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The St. Mary’s University School of Law will host a first-of-its-kind conference on Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18, to share best practices among the increasing number of Master of Jurisprudence programs across the nation.

The Master of Jurisprudence (M.Jur.) program at St. Mary’s is a 30-credit-hour program designed for those who do not wish to practice law, but who are interested in gaining a broader understanding of the American legal system.

The M.Jur. degree is primarily for professionals practicing in areas that intersect with the law, such as human relations, regulatory agencies, county and municipal government, health care, business and other professions that directly interact with the legal system.

“St. Mary’s is a leader in professional-quality education in the law for citizens, not just lawyers,” Stephen M. Sheppard, J.S.D., Dean of the School of Law. “I am proud that we are hosting the first national conference for this kind of master’s-level study of the law.”

The two-day conference at the School of Law campus will cover providing career services for graduates to maximize program benefits, fine-tuning student expectations and outcomes, incorporating M.Jur. students into learning environments with J.D. students and additional topics.

“Nearly 100 law schools offer a master’s-level experience in the law, but we have never shared our experiences,” Sheppard said. “We will take steps at our conference to share ideas that will sustain a national community for the legal graduate program for the mid-career professional.”

Two years ago, St. Mary’s launched the first M.Jur. degree at a Texas law school. To meet the needs of the regional economy, St. Mary’s has rapidly expanded the concentrations available to students to include compliance law, business and entrepreneurship law, commercial law and tax law.

“Administrative and regulatory oversight is constantly expanding, which makes the need for managers and administrators to have a grounding in law ever more important,” said Colin Marks, J.D., Professor of Law and Director of St. Mary’s M.Jur. Program.

Find out more about the Master of Jurisprudence programs at St. Mary’s Law.

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