Breakout Session 2 – The Benefits of Topic-Specific Legal Masters Programs

Theresa Beaulieu, Director, Indian Legal Program, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
Barbara Boehler, Senior Director, Program on Corporate Compliance and Ethics, Fordham School of Law
Sarah Hooper, Executive Director, UCSF-UC Law Consortium on Law, Science, & Health Policy, UC Law SF

This session will examine examples of successful topic-specific legal masters programs. We will discuss how defining particular areas of law enables schools to cultivate graduates with deeper expertise, stronger professional identities, and clearer pathways into specialized roles—outcomes that resonate with employers, benefit students, serve the community, and elevate the school’s reputation. We will evaluate how specialized programs create opportunities for experiential learning—and industry partnerships—which strengthen both recruitment and alumni engagement. For administrators, the real benefit is strategic: a well designed specialized masters program can differentiate the institution in a competitive market while responding to emerging legal needs with agility and purpose.