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Ethics and compliance is an exciting field that has received increasing attention in recent years. If you've heard of the scandals at Wells Fargo, Volkswagen, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Penn State, or even Enron, then you've already gained some insight into the crucial need for robust ethics and compliance programs in a broad array of fields. Colorado Law’s Master of Studies in Law (MSL) in ethics and compliance degree is a one-year, 28-credit, no LSAT required program that enables students who hold at least an undergraduate degree to obtain legal training short of a full Juris Doctor (JD). The program also offers part-time options available for working students, allowing them up to three years to complete the program.����

“The MSL degree is a fantastic educational opportunity for students with diverse backgrounds and goals,” MSL co-director Melanie Kay said. “It’s the perfect fit for recent graduates looking to enter the ethics and compliance field, seasoned professionals aiming to take on a higher level of responsibility and sophistication in their current compliance work, or those who may be interested in a legal career but hesitant to commit to a 3-year JD program.”��

MSL students enrolled at Colorado Law take several MSL-specific courses as well as required and elective courses alongside JD students. In the fall, new MSL students will take courses that introduce them to the American legal system, help them develop their written and oral communication skills, and examine ethical cultures in organizations.�� MSL students may also partake in externships for course credit.����

“Colorado Law offers a truly special MSL experience,” Kay explained. “There are huge benefits to having the program embedded within the law school. Unlike some other fully online and asynchronous degrees, our in-person program offers a really personalized educational experience where students feel part of a supportive community. Because we deliberately keep our program relatively small, students get individualized advice on course selection, career opportunities, and support with coursework. “������

The program not only features small class sizes, individualized faculty attention, and the opportunity to take legal coursework at a first-tier law school, it also allows students the chance to earn a degree in a fast-growing field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the compliance profession will grow by 5% through 2033. Additionally, according to the BLS, the median annual salary for compliance officers was $75,670 in 2023. Depending on a job’s educational, scientific, and work experience requirements, there can be wide differences in wages. Median wages in the field ranged from $123,710 (top 90%) to $43,790 (bottom 10%) in 2023.

So, what exactly does a career in ethics and compliance entail? E are key players in ensuring lawful and ethical organizational behavior. The MSL in Ethics and Compliance is designed to prepare prospective ethics and compliance officers in a wide variety of fields, including privacy/cybersecurity, health care, higher education, and financial services. Compliance Professionals’ day-to-day work could entail investigations and audit; cross-discipline coordination; promoting ethics, culture, and tone; and internal and external reporting.����

“Our MSL program sets students on a fast track to incredibly cool career opportunities,” Kay said. “There are so many ways to be a compliance professional, enabling students to tap into their own unique skills, strengths, and passions.”��

Compliance officers work in nearly every sort of for-profit and non-profit organization, working to ensure that the organization complies with the internal and external laws, regulations, and policies that govern the organization. In fields facing complex sets of regulations, such as health care and the financial industry, compliance officers are critical. No single definition can describe the breadth of the field of compliance, as compliance professionals work in an increasingly diverse array of capacities in a broad variety of organizations.��

“Our alumni have gone on to do incredible things,” Kay said. “We have alums doing compliance work within multiple top tier universities, national-scale hospital groups, multiple financial institutions, professional sports teams, law enforcement, food production, luxury goods, ��real estate, technology and electronics, government, resource extraction, and more. We’re so proud of all our graduates—they’ll always be a part of the Colorado Law MSL family.”��

Starting October 1, 2025, Colorado Law will begin accepting applications for the Master of Studies in Law program to be considered for admission to start the program in the fall of 2026. Applicants must complete the and submit all supporting materials by July 1, 2026.��