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Executive education programs provide working professionals with an efficient way to acquire valuable legal knowledge. Discover program options and connect with respected providers.

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What is a legal executive education program?

Executive legal education programs are short course programs designed for working professionals seeking enhanced knowledge of specialized law subfields. Typically, executive education programs lead to a non-degree award, such as a certificate.

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Outcomes-based design

An immersive cohort-based learning experience that is designed to optimize learning outcomes and ensure global networking opportunities.

Real-world impact

Courses are tailored to address today’s organizational issues and opportunities so that you can make effective decisions to impact change.

Dedicated support

Success Advisers provide administrative and technical support 24/7 and our tutors, who are subject matter experts, offer academic support.

How can a legal executive education impact my professional goals?

Legal programs can make a strong complement to your existing credentials. To illustrate with a practical example, consider a situation in which a senior executive with your current employer announces plans to retire.

Suppose the executive's role involves extensive corporate governance duties. Your academic and professional background make you a strong candidate for the role — except for your lack of formal governance training.

You could complete a legal executive education program in corporate governance to gain legal knowledge and improve your chances of being promoted.

Entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business leaders also use executive education to round out their professional profiles.

Who should enroll?

Strong candidates for legal executive education programs include:

Professionals and career changers looking to advance in their industry
Licensed professionals completing continuing professional education units as part of their license renewal requirements
People in leadership positions seeking to acquire new skills or address knowledge gaps

You can also pursue for specialized attorneys or a for non-lawyer professionals.

What you'll learn in executive legal education programs

Executive legal education programs usually focus on niche topics. Common examples include taxation, estate law, labor law, compliance, intellectual property, and negotiation. Schools offer programs in many areas beyond these, and some have customizable curricula that let you design your own course sequences.

In other cases, institutions use executive education to offer instruction in highly specialized areas not covered in their degree programs. These programs tend to appeal to established lawyers and legal professionals seeking targeted expertise.

Find programs that meet your professional development goals

Executive education programs offer a compact, convenient path to upgrading your knowledge and skills. Begin your journey: Explore free online edX courses in law and more.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of pursuing a legal executive education?

Executive education programs build expertise in targeted legal topics, develop specialized skills, and fill in knowledge gaps. They may help you advance in your current career, help you enter a new path, or help make you a more effective organizational leader.

How long does it take to complete a legal executive education program?

Legal executive education programs can take 5 to 16 weeks to complete and typically require students to work 6 to 8 hours per week. Courses are instructor-led and follow a course schedule.

What is the difference between a legal executive education and a master's in legal studies degree?

Legal executive education programs are short courses intended for working professionals to enhance their legal knowledge, while a master's degree in legal studies is a longer-term program designed to provide a comprehensive, in-depth study of the legal field.

Contrary to a master's degree, executive education programs typically require several years of experience in any given industry and result in a certificate instead of a degree.