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Overview of a Degree in Legal Studies

As an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree program, the legal studies degree will provide students with a working platform to understand the function, procedures, and organization of entities and their interrelationship with the legal system.  Coursework typically will cover necessary aspects of the fundamentals of law, criminal justice system, legal systems, contract management, research methodologies, consumer rights, and the interworking’s of the U.S. court system.

Students pursuing a degree in legal studies will develop the skills necessary to work in a legal profession at the assistant or paralegal level. Students in a legal studies program will be give a broad education on the various facets and methods of law, and how they are applicable in real world settings. The degree is generally given at the associate and bachelor setting, sometimes as part of another discipline, such as business administration or criminal justice. Individuals may also choose to pursue a graduate degree in law, for which a legal studies degree is beneficial though not necessary. Graduate level degrees in legal studies are also available at the master and doctoral level.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$105,980

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

65.02%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

1,075,520

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Legal Studies Degree

Harvard University is one of the oldest and prestigious institutions that educate individuals to become leaders who are committed to making a global difference. It houses highly educated and world-class professionals that provide exceptional learning for the people of Massachusetts and the world.

Harvard offers a program that concentrates on international legal studies wherein students can gain knowledge and a broad understanding of international and comparative law. Each year, with the support of the fellowship program and research center, the program allows students to participate in studying, working, and conducting research in other countries. It offers a wide variety of academic resources such as the Harvard law library that is known as the largest in the world. 

Acceptance Rate

4.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania was the first institution of higher learning in the United States. It offers an excellent education that is affordable and accessible to the diverse and dynamic community of students and scholars around the world. 

The Legal Studies and Business Ethics is one of the academic departments in the university. It provides various degree programs for its students who are interested to learn about ethics, law, and business. In addition, it provides additional learning resources for its students through seminars, conferences, and other opportunities given by the department and its staff. 

Acceptance Rate

7.66

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Northwestern University is a private institution of higher education with a 300 acres campus in Illinois. It was established in 1851 to provide excellent research and interdisciplinary education, and today, the university serves more than 20,000 students every year.

Northwestern University has established a Department of Legal Studies, which provides an environment where scholars and students can use the perspectives and methods of the humanities and social sciences to understand legal issues. Students are being trained to become thoughtful and active citizens who are engaged with global justice as well as the role of law in the daily lives of the local and international communities. The department works with faculty and staff to provide its students with undergraduate and postgraduate courses. 

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

As a private institution, Vanderbilt University has been providing a full range of professional, graduate, and undergraduate degrees focusing on business, science, law, agriculture, and many more. It was founded in 1873 by Cornelius Vanderbilt with the aim to contribute to the strengthening of the communities across the globe.

It offers programs for individuals who aspire to study law-related courses and one of it is the International Legal Studies that prepare students to practice law in a supportive environment. By combining classroom exposure with annual internships, students can develop their experience in international law and their understanding of complex issues in the world. After completing the course requirements, students or alumni will have the opportunity to be employed by various international organizations. 

Acceptance Rate

9.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Claremont McKenna College is known as one of the top institutions providing liberal arts education in the United States. Established 75 years ago, the college has been true to its mission to become a highly supportive environment that prepares students to become leaders in their professions.

With methods and ideas from social sciences and humanities, the school provides an interdisciplinary program in Legal Studies to teach students about the social and intellectual structures that are important to today’s industry. Its students are brilliantly taught by expert professors about the doctrine of law and its relationship in society. Some courses under legal studies are focused on natural law, public policy, constitutional law, business law, economics, and even psychology courses such as forensic and social psychology. 

Acceptance Rate

10.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

Located in Claremont, California, Harvey Mudd College concentrates on preparing students to become engineers, mathematicians, and scientists. It serves nearly 1,000 intellectual students on its 38 acres campus.  The Department of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts offers a course that focuses on legal studies. Students enrolled in the program will explore and broaden their knowledge in the ties between the law and society. The program also aims to help students learn about their social impact in the world through its excellent courses such as law, public policy, philosophy, history, communication, and more. 

Acceptance Rate

13.67

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

The University of California at Berkeley was established in 1868 and is known as the first campus of the University of California system. It provides liberal arts education to more than 40,000 students every year.

