compliance emphasis will choose 12 credits of courses for the compliance emphasis:

  • Administrative Law (23 credits)
  • Contract Formation Review and Drafting (3 credits)
  • Corporate Compliance (3 credits)
  • Compliance Drafting Compliance Documents (2 credits)
  • Drafting Policies and Procedures (1 credit)
  • Environmental Compliance, Auditing & Permitting (3 credits)
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance (2 credits)
  • Fundamentals of Legal Investigations (2 credits)
  • Health Care Compliance (3 credits)
  • Insurance Law (2 credits)
  • Privacy Regulation (3 credits)
  • Regulatory Compliance (2 credits)
  • Wellness Compliance (2 credits)

View Curriculum

Learning Outcomes

Students in the Master of Legal Studies program will gain a better understanding of the legal system, hone their ability to analyze and interpret legal authority and become comfortable communicating effectively on legal matters. In addition, students who pursue the MLS with an emphasis in compliance will be able to:

  • Design and Implement Compliance Systems — Build effective corporate compliance frameworks that support better preparation and response to compliance issues.
  • Apply Regulatory Standards — Evaluate key state and federal statutes and agency processes to support organizational compliance.
  • Integrate Ethics and Professional Responsibility into Compliance Practice — Make decisions guided by ethical reasoning and professional standards.

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To learn more about the online Master of Legal Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and download a program brochure, please fill out the form. You can also talk one-on-one with an enrollment specialist directly by calling 816-282-1433.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Compliance law covers the regulations and legal standards organizations must follow to operate lawfully within their industry. This is a broad area of professional practice, and can include data privacy, financial reporting, workplace conduct, environmental practices and industry-specific regulation such as patient privacy or investment rules. The professionals who work in this field use compliance law to help organizations manage risk and meet regulatory obligations.

There are no additional costs associated with taking a emphasis. The online MLS program tuition is $686.460 per credit hour, which totals $20,59219,800 for 30 credits. There are some additional fees for online students, as well as out of pocket costs for books and supplies. Visit the tuition page for more information.

Yes. UMKC Law’s Master of Legal Studies program offers emphasis areas in health law and human resources. Students can also choose a general path. Visit the curriculum page to learn more.

HR professionals will have some compliance responsibilities, and compliance professionals will have some HR responsibilities, but they have different primary focuses. Human resources focuses on tasks like recruitment, onboarding, performance and retention, while compliance ensures that an organization operates within the boundaries of applicable laws and internal policies.

Ready to learn more about our online MLS program? Download our brochure, and explore our admissions, FAQ and tuition & financial aid pages.