Earning a master’s degree in legal studies can open up the door to many different career paths.
For instance, maybe you’ve thought of becoming a legal consultant or a court reporter.
Perhaps a legal administrative assistant is more your speed.
No matter the career path you choose, a degree in this major can be extremely rewarding.
So if you’re living in Florida and not sure where to start, this guide will list several schools in the state that offer legal study programs to help you earn a master’s degree.
1 College of Law Florida State University
About the School
One of the best law schools around, College of Law Florida State University, has been ranked among the country’s top law schools by both U.S. News & World Report and Business Insider.
It’s an excellent choice for those who wish to prepare themselves to enter into a legal profession.
College of Law Florida State University is mostly known for offering world-class faculty.
They are located in Tallahassee and offer various programs, including LLM and Juris master programs.
Courses Offered
College of Law Florida State University is proud to offer a master’s in legal studies program where students can earn their degrees on a part-time basis.
The program consists of 30 credit hours and was designed for both graduates and professionals who wish to study the law but not necessarily become lawyers.
This is a great curriculum that provides students with the opportunity to learn about the legal aspects surrounding their industry.
Whether you’re interested in healthcare regulation or cybersecurity, this program is for you.
It is 100% remote and is ideal for working professionals.
The program is entirely flexible and even customizable.
For Florida residents, it typically costs about $683.05 per credit hour.
Some courses that students will take under this program include:
- Criminal Law
- Contracts
- Property
- Torts
- Administrative Law
- Constitutional Law
Contact Information
- Address: 425 W. Jefferson St l Tallahassee, FL 32306
- Phone: 850-644-3787
- Website: Visit School Website
2 University of Miami School of Law
About the School
The University of Miami School of Law is known as one of the nation’s top research universities.
It is located in Coral Gables, just 22 minutes away from Miami, one of the most multicultural cities in the entire world.
There are over 19,000 students from all over the world who enroll in programs at the University of Miami.
The campus offers a diverse and lively community that puts learning and teaching at the center.
The University of Miami has been serving the community since 1925 and consists of 12 different schools and colleges, offering more than 350 majors.
The university is proud to be a part of the Association of American Universities, of which only three percent of institutions are invited to join.
Courses Offered
Does a remote online master’s degree program sound interesting to you?
The University of Miami School of Law offers a 100% online master of legal studies program for those looking for non-lawyer professions.
If you currently work in a law-related field, this program is for you.
It was designed to help you understand various legal aspects and compliance in privacy, real estate, healthcare, cybersecurity, and more.
Upon completion of this program, students will have earned 30 credit hours.
It’s entirely flexible and held to the highest standards.
With this program, students can customize their education.
For instance, the MLS program offers six different fields that can help you closely achieve your goals.
The tracks offered include healthcare, technology, general legal studies, real estate, finance, and human resources.
These are just some of the courses students will take:
- Business Law Clinic
- Applied Legal Concepts
- Legal Writing and Research
- Contracts
- Civil Procedure
Contact Information
- Address: 1311 Miller Drive l Coral Gables, FL 33146
- Phone: 305-284-2339
- Website: Visit School Website
3 St. Thomas University College of Law
About the School
St. Thomas University College of Law offers a variety of programs to meet the needs of all students alike.
They established themselves in 1984 and are accredited by the American Bar Association.
The school is also proud to be a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
In addition, they are a part of a Catholic University and proudly serve and train graduates and attorneys.
St. Thomas University offers both LL.M and J.S.D. programs in business administration, accounting, marriage & family counseling, sports administration, and more.
Courses Offered
The master’s of legal studies program has a tuition cost of $30,918 whether on-campus or off-campus.
For a student to be considered for this program, one must be enrolled at least half-time in an M.L.S. program that the school offers.
Students must also maintain satisfactory academic progress and be a citizen of the U.S.
This program is a perfect fit whether you are currently working in human resources, risk management, auditing, investments, or higher education, just to name a few.
It’s also a good choice for recent grads wishing to pursue a profession in ethics and compliance.
Some of the main courses that are a part of this program are:
- Law & Strategy
- Criminal Law
- Tort
- Real Estate
- Human Resources Manager
- Business Law
Contact Information
- Address: 16401 NW 37th Ave l Miami Gardens, FL 33054
- Phone: 305-623-2310
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Saint Leo University
About the School
Saint Leo University has been serving the community since 1889 and is known for being the first Catholic institution in the state of Florida.
Saint Leo has a rich history of serving students.
The university offers more than 40 majors and minors for students to choose from.
The university’s goal is to be an inspiration to students so they can become the best version of themselves.
Saint Leo University is a non-profit university and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Courses Offered
The master’s of legal studies program available at Saint Leo University is ideal for government officials, parole and probation officers, and any person who has a desire to advance their understanding of the legal system in the country.
This program was designed to provide students with various legal procedures and how the judicial system works.
The program takes about two years to complete.
Upon completion of the program, students will have earned 36 credit hours.
