What can you do with an online masters in legal studies?

Written by: Amy Boyington, Edited by: Gabriela Pérez Jordán

Published: May 5, 2025

An online master's in legal studies can further your law career and prepare you for roles such as a compliance officer or a conciliator. Consider the benefits of this degree if you want to dive deeper into law but not become a lawyer.

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Types of jobs in legal studies

Online master of legal studies (MLS) programs explore the legal landscape from the viewpoint of a non-lawyer. This is in contrast to a juris doctor degree, which prepares students to become lawyers, or a master of laws degree, which helps practicing lawyers specialize in an area of law.

Earning an online MLS degree can lead to legal roles, such as conciliators and private investigators. MLS programs can also prepare you to pursue careers in other fields that frequently work with laws and regulations, such as human resources managers and compliance officers.

While many of these careers require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree, applicants with a master's degree in legal studies may have a competitive advantage and an opportunity to unlock higher pay.

What can you do with a master's in legal studies?

Compliance Officer

A compliance officer ensures that industry and governmental regulations are followed within an organization. They conduct regular compliance audits and host meetings and trainings to keep decision-makers and team members informed of regulatory changes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), compliance officers earned a median annual salary of $75,670 in 2023.

Conciliator

Conciliators meet with the parties involved in a legal case separately to suggest ways to settle the case. They may be responsible for:

Interviewing witnesses and relevant parties
Evaluating case documentation
Preparing settlement agreements for each party to sign

Per BLS data, conciliators — together with arbitrators and mediators — earned a median annual salary of $71,540 in 2023.

Private Investigator

Private investigators collect evidence and information to aid legal cases. Some private investigators work solely for legal offices and help attorneys flesh out their cases. The BLS reports that these professionals earned a median annual salary of $49,540 in 2023.

Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers are liaisons between organizations and their employees. They manage benefit plans, resolve conflicts between team members, train staff, and find solutions for staffing bottlenecks. Human resources managers must understand labor law, so having a legal background can be useful.

Per the BLS, human resources managers earned a median annual salary of $136,350 in 2023.

Legal Assistant

A legal assistant works in a law office and supports attorneys by organizing legal documents, researching facts for legal cases, filing legal documents with the appropriate agencies, and communicating with clients and other counsel. Per BLS data, they earned a median annual salary of $60,970 in 2023.

Is a master's degree in legal studies worth it?

The value of earning a master's in legal studies varies from person to person.

While many of the above roles typically require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree, some employers at prestigious organizations or law offices may prefer candidates with additional education.

When considering the right degree for your goals, consider whether the cost commitment of a master's degree is worth the payoff. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of graduate tuition and fees across all fields and institution types was $20,513 for the 2021–2022 school year.

Depending on the career path you want to pursue, earning a master's in legal studies may not give you as much of a return on investment as you hope for.

FAQ about what you can do with a master's in legal studies

How useful is a legal studies degree?

Earning a legal studies degree can benefit you if you want to work with law, regulations, and policy. Master's in legal studies programs prepare you to pursue careers in numerous sectors, including government, business, or healthcare and can be a valuable step toward further legal education.

Where can I work as a legal studies professional?

After graduating from a legal studies program, you can work in numerous industries, such as information technology or business. You can also pursue some legal occupations, including legal assistant or conciliator. However, master's of legal studies degrees do not prepare you to work as a lawyer.

How much do legal studies graduates make?

Careers for legal studies graduates vary based on their role and industry. While private investigators reported a median salary of $49,540 in 2023, human resource managers earned $136,350 in the same year, per the BLS.

Can I become a lawyer with a master's degree in legal studies?

Although a master's degree in legal studies doesn't directly lead to a career as a lawyer, it can be a stepping stone toward pursuing a juris doctor degree, which is a requirement for practicing lawyers.

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