A Guide to Master of Legal Studies Salary and Earning Potential

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports an increase in graduate school costs, with the average cost per year at private and public institutions rising from $14,000 to $20,000 between 2005 and 2020. Although an entry-level associate at a “BigLaw firm” can potentially secure a salary of $215,000, most law school graduates will be lucky to land a job at a smaller firm and an entry level salary of $150,000 per year (LeanLaw).

A Master of Legal Studies degree can provide an alternative to a traditional law degree, the Juris Doctor, and is a more cost-effective way to enter the legal field. The MLS degree allows students to obtain similar legal knowledge without the time and expense of a traditional JD. The downside of this pathway is that an MLS does not allow students to practice law, but this may not matter to students who want to begin their careers as soon as possible.

A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree gives students a foundational knowledge of law and prepares them to enter the legal profession in much the same way as a traditional Juris Doctor degree. The caveat is that the MLS does not allow students to sit for their state bar exam or practice law once they graduate.

The MLS is intended for students interested in entering the legal field but not wanting to litigate. Regulatory compliance, contract formation and negotiation, and human resources are growing areas where the MLS is just as useful as a JD.

Two huge advantages of the MLS degree are the time and cost savings.JD’s are typically completed in three years, while the average MLS is a 30-unit graduate course, allowing students to enter the job market within a year.

As shown in the table below, salaries for MLS graduates average $60,000-90,000 annually, but as with any profession, there are several factors that can affect a graduate’s starting salary. Geographic location, type of job, industry demand, and personal experience all play a role in the possible pay rate.

The salary range depends on the applicant’s work history, the job title and responsibilities, location, and sometimes even the time of year. Legal jobs are more difficult to find in the months just after the bar exam results are announced, when newly-minted attorneys are looking for positions.  

When you’re considering an MLS degree and career, you should research not just the degree itself, but also where you intend to work to gauge the average salaries in your desired area.

The MLS degree is ideal for those who want to work in a wide range of fields and industries that require in-depth legal knowledge.

It is difficult to state an average salary for an MLS graduate because so many factors affect what a graduate can expect. These factors include location, experience, industry, and more.

All of these variables cause salaries to rise and fall, so a smart graduate should focus on being marketable in their field at the time they apply.

How does an MLS degree compare to a JD? In terms of time and money outlay, the MLS is much less costly. You’re looking at one or two years in the classroom, and a total cost of perhaps $30,000 if you receive your MLS at a law school.

A JD is a minimum of a three-year commitment to law school. Minimum tuition averages $60,000-100,000 per year, depending on the school that you attend. There are additional costs for your JD, such as the cost of the bar exam, moral character exam, and bar membership fees.

However, if you plan to litigate or work in a field where you must have your bar card, you will be required to hold a JD. The MLS will not allow you to practice law or act as an attorney if you are not.

The earning potential for a practicing attorney eventually exceeds that of MLS graduates. However, there are more hurdles to becoming a practicing attorney (including getting your JD and passing the bar exam). If you don’t want to become a practicing attorney, then the MLS is more cost-effective and equally lucrative.

Note: This table contains average/estimated data for JD and MLS degrees. Variables can include the type of program, whether the student opts for an accelerated program or a long-term part-time course load, the state or region, the school itself (Ivy League schools are more expensive than community colleges), and so on.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, legally related professions are holding steady, with no change from previous years. That being said, statistics don’t necessarily tell the whole story about the long-term career outlook for MLS graduates. The wide range of career opportunities for MLS holders means that the field has considerable potential for lateral movement. For example, a compliance officer can move readily from regulatory compliance in a county or state office to a similar position in a corporate office. Within healthcare, MLS degrees are in demand for managers, coordinators, compliance officers, and more across settings ranging from hospitals and medical centers to nursing homes.

There is considerable growth potential for MLS graduates within their chosen field. Compliance officers can move upward into management, director roles, and higher-level executive positions, or laterally out of their department into other agencies. The flexibility granted by a legal degree means a graduate has a range of options limited only by their own career goals.

Whether the MLS degree is worth it depends entirely on what you want to do after you graduate. Comparing an MLS and a JD for tuition, time in school, and employment prospects after graduation, an MLS comes out ahead in terms of Return on Investment (ROI) for non-attorney roles. It is less expensive, can be completed sooner, and entry-level pay is roughly equivalent in most fields.

A graduate who uses their MLS to become a Compliance Officer can expect a median starting salary of around $70,000 to $80,000 annually. With 5-7 years of experience, and depending on the industry (such as finance or specialized healthcare), earning potential often rises well into the $100,000 to $120,000+ range, with senior/executive roles reaching $150,000 or more.

However, if your career goal is litigation, the MLS is not the degree for you. You must have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree to take the bar exam and become an attorney. If becoming a practicing attorney is your goal, then the return on investment of a JD is 100%, regardless of cost. If you do not plan to become a licensed attorney, the additional three years and high tuition cost of a JD may not be outweighed by the similar salary and career stability that the MLS grants you much sooner.

The cost of tuition continues to rise in the United States, and students must make careful decisions about their education and career goals. If your career goals involve the legal profession, you have options besides the traditional Juris Doctor degree to get the education you need.

There are many law schools, colleges, and institutions that offer the Master of Legal Studies degree, which will give you the knowledge you need to enter the workforce in your chosen field.