Here are just some of the courses that students will take in this program:
- Criminal Advocacy and Judicial Procedure
- Fundamentals of Civil Litigation
- Legal Issues in Criminal Justice Agencies
- Public Policy Making in Criminal Justice
Contact Information
- Address: 33701 County Road 52, St. l Leo, FL 33574
- Phone: 352-588-8200
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Barry University School of Law
About the School
Barry University is fully dedicated to serving graduates by helping them enhance the knowledge and skills required to navigate their professional careers.
The law school has been serving the Orlando area for many years, following the completion of a legal advocacy center.
The law school offers juris doctor programs, master’s programs, and much more to help students be successful.
They are accredited by the American Bar Association as well as the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Courses Offered
The legal studies program available at Barry University is designed to be completed in just one year with full-time participation.
Students will also be able to choose from additional courses besides the required ones to meet their 24-hour credit requirement.
The various required courses are:
- U.S. Legal Discourse 1
- Fundamental of American Law
- Professional Responsibility
- U.S. Legal Discourse 2
Several additional courses that students have the option to choose from include immigration, family law, and environment.
Contact Information
- Address: 6441 E. Colonial Dr. l Orlando, FL 32807
- Phone: 321-206-5600
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Stetson University College of Law
About the School
Stetson Law is ranked number one in both legal writing and trial advocacy.
Stetson Law is accredited by both the Association of American Law Schools and the American Bar Association.
Stetson is known for being the first law school in the state of Florida and is proud to have educated various successful judges, lawyers, and community leaders for more than 100 years.
The campus is a part of the Tampa Bay metro area, with its main campus located in Gulfport.
The school also offers various programs ranging from M.J. to J.D. degree programs.
Courses Offered
For non-lawyers wishing to obtain a deeper understanding of the legal system and its concepts, the Masters of Legal Studies program at Stetson University is one to consider.
The program here is designed for those currently in various fields where they must find solutions to complex legal challenges.
This program is designed for a specific niche in legal studies.
However, it’s still worth pursuing.
Several courses you will take include:
- Legal Research
- Fundamentals of Contract Law
- Compliance
- Human Resource & Management Issues
Upon completion of this program, students will have earned 30 credit hours.
For students who wish to take their time, the campus offers an option to complete the program in three years with a reduced course load.
Contact Information
- Address: 1401 61st St. South l Gulfport, FL 33707
- Phone: 727-562-7800
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Legal Studies Salary Information
Salary
Depending on the legal profession you pursue with a master’s degree in legal studies, salaries will vary.
For instance, an operations director in Florida has a salary of $98,100 per year.
A contract negotiation manager makes $75,120 annually in Florida.
Salaries can range from $65,000 up to more than $100,000 per year.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$79K |
|
$87K |
|
$96K |
Average Salary in Florida
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Boca Raton | $90,255 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $89,056 |
| Melbourne | $84,170 |
| Miami | $88,964 |
| Orlando | $87,489 |
| Hollywood | $89,056 |
| Tallahassee | $83,064 |
| Tampa | $87,397 |
| Jacksonville | $87,212 |
| Clearwater | $86,936 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 850 | $60,390 | $29.04 | $78,990 | $38,890 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 290 | $54,850 | $26.37 | $76,980 | $33,490 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 480 | $55,060 | $26.47 | $73,500 | $37,370 |
| Gainesville, FL | 340 | $49,860 | $23.97 | $72,800 | $29,780 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 60 | $48,690 | $23.41 | $65,560 | $28,500 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,990 | $59,960 | $28.83 | $82,830 | $38,590 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 500 | $54,760 | $26.33 | $73,430 | $37,210 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 12,420 | $66,140 | $31.8 | $93,750 | $40,240 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 420 | $61,610 | $29.62 | $83,290 | $45,630 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 940 | $58,660 | $28.2 | $77,960 | $39,080 |
| Ocala, FL | 300 | $53,630 | $25.79 | $65,010 | $37,300 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 5,640 | $57,270 | $27.53 | $77,500 | $38,040 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 630 | $59,440 | $28.58 | $78,310 | $38,010 |
| Panama City, FL | 190 | $50,910 | $24.48 | $66,220 | $32,200 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 900 | $51,500 | $24.76 | $73,690 | $35,010 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 510 | $60,510 | $29.09 | $88,130 | $36,980 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 120 | $54,330 | $26.12 | $72,680 | $33,430 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 150 | $58,170 | $27.97 | $77,980 | $38,410 |
| Sebring, FL | 40 | $51,990 | $24.99 | $62,350 | $35,660 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 830 | $53,060 | $25.51 | $75,300 | $34,280 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 6,260 | $65,440 | $31.46 | $88,050 | $41,770 |
| The Villages, FL | 50 | $53,310 | $25.63 | $78,040 | $34,420 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Legal Studies Programs by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Thank you for sharing this list of top Master’s in Legal Studies programs in Florida! It’s great to see options for advancing legal knowledge without pursuing a full law degree.
This is such a helpful post for anyone considering a career in law or related fields! I’m curious if these programs offer specializations like business law, healthcare law, or criminal justice to tailor the degree to specific interests.
Florida has some amazing schools, and it’s great to see the best Master’s in Legal Studies programs highlighted here. For those already enrolled or graduated, how have these programs helped with career growth or transitioning into new legal-related roles?