All organizations need legal experts who understand the nuances of the law and how it impacts their company.
Surprisingly, these legal professionals are not always lawyers.
There are many non-lawyer employees at corporations who hold a deep understanding of contracts, regulatory compliance, and legal history within specific industries that are essential to their field and company.
A Master of Science in Legal Studies degree is a great option for those who want to bolster their legal knowledge to be more effective for their organization, without earning a Juris Doctorate.
If you’re interested in learning more about the best Master in Legal Studies programs in Nebraska, keep reading!
Top Schools
Nebraska only has one in-person MLS program available at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
However, Nebraska residents can enroll in the best online MLS programs from across the United States.
1 American University
The Washington College of Law at American University has an entirely online MLS program developed to help students understand the relationship between society and the law.
The online program has been extensively developed to give students at any location the opportunity to balance work, life, and school.
Most students are existing professionals seeking to improve their careers with knowledge of the law.
The 30-credit program can be completed in a part-time or full-time format.
Courses/Programs Offered
The program features fundamental classes that all students must take to build a foundation within the legal field.
These classes include an Introduction to Courts and Law, Drafting for Compliance Professionals, Negotiation and Communication, and an Introduction to Regulation and Compliance.
Students must also take additional electives, which could include Cyber Law, Human Resource Compliance, Government Contracting, Contract Drafting, and Healthcare Law and Compliance.
Program attendees are required to select a specialization track at the end of the second semester.
Contact Information
- Address: 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016, United States
- Phone: +1 202-885-1000
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Drexel University
As the third-best online MLS program in the U.S., Drexel’s professors are current and retired subject matter experts, and legal professionals.
The program focuses on the legal challenges faced by businesses and organizations across all industries, thus preparing students to aid in organizational changes at current and future employers.
The 45-credit program is available online, hybrid, or in-person.
Courses/Programs Offered
Students are first subjected to core legal classes like the American Legal System, corporate compliance, legal research and writing, torts, and various law types.
After completing the foundational classes, participants must choose a concentration that aligns with their career goals and interests.
Concentrations range from Criminal Law and NCAA Compliance and Sports law to different types of compliance, including Higher Education, Financial Regulatory, Healthcare, and Human Resources.
Contact Information
- Address: 3141 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
- Phone: 215-571-4749
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Emory University
Emory University’s School of Law offers an exceptional MLS program that prepares students with practical knowledge, an understanding of the legal environment, and the nuances of government to have an impact on current and future corporations.
Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions or to enhance their current careers through extensive legal knowledge.
Emory’s MLS program is offered entirely online so students can have more flexibility in their personal and professional lives.
Courses/Programs Offered
Although the program is offered online, two virtual synchronous experiences are available: one at the beginning and one at the end of the program.
This allows students to connect and network in a more casual manner.
Like all programs, attendees must take core classes like legal writing and research, ethics, the legal system, and torts before advancing to their specialization.
Students can select from Business Regulation and Law, Healthcare Law, Regulation and Policy, Human Resources and Employment Law, and Technology, Privacy, and Cybersecurity Law.
Contact Information
- Address: 201 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
- Phone: 404-736-0067
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Fordham University
The Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance degree offered by Fordham University targets current professionals or existing students who would like to join or collaborate closely with a corporate legal team.
Those who join this program are interested in earning a legal degree from a top-notch law school without the multi-year requirement of a Juris Doctorate.
The program covers all aspects of corporate compliance with the flexibility of online study.
Courses/Programs Offered
The self-paced online curriculum can be completed in as quickly as 12 months and is taught by expert faculty from diverse industries.
Students can take partake in live morning or evening classes while having regular virtual interactions with faculty and other students.
Additionally, all program participants are invited to an in-person colloquium in New York City.
Core classes include legal research and writing, ethics, law types, the legal system, and contracts.
Additional specialization tracks cover General Law, Human Resources, Financial Services, and Healthcare.
Contact Information
- Address: Bronx, NY 10458, United States
- Phone: 833-894-7711
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Pepperdine University
Students can complete Pepperdine University’s Master of Legal Studies curriculum on a part-time basis in approximately 24 months or with full-time rigor in 12 months.
