What Can You Do with a Master of Legal Studies Degree?

The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree is designed for those who want to work in the legal field but don’t want to take on the time or expense of law school. The MLS gives you the legal knowledge of a juris doctor (JD) degree in less time along with the ability to start working in a range of law-adjacent professions.

Employees with an MLS degree cannot practice law or sit for the state bar exam, but they can understand legal terminology and legal writing. These skills are essential for those who work in areas like human resources, healthcare, regulatory compliance, and other corporate positions.

The MLS is ideal for working professionals whose jobs bring them into contact with attorneys and the court system. Having a working knowledge of other legal occupations gives you opportunities for career advancement in your own company as well as opening career options in the legal field.

What Can You Do with a Master of Legal Studies?

Many people see “legal studies” and think “attorney” or “paralegal.” There are many other jobs that require legal knowledge outside the litigation field.

Understanding how to read compliance documents and contracts is a tremendous benefit in today’s job market. Knowing the laws that surround your industry makes you a valuable resource to your employer.

Unlike a JD, which prepares students to take the bar exam and become attorneys, the MLS lets students focus on specific areas of interest. For instance, your MLS can concentrate on:

• Employment law, if you intend to work in human resources

• Information technology if your work involves cybersecurity or patents

• Healthcare or insurance. An MLS in healthcare might not even touch on the law, but instead focus on HIPAA compliance and maintaining patient records

These law-related careers are not part of the “legal system.” Keeping companies legally compliant and current with state and federal regulations is an overlooked part of the job market. Legal professionals have a much wider range of options than you might think.

Career Paths for Master of Legal Studies Graduates

If you enjoy legal work but aren’t planning on spending time in front of a jury, never fear. Here are 15 career paths where you can use your legal talents and never set foot in a courtroom or law office.

1. Corporate and Business Careers

• Compliance Officer: Regulatory compliance comes in two parts: inspecting things and then documenting them. As a compliance officer, you may do both, but the key part of your job will be ensuring the documentation is complete and filed with relevant agencies on time.

• Contracts Manager: Contracts are the lifeblood of businesses, and a contract manager follows them from start to finish. You need to have good negotiating skills and a solid grasp of risk management and contract laws in your state.

• Business Analyst: When stakeholders want to know how a policy will affect the bottom line, a business analyst reviews the numbers and the data and makes the report. Analysts are the link between what the data says and what the policy makers need to know.

• HR Manager: HR managers don’t hire people, they make human resources policies and procedures. You’ll need to explain harassment policies, establish grievance procedures, and ensure the smooth flow of information between departments.

2. Government and Public Sector Jobs

• Law Librarian: Law librarians need to know more than the average librarian. They are asked for case law, legal interpretations, and the current status of ongoing court cases. Law librarian positions are rare and highly valued positions.

• Legislative Analyst: Politicians at every level need analysts to help form policy and explain the impact on the agency or public organization. Legislative analysts should have in-depth knowledge of politics as well as law and the legislative process.

• Law Enforcement: Upper levels of law enforcement need parole and probation officers who know the laws and can navigate between the courts and police officers on behalf of their clients. If you’re a sworn officer, an MLS can fast-track your path to management and administrative roles.

• Social Worker: This is one of the few careers in which you might end up in court. Social workers advocate for their clients and defend their rights in family court and administrative law courts. Social workers serve as Guardians ad Litem (GAL), case managers, and advocates.

3. Legal and Compliance Careers

• Legal Assistant: Legal assistants are the first tier in the legal profession. This critical role is both administrative and legal. Legal assistants can obtain certificates and degrees in this field, so an MLS is a good way to advance your career.

• Paralegal: Paralegals perform essential legal services for attorneys, including legal research, writing briefs and memos, and drafting court documents. Certificates, degrees, and certifications are available for paralegals; senior paralegals can earn six figures in some fields.

• Healthcare Compliance: Healthcare compliance officers maintain patient records and follow state and federal best practices to ensure confidentiality. Health law requires adherence to Medicare and Medicaid standards and documentation. Health insurance guidelines require someone who understands the intricacies of negotiation.

• Criminal Justice Analyst: Like analysts in other fields, criminal justice analysts examine proposed policies in the criminal justice field and potential impacts on the law enforcement, penal, and social structure.

