An online Master's in Legal Studies is a great alternative for professionals who are interested in gaining some legal expertise in their field but who do not want to go to law school. It is specifically beneficial for those who work in any field that routinely interacts with the law, such as government or nonprofit professionals. And since many professionals are working full time, the idea of getting an online degree may just fit the bill.
Graduate degrees can be expensive and time-consuming when a student has to commute to campus. With an online degree, the courses are taken at home and on a student's own schedule, making it easier to keep up with the degree requirements. These degrees tend to also be less expensive with many schools offer discounted online tuition rates.
Explore these promoted online degree programs.
These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.
The ranking below was created by using research done on the National Center of Education Statistics and its public college database known as College Navigator. An initial pool of 20 schools offering online programs were selected. The final 10 were selected based on in-state graduate tuition rates and are listed below in descending order.
Ranking Low-cost Legal Studies Master's
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Career Options for an Online Master's in Legal Studies Degree?
Most professionals who earn a graduate degree in legal studies work in various fields; they take on the degree to advance in that field, not to work in legal studies. However, there are some career options available to those who wish to remain in the field.
The most popular career choice is a paralegal. These are the assistants who work side-by-side with lawyers every day, preparing briefs, researching cases, and helping during trials. Paralegals generally begin with an associate's degree and work their way up to a graduate degree.
Another popular option is that of human resources manager. While this is not strictly within the realm of legal studies, human resources managers need to be well-versed in employment and labor laws as well as health and safety code regulations. Much of their time is spent working out contracts and clearing up any legal issue that may be facing the company.
The third most popular option is that of a nonprofit director or supervisor. These professionals work with lawyers constantly to ensure the organization is in compliance with national and international law. They also must work with financial lawyers to ensure that their fundraising efforts are well within the law.
There are various other options, including:
C-Level Executives
Legal Administrative Assistant
Compliance Specialist
Contracts Manager
Executive Assistant
Senior Payroll Administrator
Human Resources Director
Media Specialist
Contract Analyst
Contract Negotiator
Position Classification Specialist
Claims Manager
How Much Can You Earn in this Field?
Legal studies tends to be a large field that is paired with another industry; graduates often have stable careers and wish to advance in their sector. Therefore, for the purposes of this question, only the salaries of legal studies professionals will be discussed.
Legal studies professionals who earn an online Master's in Legal Studies can make anywhere between $40,000 to $125,000. This takes into account all the various career positions, work experience level, and educational experience.
Paralegals make between $40,000 to $50,000 a year, a salary that has remained constant for a few years. On the higher end, senior contract managers can make up to $125,000. These ranges do not account for bonus forms of compensation such as stocks or overtime pay.
What are the Various Disciplines of Legal Studies?
Legal studies is a field in which law plays the largest role. While that may seem self-explanatory, it goes deeper than most people would think.
Legal studies takes into account psychology, sociology, anthropology, diversity, social justice, criminal justice, history, political science, and more. Because law permeates most parts of life in America, each industry and sector is touched by the law in some way.
Additionally, many students who come to a degree in law studies are looking for specific programs. Those who work in healthcare will work with healthcare administration, population health, and regulations. Students working in nonprofit organizations will want to learn about nonprofit organizations, public law, and more. Even those who work for environmental companies may learn about the environment, sustainability, and environmental law.
The field can be vast and there's a lot to cover. Fortunately, many programs, like the ones in this ranking, provide students with the chance to tailor their curriculum to the industry in which they work. Alongside electives, students will find courses on leadership, ethics, management, and more. Students are the deciding force in what disciplines, for the most part, they engage with inside of the legal studies field.
Is it Possible to Become a Lawyer with This Degree?
No, it is not possible to become a lawyer with this degree. The only degree that will make it possible for a professional to become a lawyer is the Juris Doctor. All other law degrees are either postgraduate professional degrees or, in the case of legal studies, a general academic degree. Students interested in becoming lawyers will need to consider the requirements of entering law school.
Can an Online Graduate Degree in Legal Studies Prepare a Professional for Law School?
No, this degree will not prepare professionals for entrance into a law degree. Credit cannot be applied to a JD degree as per the regulations of the American Bar Association. Students who wish to enter law school should look for an alternate route.
Why Do Some Online Master's in Legal Studies Degrees Require a Thesis or a Capstone Project and Some Do Not?
An online Master's in Legal Studies are as individual as the schools who confer them. No two programs are exactly alike and so students should be aware that there is a possibility that they may enroll in a non-thesis program.
Because an MSL is a generalist academic degree, capstone experiences and thesis projects are not considered to be necessary. Students will not be becoming lawyers and so there is no reason to subject them to the rigors of legal training if their career goals are different.
Some programs do, however, require a thesis, including some that are listed in this ranking. These degrees tend to be more specific in terms of curriculum and often come with concentrations. Students are expected to take on a thesis because they are receiving a very specific education and the school will want to ensure they understood the concepts prior to graduation.
Who Should Decide to Earn an Online Degree in Legal Studies?
While lawyers practice law as a profession, there are many other working professionals who need to have a good understanding of the law in order to be successful in their own careers. This is especially true for any professional who spends a good amount of their work time meeting with lawyers or discussing legal issues.
For example, nurse administrators, nonprofit directors, lobbyists, and oil and energy executives must have a good understanding of the law in order to do their job well. That is because all of these professions rely on the law of the land in order to make decisions. It then stands to reason that any person who works in a heavily regulated industry will want to consider a degree in legal studies.
An important note: if a professional is not an administrator or executive in an industry that is heavily regulated, they may not need to worry about going back to school in order to get a degree in legal studies. Unless their duties require them to pore over legislation and regulations or work with lawyers, it may not be a good fit.
Other professionals who may also want to consider a degree in legal studies are entrepreneurs in new and emerging industries. The information they will glean from the curriculum may help them make smarter choices and avoid legal concerns once they have graduated from the program. It's also helpful because it allows them to learn more about contracts and negotiations from a legal standpoint.
Additionally, anyone who deals with contracts on a daily basis may want to consider this degree. Professionals in social services would also be helped by a graduate diploma in legal studies. And while this is not a necessary degree for any profession, it can make all the difference should a legal issue arise.
Legal studies is a great way for working professionals to gain legal expertise in their field without having to go to law school. This degree is the perfect fit for many professionals, especially those who wish to enter into the government or nonprofit industries. It is a good time to seriously consider going back to school to help enhance your professional field and career with an online Master's in Legal Studies.
