Beginning in the fall semester of 2018, the University of Georgia School of Law will offer a Master in the Study of Law program in Atlanta.
 
“In today’s highly regulated, legislated and litigated work environments, there is a growing need for a broader understanding of the law. By offering this program in Atlanta, we will provide a valuable, yet affordable, option for those working in the metro area whose careers would benefit from a greater familiarity with legal principles but for whom commuting to Athens would be a barrier to pursuing an M.S.L. degree,” said Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge, dean of the School of Law.
 
The M.S.L. is the second academic initiative offered by the law school to support students interested in pursuing degrees while leveraging professional opportunities in Atlanta. In fall 2016, the school launched the Atlanta Semester in Practice, which allows students to complete degree requirements while holding full-time externships in the government, nonprofit and corporate sectors.
 
The expansion of the M.S.L. program to Atlanta will offer professionals the option to complete the degree on a part-time basis over two years. Participants will attend class alongside traditional law students and also have the option of taking classes at the school’s main campus in Athens.
 
“We believe this is the natural growth both of our programming in Atlanta and our role as the flagship provider of legal education in our state,” UGA Law in Atlanta Director Hillel Y. Levin said. “In addition to better serving our students, we are providing more options for employers who know they can trust in the quality of education that we provide.”
 
Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia will serve as an instructor in residence at the Atlanta facility and will teach the required introductory course on the American legal system.
 
“This will be an exciting experience for our students,” Levin said. “This will be an unparalleled opportunity to learn firsthand from a prominent jurist and law school alumnus.”
 
The 30-credit hour M.S.L. program provides a comprehensive overview of the law in areas such as labor and employment, public policy, intellectual property, environmental policy and health care law. The degree is designed for professionals who work in regulated industries, interact with any branch of government or regularly communicate with general counsels or other lawyers. While an M.S.L. offers a greater understanding of the law, recipients of the degree are not eligible to take the bar exam or practice law.