If a master’s in legal studies degree is something you want to pursue, you may not be sure exactly what you can do once you have earned that degree.
Well, this guide is for you.
Maybe you are interested in interacting with attorneys on a regular basis.
Or perhaps you are looking to move up the ladder at your current company but gain some knowledge of law.
This guide was put together to help you gain a better understanding of what professions you can work in with a master of legal studies degree to help you along your journey.
List of Jobs You Can Get With a Masters of Legal Studies Degree
1. Compliance Director
Salary: $110,337-$128,627
As a compliance director, your job will be to ensure that the organization or company you’re working for sustains its ethical and legal integrity.
The main duty of a compliance director is to perform legal research.
This ensures that they remain on top of laws that continuously change.
Several industries that are likely to hire compliance officers are:
- Food preparation and delivery
- Welfare services
- Healthcare
- Financial services
- Medicine, pharmaceuticals, and biotech
- Governmental agencies
The good news is that compliance officer jobs are expected to increase anywhere from 5% to 10% over the next 10 years.
2. HR Manager or Director
Salary: $93,892-$130,000
HR managers and directors have a duty to oversee all administrative duties related to a company, business, or organization.
They have several responsibilities, such as making sure that employees are accurately allocated, taking care of disciplinary and dispute procedures, overseeing employee benefit programs, and overseeing other HR issues such as equal employment opportunities and sexual harassment claims.
Typically, HR manager positions require a bachelor’s degree, but it can be worthwhile to earn a master’s in legal studies as well.
The job outlook also looks promising for HR managers.
According to the BLS, this position is expected to increase up to 9% between 2020 and 2030.
3. Law Librarian
Salary: $60,820
Law librarians are responsible for helping people find the information they need to do accurate research.
In other words, law librarians act as guides.
They also do legal research and assist clerks, attorneys, law students, and even judges when it comes to examining legal resources.
You may find a law librarian working in a law firm or even a law school library.
According to the BLS, the job outlook for law librarians is expected to increase to 9% over the next 10 years.
As a result, this can mean an additional 13,000 jobs will become available.
4. Contract Negotiation Manager
Salary: $86,185-$131,352
The main responsibility of a contract negotiation manager is to assemble and negotiate contracts.
This skill has become incredibly valuable in the economy today, thanks to the increasing need for freelancers and contractors.
Contract negotiation managers will draft and evaluate contracts on behalf of the company they work for, which requires a great understanding of contract law.
This ensures that companies remain in compliance with company policies.
Contract negotiation managers should have excellent attention to detail, knowledge of contract law, excellent communication skills, and be able to resolve conflicts effectively.
5. Operations Director
Salary: $92, 136-$98,093
Operations directors have a lot of responsibilities.
They are in charge of overseeing the internal structure of an establishment.
They also work side by side with executives and HR.
It’s critical that operations directors have a good understanding of the law and various regulations related to their company.
The job outlook for operations director is expected to increase to 6% between 2021 and 2031.
This could mean that nearly 318,000 jobs become available.
Additional duties of an operations director include:
- Lead negotiations
- Manage staff and resources
- Set budgets and goals
- Adapt to market changes
6. Chief Executive Officer
Salary: $185,950
Chief executive officers are responsible for generating policies to help companies meet their goals.
Chief executives are also in charge of creating products and providing services.
It’s true that a chief executive may play a role in negotiating contracts and assigning department heads and managers.
They are responsible for figuring out how to make programs better.
In order to become a chief executive, you will be required to have a combination of professional experience, knowledge of the industry you’re working in, and the appropriate educational background.
The job outlook may not sound as promising, even though the salary remains above average.
According to the BLS, the job outlook is expected to decrease by 6% over the next 10 years, mainly because of the change in technology and organizational structures.
7. Climate Change Policy Analyst
Salary: $73,230
Climate change policy analysts are responsible for protecting the environment, which requires extensive knowledge of environmental law.
They do this through researching climate change policies.
