Legal / Law Studies Degree for Military and Veterans
What is a Legal/Law Studies Degree?
The University of Illinois at Springfield official site says Legal Studies and Law Studies degrees are designed to provide "a fundamental knowledge of law and legal systems and the professional and scholarly skills needed for law school and many law-related careers."Legal/Law Studies students "have the opportunity to interact with both the legislature and the state and federal courts in their classes and through internships. Students are also encouraged to participate in several experiential learning opportunities, including working with the Illinois Innocence Project, competing with the Mock Trial Team, and participating in the Pre-Law Society."
If you’re considering getting into law, you do not have to go to law school or become a lawyer. A Legal/Law Studies Degree, prepares students for a wide range of careers in the legal field that do not involve law school.
While undertaking coursework in different types of law and legal research methods, students develop skills in analysis, argumentation, and communication and understand ethics, justice, and professional responsibility.
What can you do with a Legal/Law Studies Degree?
With this type of degree, graduates can pursue varied career paths in law and may find work in law enforcement, policymaking, advocacy, or other fields whether undergraduate or graduate; a Degree in Legal/Law Studies provides an overview of concepts, principles, and systems in various types of law, research, and analysis.A person attending law school is specifically focused on becoming an attorney. Law school students are subject to legal writing exercises, mock trials and typically serve in legal internships.
After they graduate and pass the bar exam, they can practice law as a JD or LLB. They may also represent clients in court, provide legal advice, and specialize in specific areas of law.
A Legal/Law Studies Degree is not a JD or LLB. Graduates aren’t expected to take the bar exam and become attorneys with this type of degree, but it does give the holder a foundation to further their legal education and take lucrative roles that require knowledge of legal principles and systems.
Is a Legal/Law Studies Degree hard?
Some students find a legal/Law Studies Degree challenging. The workload involves reading and analyzing difficult legal texts and writing lengthy papers on those texts with detailed research.As with a law school degree, students focus on understanding and interpreting legislation, case law, and legal principles.
Is a Legal/Law Studies Degree worth it?
If you want to work in the legal system without becoming an attorney but you want a position where legal knowledge is required, a Legal/Law Studies Degree is worth the effort. There are many industries where law knowledge is required, such as healthcare, human resources, non-profit, finance, and research.According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 91,700 job openings in legal support available each year.
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Bachelor’s Degree in Legal/Law Studies
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal/Law Studies, students can prepare for law school via a BA-to-JD program (if the school offers it.) They may also pursue positions in law in various support roles to attorneys, legal departments and law firms.Jobs you can obtain with a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal/Law Studies include:
- Legal Assistant- A person in this role assists attorneys and legal teams in an administrative capacity. Average annual salary: $68021.
- Paralegal- Paralegals also assist lawyers and law teams, but focus more on legal duties and research. Average annual salary: $90,860.
- Claims Adjuster- An individual in this role works in the insurance industry investigating claims to determine settlement amounts. Average annual salary: $54,491.
Master’s Degree in Legal/Law Studies
A Master’s Degree in Legal/Law Studies allows students to have a deeper focus and solid understanding of legal topics. Graduates can attain high-level, lucrative careers that interact with law, but this degree does not prepare them to become attorneys. This program can take up to two years to complete—in comparison, a JD program takes about three years to finish.Jobs open to those with a Master’s Degree in Sports and Fitness Administration include:
- Title Examiner- A title examiner verifies facts on legal documents, such as real estate records, property titles or insurance records. Average annual salary: $47,352.
- Compliance Specialist- A person in this role helps businesses and government agencies remain compliant with laws and regulations. Average annual salary: $91,027.
- Healthcare Manager- An individual in this role oversees healthcare facilities and their programs to ensure compliance with laws, regulations and institutional policies. Average annual salary: $127,980.
Doctorate Degree in Legal/Law Studies
A Doctorate in Law/Legal studies is mostly a research-focused degree— it does not prepare the bearer for legal practice. Students pursuing this degree typically work in academia, advanced legal research or policy analysis.Jobs open to those with a Doctorate Degree in Legal/Law Studies include:
- Corporate Counsel- Also called “in-house counsel” a person in this position typically provides legal advice for businesses on everything from contracts and regulations to intellectual property and employment law. Average annual salary: $171,288.
- Law Professor- A law professor creates coursework for law students at the undergraduate or graduate level and may specialize in a specific area of law. Average annual salary: $158,283.
Select VA-Approved Colleges and Yellow Ribbon Schools with Legal/ Law Studies Degree Programs
Ready to start your Degree in Legal/Law Studies? Some partner schools have paid for promotional consideration.Troy University- Troy University offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal/Law Studies. It has GI Bill-approved programs, offers credit for military experience, awards credit for CLEP and DSST exams, and is approved for Tuition Assistance. Troy University is a MyCAA-approved school and a participant in the Yellow Ribbon program.
Lasell University- Lasell offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal/Law Studies. It has GI Bill approved programs, offers credit for military experience, is approved for Tuition Assistance, and awards credit for the CLEP exam. Lasell College is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon program.
University of Dayton–The University of Dayton offers Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Legal/Law Studies. It has GI Bill approved programs, offers credit for military experience, is approved for Tuition Assistance, and awards credit for the CLEP exam. The University of Dayton is a MyCAA-approved school and a participant in the Yellow Ribbon program.
Le Moyne College- Le Moyne College offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal/Law Studies. It has GI Bill approved programs, offers credit for military experience, is approved for Tuition Assistance, and awards credit for the CLEP exam. Le Moyne College is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon program.
*Average annual salaries adapted and calculated from sources including Salary.com and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. For more information, click here.