With the aim to engage individuals with the values, practices, institutions, and meanings of legality and law, the University of California in Berkeley provides an interdisciplinary and liberal arts program in Legal Studies. In this major, students will learn about the critical understanding of theoretical frameworks, cultural embeddedness, and historical dynamics of law. Some of the course topics include individual liberty, political and social equality, autonomy, and the relationship of the citizens with the state. 

Acceptance Rate

16.25

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

Founded in 1802, the United States Military Academy values honor, duty, and the country. It has a 16,000-acre campus in West Point, New York, and serves more than 4,000 students every year.

The academy’s Department of Legal Studies provides undergraduate legal students that focus on the effects of the law in society and in the culture of the people. Students who are majoring in law and legal studies will have the knowledge of the legal disciplines in the United States as well as understand the effective rules of law. The program requires students to study military systems, laws of war, legal theory, civil rights, criminal law, and the law of armed conflict, as well as opportunities to conduct research focused on legal research. 

Acceptance Rate

12.03

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Tulane University in Louisiana was established in 1834 to become an institution providing medical courses for the community of New Orleans and its surroundings. Today, the university offers a variety of courses and serves more than 15,000 students every year. 

One of its courses is legal studies for business majors, introducing students to social values, legal studies, legal principles, and ethical issues. The major provides a comprehensive foundation through finance, accounting, legal writing, business law, and research. Throughout the program, students will develop essential reasoning and analytical skills as well as the ability to use legal and moral principles to form legal and ethical conclusions. 

Acceptance Rate

12.87

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

The mission of Scripps College is to develop the talents and abilities of women through active participation in the community. Founded in 1926 and located in Claremont, California, the college is committed to integration, diversity, and rich living experience, which will shape women into the next generation of leaders.

Scripps College offers a variety of academic programs, including legal studies, with a focus on the legal disciplines of the humanities. Students will be introduced to the broadly defined analysis of law and the functions of the legal institutions around the world. The college also provides dual and double degree options for its students who are interested in combing legal studies with other major programs. 

Acceptance Rate

32

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

The University of Miami has a diverse and vibrant community that is focused on the discovery of knowledge of individuals. It consists of 11 colleges and schools, providing services for graduate and undergraduate students in more than 170 degree programs.

The university also offers a Bachelor of Business Administration program, which focuses on legal studies and strengthens the interaction between legal advisers and business managers. Students in this course will experience flexible learning courses such as human resources, risk management, healthcare, finance, government, and marketing, which provide an appropriate foundation for professional legal studies and research. Students are also required to have a total of 120 credit hours before completing the program. 

Acceptance Rate

27.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

The mission of the University of California in Santa Barbara is to go hand-in-hand with the students through their educational journey that stimulates critical reasoning, creativity, and independent thought. Its 1,000 acres suburban campus was established in 1891.

It provides professional certificates for students who wish to start or develop careers in paralegals and legal workplaces. The curriculum develops the competence and practical skills of the students in legal work under the supervision of an attorney. Students will also learn about the importance of case planning, drafting legal documents, and even have to go through career planning and professional development. 

Acceptance Rate

29.56

Student to Faculty Ratio

22:1

The University of Georgia was established 236 years ago with the mission of providing services and teaching to students through hands-on learning, extensive outreach activities, and global research. It is recognized as top-value research that is committed to student excellence inside and outside of the classroom.

It provides students with the opportunity to establish a foundation for legal studies and business. The program enables students to understand the competitive world of business including the regulatory and substantive law, dispute resolution, and legal institutions. Upon completion, students will also receive a legal research certificate, which can be used to further their studies in law school and deepen their understanding of law. 

Acceptance Rate

45.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

Located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Dickinson College is a private institution that has been providing liberal arts education for more than 200 years. With its high-quality academic resources and curriculum, the college produces lawyers, writers, researchers, and entrepreneurs who are now working-professionals across the globe.

Dickinson Law School offers flexible courses that enable students to explore their intellectual interests, such as choosing their own academic path that focuses on analytical thinking, research, and writing. It is recommended that students take courses on contemporary economics, American history, ethical issues, logic, the constitution, the judiciary, the U.S. government, and legislative procedures. The school also provides a joint law degree program that can be completed in six years. 