Duties of a climate change policy analyst include:
- Researching environmental management policies
- Drafting and writing reports
- Examining climate data
They must inspect data that they have found and determine whether there are any patterns across various climate periods.
Having a master’s in legal studies will be extremely helpful if you choose to pursue this profession.
The job outlook for climate change analysts looks promising.
The industry is expected to see an 8% increase in jobs over the next 10 years.
8. Court Reporter
Salary: $61,660
Court reporters typically only need an associate’s degree as a requirement, but having an MLS could benefit you in several ways.
For instance, having an MLS degree means that you have the ability to provide specialized and general knowledge with regard to the legal system in the country.
As a potential candidate, you will stand out as you will also be able to move up the ladder in the legal field in the future.
Court reporters have several responsibilities including:
- Transcribing
- Providing copies
- Recording proceedings
- Maintaining records
- Setting up equipment
- Prepare court orders
The job outlook for court reporters is expected to increase by 3% by the year 2030, according to BLS.
9. Probation Officer
Salary: $55,690
Probation officers are also a great career to consider if you have an MLS degree.
Probation officers typically need a bachelor’s degree, but requirements vary depending on the jurisdiction you’re applying to.
However, enrolling in a master of legal studies program will enable you to gain the necessary knowledge you need to work as a probation officer.
Probation officers have several duties including:
- Monitor the activities and behavior of inmates released on probation
- Provide support and guidance to those on probation
- Work closely with those on probation and create a plan for them to follow closely
- Prepare reports for the court that outline the progress, if any, that those on probation have made
Job openings for probation officers are expected to increase by 4% from the years 2020 to 2030.
10. Private Detective & Investigator
Salary: $53,320
There are many paths you could take to become a private detective and investigator.
For instance, some jobs may only require you to have a high school diploma, while others would prefer to only hire candidates with an undergraduate degree.
With that being said, this is a great job to consider for those who have an MLS degree.
Private detectives and investigators are responsible for the following:
- Interviewing people and collecting information
- Performs and manages surveillance
- Draft reports detailing all activities and observations found during the investigation
- Search through public and online records for any judgments, whether civil or criminal
- Report results to clients
By the year 2030, there will be at least 4,400 new job openings for private detectives and investigators.
This means that this profession is expected to grow 13%.
11. Health Services Manager
Salary: $73,949-$104,832
Health services managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of healthcare companies.
They are responsible for the following tasks:
- Managing company finances and setting budgets
- Creating work schedules for employees
- Encourage communication between employees
- Ensure compliance requirements are being met
Healthcare service managers have the ability to perform a wide range of administrative roles within the healthcare field.
With that being said, their exact duties will vary, depending on their position.
5 Tips for Looking for a Job With a Master’s in Legal Studies
Here are five tips to keep in mind while searching for a job with a master’s in legal studies:
1. Prepare Resume & Cover Letter
This first tip is obvious, as you want to ensure that your resume and cover letter are perfected prior to applying for any position.
Be sure to highlight any skills you feel are relevant to your job search, such as legal research, compliance knowledge, communication skills, etc.
2. Network
Networking is a great way to connect with other professionals in the legal field, and any other field for that matter.
Utilizing social media platforms such as LinkedIn is a great way to network and search for jobs.
Additionally, you can consider attending industry events and even sending a direct message to potential employers.
3. Explore all Industries
Don’t just limit your search to traditional companies such as law firms.
With an MLS degree, you should also consider additional roles such as those in the corporate legal field and finance, healthcare, and government agencies.
You may also want to consider non-profit organizations and compliance departments.
4. Pursue Internships
Internships are a great way to gain the hands-on experience you need.
Besides enrolling in internships, you can also gain experience through volunteering at law firms or other related organizations.
By doing this, you can easily build your resume.
This is a great way to show you have basic legal knowledge when applying for job openings.
5. Earn Certification
Depending on your exact industry focus, you may want to consider earning specialized certifications such as certified compliance officer or certified paralegal.
There are additional certifications available for employment law and intellectual property.
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