Graduate-level legal studies programs are making it possible for New Hampshire students to begin the legal careers of their dreams – without attending law school.
If you’re interested in working in some of the most in-demand legal careers in healthcare, cybersecurity, terrorism prevention, regulatory compliance, and general legal studies – this is the guide for you.
Learn about a few routes for gaining advanced legal education through local Masters level and bachelor-level programs offering degrees and certification options in our guide to some of the best MLS programs in New Hampshire.
We also discuss online options for New Hampshire students who are unable to attend local programs.
Dive in to learn how you can begin your legal career as a non-lawyer working in some of New Hampshire’s most in-demand legal professions!
Best Masters in Legal Studies Programs in New Hampshire
While there are few Masters level legal programs available for New Hampshires Bachelors degree holding students there are a few options for gaining a solid legal footing by obtaining additional credentials including degrees and certificates that set the tone for non-lawyers to enter the field.
Below, we provide a few options for gaining comprehensive legal education in New Hampshire through local schools and nearby online programs that have been approved by the American Bar Association.
1 The University of New Hampshire
The Pierce School of Law at the University of New Hampshire offers three Master’s level legal degrees.
Students can choose the Intellectual Property, International Criminal Law and Justice, and Commerce and Technology Law degrees, which address some of the most popular legal areas needing highly skilled support in New Hampshire and nationwide.
Degree Programs Offered
Intellectual Property MIS Degree: The Intellectual Property Law Master’s Degree offered by UNH teaches students about emerging issues in intellectual property law, which is quickly becoming one of the most important areas of legal practice affecting society in the information age.
Program graduates are educated on the concepts of intellectual property law, patent law, trademark law, and copyright law.
International Criminal Law and Justice – MICLJ: The International Master’s degree program at UNH readies global crime stoppers for combatting crime across the globe.
Program candidates are trained on the fundamentals of international crime including terrorism, war crimes, human trafficking, and cybercrime.
Commerce and Technology Law – MCTI: The e-commerce-focused Master’s degree at UNH touches on some of the latest emerging technologies and trends in the industry while educating legal students on regulations and rules for emergent commerce technology.
Courses Offered
- American Legal Process and Analysis I and II
- Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
- Copyright Law
- Drugs and Weapons Trafficking
- Fundamentals of Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property
- International Perspectives, Regulations, and Tax
- Piracy and Terrorism
- Transactions – Information Age Commercial Law
Program Strengths and Advantages
The variety of thirty-credit hour programs offered by the University of New Hampshire are designed for full-time and part-time students.
Full-time students can complete their program and begin working in their respective fields in around twelve months.
Part-time students are allowed up to five years to complete their program requirements.
Contact Information
- Address: 2 White Street, Concord, New Hampshire - 03301
- Phone: 603-513-5100
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University offers online education for non-lawyers seeking to expand their legal knowledge on their terms.
While they don’t currently offer Master’s level legal education, they do offer undergraduate degree and certificate programs that provide Bachelor’s level students with a solid legal foundation and the ability to begin challenging new legal careers in healthcare, business, cybersecurity, terrorism prevention and a host of legal fields.
Degree Programs Offered
Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies – Law and Legal Process: While the legal studies program at SNHU is designed for Bachelor’s seeking students this comprehensive program teaches an advanced legal studies curriculum that prepares students for high-level legal careers in the legal and criminal justice systems.
Certificate: Justice Studies, Law and Legal Process: New Hampshire-based students wanting to make a quick entry into the legal field with a bachelor’s level education can opt to complete the twelve-credit-hour Justice Studies certificate offered at SNHU.
Their Law and Legal Process Certificate is for non-lawyers seeking to work in Criminal Justice, Judicial Administration, and a variety of other qualified legal roles.
Courses Offered
- Administrative Law
- Business Law I and II
- Criminal Procedure
- Forensic Law
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Judicial Administration
- Juvenile Justice
- The American Legal Tradition
- The Death Penalty
Program Strengths and Advantages
SNHU offers online options for non-lawyers seeking to begin or boost their existing legal careers.
Students can opt for long-term degrees or short-term certificates that allow them immediate entry into a variety of qualified legal positions in business, criminal justice, homeland security, and general law.
Contact Information
- Address: 2500 North River Road, Manchester, New Hampshire - 03106
- Phone: 603-645-9611
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Regent University School of Law
New Hampshire students seeking to earn their legal Master’s degree online can attend one of the nation’s top schools at the Regent University School of Law.
Their online program has been listed as one of the best in the US and provides options for advanced legal education for non-lawyers and those seeking to earn a Juris Doctorate.
Degree Programs Offered
Financial Planning and Law – Master of Arts: Enrollees in the Financial Planning and Law degree offered by Regent University gain top-notch education from Juris Doctorate level instructors who teach them the concepts of insurance, contracts, tax, and financial law.
Their online Master’s program readies legal students interested in finance to sit for national certification and enhance existing credentials.
Master of Arts in Law: Non-lawyers seeking to enter the legal field without attending law school can earn legal credentials online through one of the best legal studies programs offered at Regent University.
Their online legal studies program emphasizes foundational legal education, legal ethics, communications, and compliance.