Acceptance Rate

40.06

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The University of Washington in Seattle has an unshakable optimism to educate more than 50,000 students each year. It began operations in 1861, and since then, the university has remained faithful to its mission of promoting, disseminating, and preserving knowledge. 

The university offers an environment that embraces diversity, uplifts public service, values interdisciplinary understanding, and produces beneficial knowledge for students who are enrolled in the programs under the university’s school of law. Students will be taught about the traditional rules of legal studies as well as the modern approach for advancing social justice. Today, the school has more than 13,000 alumni who are now employed in various organizations around the world. 

Acceptance Rate

51.76

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

American University was founded in February 1893 and is located in Washington, D.C. It has eight schools and colleges including the schools of international service, communication, professional studies, education, public affairs, and the colleges of arts and sciences, and law. 

The Department of Legal Studies of the American University has developed a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. Students are required to take 120-credit hours in law and public affairs and elective courses such as western legal traditions, legal studies research, social theory, concepts of punishment, the legal profession, issues of civil justice, and many more. The program also provides internship programs at the nation’s well-known legal institutions and also provides students with scholarships and financial aid. 

Acceptance Rate

36.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

The University of Pittsburgh is one of the greatest universities in the United States, providing world-class courses for approximately 30,000 students. It was founded in 1787 and is currently a member of the American universities’ association.

Ranked as one of the best institutions for legal studies, the university and the college of general studies has developed a program that allows students to have a bachelor’s degree in the field. Under the guidance of full-time and part-time professors, students will have a broad understanding of the American legal system and its impact on society and individuals. The university also provides flexible options for its students by offering face-to-face and online classes that tackle politics, public law, and the emerging issues in social policy among others. 

Acceptance Rate

56.65

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Founded 56 years ago, the University of California is located in Santa Cruz. The campus covers an area of 2,000 acres and is located on a forested hill overlooking Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Its faculty, staff, and students have gained international recognition for high-quality teaching and research. The legal studies program of the university is described as a major in liberal arts that provides multiple perspectives in the conceptual frameworks of law and legal issues. In addition to law courses, students will also have the opportunity to participate in art, economics, politics, history, literature, music, anthropology, sociology, and other related courses. The faculty also encourages students to also join in fieldwork and internship programs. 

Acceptance Rate

51.31

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

The University of Central Florida started as an institution as a support to the nation’s emerging and growing space program in 1965. Today, UCF operates as a premiere public institution with almost 70,000 number of students annually.

Students at the University of Central Florida can get the chance to explore the principles of law and understand the role of and function of legal system at the institution’s department of Legal Studies. UCF offers a broad bachelor of science program in Legal Studies with a focus on law’s basic principles and the legal system in the country. Students will go through a list of learning opportunities and experience in this program which guarantees absolute hands-on and real-life experiences of the law through engagements and active participation in different legal teams. Moreover, UCF allows their learners to choose between a hybrid of learning format including the traditional on-campus learning and the modern online learning system.

Acceptance Rate

44.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

30:1

As a private Jesuit institution, Saint Louis University in Missouri serves more than 10,000 students on its 271-acre campus. It was founded in 1818, and its mission is to have a positive impact on the world by training critical thinkers and well-rounded leaders.

In 1843, the university extends its programs by creating the School of Law which fosters academic excellence in public service and professionalism. The programs offered by the school have a diverse curriculum that prepares students for legal studies through the various law courses specialized in health, employment, corporate, finance, tax, criminal, real estate, and many more. Students have an option to choose the part-time and full-time programs as well as have an opportunity to intern in legal clinics. 

Acceptance Rate

58.28

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The institution of Hampshire College started as a trial experiment for alternative education in relation with four other different colleges in 1970 and known as a the “Five College Consortium.” Hampshire College is currently a high-level private college for liberal arts education and training.

Hampshire College created the first law undergraduate course in the United States in 1970. The program seeks to provide learners of the law with an innovative and rigorous interdisciplinary approach in studying the premises and principles of the law along with several outdoor learning opportunities as provided by the college. By choosing their preferred primary and secondary focus, students in the course can be provided with a wider range of options.

