Many people are drawn to the legal field but aren’t necessarily looking to become practicing attorneys — or to invest the time and cost of a traditional JD program. That was true for Ashley Fraccalossi, who found the perfect fit in USC Gould School of Law’s online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) program, a degree designed for professionals who want to obtain legal knowledge without becoming a lawyer.
Fraccalossi, who just celebrated her graduation from the program, originally received a bachelor of arts in communications and media studies with a minor in writing and literature from Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts. The degree made sense for her passion at the time: She had started a photography business during her undergraduate years, taking photos for weddings, special events, portrait services and more, but decided to shift her focus upon completing the bachelor’s program in 2019.
She soon began working as a freelance digital specialist, managing content creation and social media for influencers, authors and small businesses. Still, she felt the pull to explore something new and knew that she ultimately wanted to shift her career in a different direction.
“During my undergraduate years, I did a media law class and was encouraged by the professor to consider getting my JD. I put it off … and wanted to start working and building my resume after college,” Fraccalossi told USC Online. “Then during the pandemic, I had a lot of extra time and started thinking about that media law class again and if there was a way I could avoid a three-year JD program and still get what I wanted out of further education.”
After some research, Fraccalossi discovered USC Gould’s online MSL program, designed for non-lawyer professionals to gain a deeper understanding of the law. The program equips graduates with advanced legal terminology and analytical skills, tools that prove valuable across a wide range of industries and roles.
“The USC program just aligned with the scope of my interests, especially with the entertainment side. Plus, with the unparalleled professors that the program had and the potential to expand my network … it just made sense,” she said.
Fraccalossi chose the online program since she was based in Boston at the time. She appreciated that she didn’t have to relocate to the West Coast to get the USC experience and that the flexible schedule allowed her to continue working while completing her coursework. Enrolling in the MSL program, she said, was “the best decision” she’s ever made.
Through her classes, Fraccalossi explored a wide range of legal topics, including constitutional law, privacy law and — her personal favorite — entertainment law. She developed practical skills she knows will be invaluable in her career, especially when drafting contracts and handling negotiations.
“I am a stronger and more confident negotiator than I could ever have become without this program,” she shared.
She relished the chance to learn from the wide array of guest speakers who joined the virtual classroom, offering insights from across the legal and professional world.
“They would pull in amazing guest speakers — from unions, studios and other parts of digital media — and they were so generous. They offered to teach us and help make connections, even giving us their emails to follow up with,” Fraccalossi recalled. “It was wonderful.”
Fraccalossi also appreciated that being online (and on the other side of the country) didn’t prevent her from feeling like a true Trojan. In fact, beyond the knowledge she gained, she cited the sense of community as her favorite part of the MSL program.
“I didn’t expect it from being online. The friends that I’ve made, the network connections that I’ve made, the relationships with my professors — they’re unlike even what I experienced in my undergraduate years, which were all in person. I just felt truly welcomed into a community,” she said.
Fraccalossi officially graduated from USC last December, but she was able to celebrate in person at the May 2025 commencement ceremony. The moment was especially meaningful, as it marked her first visit to the campus that had come to feel like a second home, and it gave her the chance to celebrate alongside classmates who supported her throughout the program.
“If I had to give advice to someone, it would be to make friendships in your classes. Find your support person. I would not have made it through without one friend I made, who was with me all semester,” Fraccalossi said.
With her master’s degree in hand, Fraccalossi is now focused on her next career chapter. After relocating from Boston to New York City earlier this year, she’s actively applying to studios, unions and other organizations within the entertainment industry. Her ultimate goal, she said, is to work in business affairs or a legal department — a dream that now feels well within reach, thanks to her experience at USC Gould.
“It all feels so meant to be, going to USC,” Fraccalossi said. “In my undergraduate studies, the Hulk Hogan v. Gawker case sparked my interest in media law … Then, when I was at USC, I learned one of my professors was actually an attorney on the case. It felt very full circle and [reinforced] this is where I need to be. It has been the best decision.”
Learn more about the online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) program today.