Courses Offered
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Cybersecurity Law
- General Legal Studies
- Human Resources Law
- Immigration Law
Program Strengths and Advantages
Legal candidates who attend Regent University learn among some of the nation’s top legal professionals at an ABA-approved law school that offers options for Master’s level legal education and lays the groundwork for students to immediately begin working in legal careers and those who want to continue their studies by pursuing a Juris Doctorate.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia - 23464
- Phone: 800-373-5504
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | The University of New Hampshire |
|
#2 | Southern New Hampshire University |
|
#3 | Regent University School of Law |
Legal Studies Salary Information
Masters in Legal Studies – Salary for New Hampshire Graduates
MLS degree holders in New Hampshire command high-paying salaries.
Following are a few high and low-salary examples for MLS degree holders working in key legal positions around New Hampshire.
- Commercial Business Analyst: $66,469 – $83.248
- Financial Planner: $62,004 – $85,470
- Compliance Officer: $64,000 – $140,000
- Contracts Negotiator: $89,450 – $100,049
- Financial Analyst: $57,000 – 81,000
- Health Services Administrator: $82,587 – $132,778
- Law Librarian: $60,200 – $80,163
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$85K |
|
$93K |
|
$10K |
Average Salary in New Hampshire
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Bedford | $94,638 |
| Merrimack | $100,183 |
| Concord | $95,378 |
| Nashua | $100,183 |
| Derry | $97,318 |
| Portsmouth | $96,117 |
| Dover | $96,117 |
| Salem | $98,705 |
| Rochester | $95,655 |
| Keene | $95,840 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover-Durham, NH-ME | 50 | $61,260 | $29.45 | $86,280 | $45,120 |
| Manchester, NH | 380 | $63,320 | $30.44 | $93,070 | $35,580 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | 220 | $60,940 | $29.3 | $85,480 | $36,420 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
What Is a Master of Legal Studies Degree?
A Master of Legal Studies degree is an advanced legal degree that trains non-lawyers on crucial fundamentals and practical knowledge needed to work in America’s legal system.
MLS programs are designed to help students grasp the concepts needed to function in high-level legal professions without the need to attend law school, become a lawyer, or earn a Juris Doctorate.
How Long Does it Take to Earn an MLS Degree in New Hampshire?
The MLS degree programs listed below offer students options to complete their advanced legal studies program requirements in one to five years.
Each program has its completion requirements that can affect the timeline of enrolled students.
Full-time students without a legal concentration can complete their legal training in as little as twelve months while part-time students and those seeking an MLS concentration can take as much as five years to complete their studies.
Who Is Eligible to Earn a Master of Legal Studies Degree in New Hampshire?
Prospective students considering applying for a campus-based or online Master’s in Legal Studies degree program should know that while each program has its own admissions requirements and rules, most Master’s level programs will typically require new applicants to have a Bachelors degree from an accredited institution before they become eligible for acceptance into an advanced legal studies program.
The admissions rules and requirements for advanced legal studies programs may also require students to apply to both a college and its law school for official acceptance.
Can I Earn a Master of Legal Studies Degree Completely Online?
Yes! Working students and those with family or medical obligations will be happy to know that they can earn a Master in Legal Studies degree completely online with no loss in educational quality.
What Roles Can I Work in with a Master of Legal Studies Degree in NH?
Graduates with a Master of Legal Studies degree in New Hampshire are eligible to work in a variety of legal roles in business, healthcare, public policy, risk management, compliance, contract negotiations, and more.
New Hampshire Legal Studies graduates can begin or enhance their legal careers in some of the following categories:
- Contract Negotiation
- Criminal Justice and Policy
- Cybersecurity and Data Protection
- Environmental Protection Law
- Healthcare Administration and Policy
- Intellectual Property Law
- Law Enforcement and Criminal Law
- Legal Analytics
- Paralegals
- Public Policy Administration
- Risk Management Professionals
- State, Federal, or Local Government Careers
Legal Landscape for Master’s in Legal Studies Degree Holders in New Hampshire
Non-lawyers seeking to enter New Hampshire’s ever-changing legal landscape will find that some of the most in-demand legal careers surround the areas of environmental law, healthcare law, technology law, and labor and employment law.
Graduates from MLS and bachelor-level legal studies programs are eligible to start or enhance their legal careers in some of the following in-demand industries across the state.
- Criminal Justice
- Cybersecurity
- Environmental Law
- Financial Planning
- Healthcare Law
- Homeland Security
- Labor and Employment Law
- Regulatory Compliance Law
- Tax Law
What Courses Can I Expect to Take in a Master of Legal Studies Degree Program in New Hampshire?
Law schools offering general legal education in New Hampshire provide access to a plethora of general law, foundational law, and legal concentrations that make it possible for potential graduates to expand their legal careers in almost any direction they choose.
While the exact course names, numbers, and sequence may vary depending on your selected program, New Hampshire-based students have options to enroll in some of the following legal courses offered by top schools in the area and online Masters programs.
- American Law
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law
- Estate Planning
- Healthcare Law
- Human Resources Law
- International Business Transactions
- Non-Profit Law
- Regulatory Compliance
- Insurance Law
- Tax Law
- State and Local Government
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
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