Acceptance Rate

1.97

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

It is located in the state of California operating as a privately endowed institution with several regional campuses and military centers spread across the state of California. University of La Verne has organized with five major schools and colleges including centers for military and adult school for learning. 

ULV has a motto of “Knowledge, Science, Vision,” which is reflected in the numbers of programs and courses offered through their colleges and learning centers. In fact, ULV’s Legal Studies degree program is a highly approved program by different agencies and associations related to the bar.  Its curriculum concentrates in producing graduates with the training, knowledge, and in-depth background to succeed as paralegals and legal assistants in the professional world of law and legal system. In here, learners are taught and trained to develop and acquire critical and analytical thinking skills and to break down the fundamentals of law and the legal system.

Acceptance Rate

54.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

The University of Denver, a private institution with research focus, is a leading and the oldest independent private institution in Colorado. The institution with its rich history of excellence and outstanding research performance seeks to foster learning through advanced engagements for students in the intellectual, scholarly, and social aspects of their learning experiences. 

At the University’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, students are welcomed to pursue a degree in Socio-Legal Studies. DU understands that the law is the main factor in the social structure hence, it offers a program which is built to cater and meet the student’s desired learning curve and goals to become an employment ready individual in the future. Moreover, students can choose a variety of interdisciplinary classes in different departments including philosophy, environmental science, and journalism. If an individual wants to pursue for the postgraduate program in Legal Studies, DU’s College of Law also offers an in-depth master’s program designed for professionals and graduate students in the field of law.

Acceptance Rate

58.71

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

As a prestigious public land-grant university, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has excellent in various fields in research and scholarly pursuits. In the most recent 2021 US News and World Report, the University of Massachusetts Amherst was rated as one of the best performing universities in the United States, ranking 66th. 

At Massachusetts State University, law and law students can obtain a comprehensive course in the legal studies administered by the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The legal studies curriculum of this program is based on a purpose to explore the study of law within a liberal arts framework and to develop the different methods in which law is linked and related with other disciplines that are focused to the understanding of society. In addition, students of Legal Studies at UMass Amherst have the chance to experience and receive robust internship programs that border on professional real-life experiences.

Acceptance Rate

63.8

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

The University of Buffalo is a public university founded in 1846 as a medical research institution. The institution is recognized as an R1 university, directly demonstrating the high-quality research activities and activities that learners can engage in in its research centers and facilities. 

The Legal Studies program at the University of Buffalo is outlined for students with natural flair in historical, social, and political underpinnings of the law and the nation’s legal system. It seeks to guide students into developing skills in writing legal papers and acquiring high analytical skills. Throughout the course of training and concentrated study of the fundamentals of law and the course, students and provided with ample benefits particularly an edge with the university’s cutting-edge internship programs.

Acceptance Rate

61.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

What is Legal Studies?

College students enrolled in a legal studies program will be exposed to a number of classes to help illuminate the legal sector in the United States and abroad. The legal studies degree program is an interdisciplinary, liberal arts major designed to underscore the value, purpose, practice, and entities of our legal system. The curriculum of the legal studies program helps students understand the relationship between cultural, economic, and political forces on law and vice versa. Colleges and universities will provide a platform for critical thinking and deep analysis colored by relevant legal theories to better understand social policy, privacy, equality, jurisprudence, morality, democracy, resource distribution, and dignity within a given culture.

Legal studies are designed to examine legality from various points of view such as objective, humanistic, and empirical data in an effort to develop students critical thinking and communication skills. The ability to think holistically about a situation and develop a substantive argument for or against the issue it at the core of a liberal arts legal studies degree.

A curriculum in legal studies may include:

  • Civil Liberties
  • Legal Theory
  • Comparative Law
  • Philosophy of Law
  • Politics of Law

A legal studies degree at the associate or bachelor level allows one to pursue a career as a paralegal or legal assistant. Individuals will be tasked with research, reporting, note taking, and other functions as needed by lawyers within the office. An extensive background in law, along with experience in research methodology is necessary for individuals who choose to apply their degree toward such a career.

