Legal Studies, Entertainment Concentration, M.S.

This program consists of 30 credit hours. Twenty-two credit hours are taken as an MTSU student. Eight credit hours (two courses) are taken as an NSL student and transferred to MTSU. For the eight credit hours at NSL, students are admitted to NSL and must pay tuition and fees to NSL at the rates then in effect at NSL. See NSL’s website for the most current information about tuition, fees, and payment options.

For courses taken as a student at MTSU (22 credit hours), students pay tuition and fees to MTSU.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the M.S. Legal Studies Entertainment Coordinator, Dr. John Ouellette, to learn more a about the program’s structure, its distinctive educational benefits, and how it may align with your academic and professional goals.

Featured Faculty

John Ouellette, J.D. John earned his Bachelor of Music from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. He has worked in the music industry in Nashville for over 25 years. He worked in music publishing for over 10 years handling every aspect of music publishing administration; from filing copyright applications, interacting with foreign sub-publishers, and negotiating and issuing licenses, to processing royalties and drafting and negotiating songwriter agreements. John graduated from Nashville School of Law and also passed the Tennessee Bar Exam in 2006, and has been a practicing entertainment attorney ever since. He represents record labels, publishing companies, managers, concert promoters, artists, songwriters and producers.

Kathleen Denise Shackelford, J.D. Denise began her career in the music industry with Arista Records and later worked for Spalding, ultimately becoming Executive Vice President. After obtaining her J.D. degree from Nashville School of Law in 2010, Denise launched The Primacy Firm, a boutique entertainment law firm catering to the needs of creative individuals and businesses. In 2019, she accepted a tenure-track position with Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, where she teaches several classes including Survey of the Recording Industry and Entertainment IP I, and also serves as the faculty advisor for Match Records and Urban Entertainment Society. Denise currently serves on the board of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association (MEIEA) and is an alumna of the Leadership Music program class of 2010.

Sandra (“Sandy”) S. Benson, J.D.. Program Director M.S. in Legal Studies and Professor of Business Law Sandy established her own law firm after graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law (summa cum laude). Her practice included representing entrepreneurs and professionals in a variety of business and specialized transactions to establish new business entities, draft employment and other contracts and comply with healthcare laws and regulations. She was endorsed by the Tennessee Medical Association, to represent physicians in managed care contract negotiations. Joining MTSU full-time in 2006, Sandy’s has been recognized with various teaching and research awards, including MTSU’s Outstanding Teaching award. Her work has been recognized by New York Society of CPAs and CNBC where she was the legal scholar on an episode of American Greed.

Nashville School of Law

Nashville School of Law (NSL) is a private non-profit law school founded in 1911 whose mission is to offer high-quality legal education at an affordable tuition. Classes are held exclusively at night. Most students enrolled in the School continue full-time employment, during the day, throughout their law school career. The School is approved by the Tennessee Bar of Law Examiners, although not accredited by the American Bar Association. NSL graduates are practicing lawyers and judges, throughout the state of Tennessee. NSL graduates also can be found among the ranks of federal, state, and local officials, in business leadership roles, and community service positions.

Note: Through MTSU’s arrangement with NSL, NSL will admit students in MTSU’s M.S. in Legal Studies program to take two designated courses to count towards the MTSU M.S. in Legal Studies degree only. Students in this program will not be admitted as NSL law students, and thus, these courses will not fulfill any requirements to sit for the bar exam in Tennessee or elsewhere. 

Dr. Thorunn McCoy, NSL Legal Writing Coach With a Ph.D. in American Literature and thirty years of teaching experience, Thorunn McCoy has a passion for helping people express themselves on paper. She has worked with writers at all levels, from 8th graders at University School of Nashville to students at Southern Illinois University and Northern Colorado University, as well as small business owners at George Mason University’s Small Business Development Center.  Dr. McCoy received her B.A. in English and her M.A. in English from George Mason University. She obtained her Ph.D. in English from Southern Illinois University. In 2020, she joined Nashville School of Law as the Writing Coach for first-year law students. When she’s not busy contemplating the Oxford comma, Thorunn can be found outside in her garden or walking on the greenway.

Eric Osborne, NSL Professor of Contracts An accomplished attorney with Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, Eric Osborne sees litigation as an opportunity – an opportunity to protect his clients’ business and personal interests, an opportunity to advance critical principles of justice and fairness, and an opportunity to help people in times of crisis and need. He focuses his practice on contract disputes, white-collar criminal defense, antitrust matters, and civil rights cases. His advocacy is grounded in his creativity, empathy, and hands-on experience, having tried many cases before a jury and briefed multiple matters before the United States Supreme Court. Osborne has his B.A. (cum laude) from Amherst College, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and he obtained his J.D. from Stanford Law School. In 2021, Osborne joined NSL as Professor of Contracts.