Topics Covered

The MSJ degree at Seton Hall Law provides a comprehensive legal education for non-attorney professionals. Students are exposed to various legal topics throughout the 31-credit curriculum, influenced mainly by each person’s areas of interest. In order to ensure comprehension and future course success, all students begin their studies by developing a strong foundation in core legal areas. The first thirteen credits in the MSJ build this foundation and cover:

1. the American legal system,
2. legal writing and analysis,
3. the body of law that governs private recovery for injuries to person or property,
4. business associations,
5. the law of contracts, including the nature and limits of contractual agreements, contract formation, and remedies for breach of contract.

Once the foundational courses are completed, students may pursue their areas of interest by taking six additional courses to fulfill their degree requirements. Students who seek to pursue a concentration can seek out courses in Health and Hospital Law, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Law & Compliance, Law and the Creative Industries, Privacy Law and Cyber Security, or Financial Services Compliance. For students who do not wish to concentrate on a single subject, Seton Hall Law offers multiple courses in a variety of areas, including human resources/employment law, entertainment law, and technology/cybersecurity, among others. View the full list of online courses, all of which are delivered asynchronously and with maximum flexibility. 

Assignments

All courses deliver material in weekly modules that give students the opportunity to thoroughly explore a specific topic before moving on to the next one. Individual interaction with the professor and group discussions occur weekly. Additional assignments are diverse in objective and scope and are designed to synthesize the content with a practical application. This approach ensures students not only learn the legal concepts, but also how those concepts apply to a workplace setting. Assignments in these courses might include projects such as:

1. drafting a memorandum comparing two regulations impacting business operations and advising which is the better option for a model company,


2. redesigning a hospital’s clinical trial protocol so that it complies with new regulations,


3. devising a set of policies limiting employees’ ability to authorize large loan amounts, thereby reducing organizational risk,


4. writing a letter advising whether HR or outside counsel should conduct an internal investigation of alleged workplace misconduct,


5. conducting research on the enforceability of covenants not to compete and drafting model agreements,
6. creating a training presentation informing employees about applicable data security and reporting obligations and offering “best practices” for compliance

Skills Acquired

The MSJ is designed to help you acquire or develop a unique set of skills that promotes confidence, leadership, critical thinking and problem-solving – all of which are valuable to employers. Skills expand as your studies continue, but you will not have to wait to showcase your ability. Many graduates report that they have been able to apply what they learned in class to their work environment in real time. The skills they repeatedly acknowledge generally fall into three categories.

Enhanced communication skills begin to develop with the very first course. The legal writing method taught by Seton Hall Law provides a strategy for creating clear and concise written products. The ability to communicate well enables you to influence others and is a sought-after leadership skill.

Legal analysis is a key component of the MSJ curriculum. Students quickly learn to identify centrals issue within a specific set of facts, consult relevant law and policy for guidance, and respond with concrete conclusions and recommendations . This analytical framework becomes internalized and makes it easy for you to transfer the skill to any job in any industry.

Finally, critical thinking skills are thoroughly developed. Courses in the MSJ degree program require students to think critically and creatively, share ideas and opinions, and use knowledge applied to facts to solve problems. People who can work through problems independently or as an effective member of a team are an asset to employers.

If it sounds like the MSJ might help you achieve your professional goals, please request more information from us today. We welcome the opportunity to help you discover all the MSJ can offer.