4. Education and Academic Careers

• Law Professor: This is one of the few areas you may need more than an MLS. Professors teach legal studies at all levels of academia. If you’re interested inteaching law at a law school or university, you may need your JD or LLM.

• Criminology Faculty Director: Criminal justice degrees focus on the study of criminology and require instructors in parole and probation, criminal investigation, penology (the study of penal systems), evidence, and more. As a faculty director, your job would be ensuring your instructors are current on state law and can teach according to your state’s requirements.

• Legal Studies Program Coordinator: As the demand for legal professionals increases, so does the need for legal studies programs to teach them. If you enjoyed what you learned in school and want to pass that on to the next generation of students, you can bring your expertise to a community college or university near you. These positions may require a second degree in education or administration.

Salary and Job Outlook for MLS Degree Holders

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), law-related employment continues to show steady growth as of 2024 (the last year for which statistics are available). Legal occupations are always in demand since every year more attorneys graduate and require legal support professionals to assist them.

Median pay for a legal professional with a two- or four-year degree is respectable. Paralegals with a two-year associate degree average $60,000, and human resource specialists with a four-year degree can expect at least $5,000 more. Having a graduate degree gives you a better salary outlook and more job options.

The overall career path for MLS graduates in legal occupations is growing at about five percent, matching the national average. Individual job prospects vary depending on the industry.

In non-lawyer legal positions, MLS graduates are about equal with JD graduates. In today’s job market, flexibility and a range of skills are more valuable than an applicant’s degree. An MLS candidate who can show an ability to use AI and interact with other employees may be more valuable than a JD candidate fresh from law school.

Advancing Your Career with an MLS Degree

So, once you have your MLS degree, what can you do with it? If you’re already working in your chosen field, the MLS degree gives you options to move into management or administrative positions. You may also have the ability to move laterally into other areas within your company. For instance, you may be a compliance officer on the assembly floor, but your degree gives you the chance to move to an assistant compliance coordinator with the finance team.

Other ways your degree helps you advance your career:

• Continuing education opportunities with workshops, seminars, and conferences.

• Professional certifications. The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) offers several certifications for compliance officers that can enhance your degree and make you more valuable on the job. Other professional organizations have similar certifications.

• Networking through these organizations opens more opportunities and career prospects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What jobs can you get with a legal studies degree?

Your legal studies degree can open doors within your current job or encourage a lateral move into other positions outside your present job. Legal studies degrees are valuable for:

• Human resources

• Healthcare

• Insurance

• Legislation and public policy

• Cybersecurity and IT

What are the potential job prospects for master of legal studies graduates?

In general, hiring trends for legal professionals always show a modest rise. Right now, according to legal hiring analysts, compliance and risk management officers, contract management, and data analytics are most in demand for non-attorney roles. That said, students should never tailor their education solely to market demand. Always get your degree in something that interests you first, or you may find yourself trapped in a job you don’t like and can’t leave.

How can an MLS degree help me advance my career?

Having a graduate degree shows potential employers your dedication to your career. It also gives you additional knowledge that other applicants may not have. In a competitive market, your MLS makes you stand out in the field.

If you’re already working in your career field, an MLS gives you more options to expand. You can move up from your entry or lower level position into management or administrative roles if you wish or advance into positions of greater responsibility.

What industries hire MLS graduates?

Almost all industries have a legal department that needs non-attorney legal professionals. Compliance officers are present in every corporate office, from banks to hospitals to factory floors. The hiring offices must have human resources officers to ensure policies are enforced from top to bottom.

The best way to find a good job with your MLS degree is by asking the school for assistance through the career planning department. Most colleges and universities have this department to help graduates locate jobs after they leave school.

Conclusion

If you want to work in a legal profession but don’t want to become an attorney, or you’re already working in a law-adjacent job and want to expand your career options, a Master of Legal Studies degree is an ideal way to improve your resume.

The best way to begin your graduate program is by visiting the websites of schools like American University and others which offer ABA-accredited MLS programs. These schools have online, hybrid, and in-person courses. Students should request information from the admissions office and review their curriculum offerings carefully before applying. Financial aid and scholarships are also available.

Sources

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/home.htm

• https://www.bls.gov/OOH/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm

• https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/research/data-reveals-which-legal-roles-are-in-highest-demand

• https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-guide/market-outlook

• https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-guide/legal#hiringtrends

• https://www.corporatecompliance.org/certification/become-certified/ccep