Some lawyers will have a background in legal studies as an undergraduate law tract prior to obtaining their juris doctor (JD). Law schools tend to pursue individuals with a variety of educational backgrounds, though those with a legal studies background will have a definitive advantage in regards to strong foundation. Some individuals will have taken legal studies as a focus in business administration, with the intent to enter the business world with a solid understanding of business law.

Top Degrees in Legal Studies

The range of college degree programs in legal studies include a wide number of possibilities for students across the country.  Programs span from undergraduate programs such as certificate, associate, and bachelor degrees to graduate programs that include master’s and doctoral programs.

Undergraduate Degree in Legal Studies

An undergraduate degree in legal studies may include a certificate of completion or an Associate of Science (AS) or Bachelor’s of Science (BS) from an online or classroom based program.  In either case, these programs are geared to assist students be career-ready by exploring the legal, constitutional, and ethical components within the legal system.  Outcomes of these college degrees typically include:

  • Knowledge of the American Judicial System
  • Ability to analyze and synthesize law and legal systems
  • Skills to prepare and interpret legal documents
  • Manage document reviews
  • Conduct legal research and summary reporting
  • Prepare and deliver arguments related to case or topic of interest
Graduate Degree in Legal Studies

Graduate degree programs in legal studies may include both master’s degree programs and doctoral degrees.  There are three primary types of graduate degrees in legal studies:

  1. Juris Doctor – JD or DJur
  2. Master of Law – LLM or LL.M.
  3. Doctor of Juridical Science – J.S.D. or S.J.D.

A complete overview of these three degree programs can be found on our law degree page here for further research opportunities.  In addition to the degree types mentioned above, students may elect to pursue a specialty within the legal studies track.  A specialty or area of concentration may include:

  • Health Care Law – a degree with a focus on health care policy, organizational leadership, and administration.
  • Environmental Law – a legal program with subspecialties such as sustainable development, energy, natural resources, alternative energy, or global warming.
  • JD Law Program – a first-degree law program with a wide variety of legal applications from public policy to torts and federal litigation to patent law.
  • Taxation Law – an upper-level program emphasizing commercial law, tax law, estate planning, or accounting.
  • Constitutional Law – a graduate program emphasizing the understanding and application of the United States constitution and its legal implications.
  • Patent Law – a degree specialty preparing students to prepare legal documentation and protect entities with exclusive rights and requirements associated with patents.
  • International Law – a graduate program with a variety of applications and specialties such as human rights, international banking, trade laws, or treaty laws.
  • Master of Law Degree – a second-degree program in the legal field with global applications from international law to intellectual property.

Online Legal Studies Degree

The fastest growing segment within higher education in the last decade has been online learning or distance learning programs. The online learning sector is attractive to many students and working professionals given its learning modalities, flexibility, independence, and quality. By selecting a law degree online in California or an online law degree in Texas or Florida could be the segue you have been looking for the enhance your career or get you into the legal field from an outside industry. As you research accredited colleges and universities that may be right for you, keep your priority checklist handy and request information from schools as often as you see fit to find the best program for you. For additional resources from MatchCollege on online learning programs and research articles, visit any one of the following:

Popular Careers in Legal Studies

By earning a college degree in legal studies from an accredited college or university in the United States, you may be ready to launch a career in a number of differing arenas. While not inclusive of all possible options, you may choose to pursue a career in any one of the following:

  • Arbitration
  • Court Reporter
  • Law Clerk
  • Consultants
  • Professor
  • Reporter or Journalist
  • Politician
  • Judge and Magistrate
  • Government Attorney
  • Mediator
  • Union Representative
  • Data Analyst
  • Compliance Coordinator
  • Legislative Liaison
  • Public Service Administrator
  • Labor Relations Manager
  • Lawyer
  • Private Investigator
  • Legal Assistant
  • Paralegal
  • Research Analyst
  • Court Clerk
  • Government Relations Director
  • Court Administrator

Job growth for law professionals in general is expected to increase over the next decade. This is primarily due to the increasing complexity of the legal system in the face of ambiguous legal territories that are being defined and redefined through the advent of new technologies, resulting in the need for professional who are able to navigate case histories and do research to find precedence. Individuals interested in legal studies may also be interested in paralegal, pre-law, and law degrees. Additional resources such as the NLA or ABA can be utilized to help find careers in the legal field from coast to coast.

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