The Caruso School of Law at Pepperdine prioritizes legal comprehension and leadership skills over test scores, so no preliminary testing is necessary to be accepted into the program.
Courses/Programs Offered
The eight-unit curriculum begins with foundational courses like ethics, the American legal system, torts, contracts, legal writing, and business law.
After the core classes are completed, students must finish eight general elective courses such as intellectual property, health law, education law, and business organizations.
One interesting option that Pepperdine offers for MSL graduates is the opportunity to earn a Master of Dispute Resolution degree, which requires less than one additional year of education.
Contact Information
- Address: 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90263, United States
- Phone: +1 310-506-4000
- Website: Visit School Website
6 PennWest
Pennsylvania Western University (formerly California University of Pennsylvania) has an online Master of Science in Legal Studies program built for the diversity of bachelor’s degree graduates and working professionals who hold an interest in the law and public policy.
The comprehensive curriculum is taught by legal scholars and subject matter experts with extensive experience in their industries.
In addition to improved legal knowledge, graduates will walk away from the program with higher competencies like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and informational literacy skills.
Courses/Programs Offered
Core curriculum classes include the law, administrative agencies, public policy, legal methods, and civil liberties.
Beyond the fundamental classes, students must specialize in specific areas of law, including ethics, international law, environmental law, national security, and family law, depending on their career goals.
Contact Information
- Address: 840 Wood St, Clarion, PA 16214, United States
- Phone: +1 814-393-2000
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Purdue University
Purdue is a highly reputable school in many fields, including the law.
For this reason, their online school, Purdue Global, offers an excellent Master in Legal Studies degree that challenges students to solve real-world legal challenges while learning practical knowledge.
Students must take only 11 classes to graduate, which takes around one year on a part-time basis.
The faculty is from diverse fields ranging from the law to education and social science, thus giving students an eclectic mix of teaching styles and perspectives.
Courses/Programs Offered
Purdue’s MSL is structured similarly to most other MSL programs: core legal classes and specialized electives.
The core legal classes include the American Legal System, Substantive Areas of Law, Dispute Resolution, Legal History, Legal Research and Writing, Jurisprudence, Legal Reasoning and Analysis, and Ethical Decision-Making.
Graduates are well-equipped to tackle complicated legal issues using the legal concepts and principles learned from the program.
They can also apply strong leadership principles and analyze and solve problems using tactics from the curriculum.
Contact Information
- Address: 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
- Phone: 844-787-3834
- Website: Visit School Website
8 University of Nebraska – Lincoln
The University of Nebraska system is the state’s largest, offering countless undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.
One such program is the Master of Legal Studies, which prepares incoming students who are interested in the law without earning a Juris Doctorate.
This 33-credit-hour program can be taken on a part-time or full-time basis for the ultimate flexibility.
Part-time students can complete the program in one year, while part-time students must take at least one class per semester and finish within three years.
Each student is assigned an advisor to assist throughout the entire program.
Courses/Programs Offered
Students are required to take Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research and one common law course in Property, Torts, or Contracts, both of which are offered in the first semester.
In addition to the foundational courses, students must choose the remaining elective courses, which range from Business Planning and Patent Practice to Negotiations, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Criminal Law.
Contact Information
- Address: 1400 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
- Phone: +1 402-472-7211
- Website: Visit School Website
9 University of the Pacific
The University of the Pacific has a Master of Science in Law, which is a completely online, 26-credit hour program comprised of 10 courses.
This program takes around two years to complete on a part-time basis.
The program was designed to be engaging, flexible, and effective, with considerable interaction between students and faculty despite being entirely virtual.
Courses/Programs Offered
The University of the Pacific MSL is available in two specializations: Water and Environmental Law and Government Law and Policy.
The Water and Environmental Law track is valuable for legislative staff, public agencies, lobbyists, public information officers, environmental consultants, engineers, and land use planners.
The Government Law and Policy specialization is ideal for legislative staff, lobbyists, and federal, state, and local employees seeking to improve their lobbying, election law, regulation, and lawmaking skills.
Contact Information
- Address: 3601 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95211, United States
- Phone: +1 209-946-2211
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | American University |
|
#2 | Drexel University |
|
#3 | Emory University |
|
#4 | Fordham University |
|
#5 | Pepperdine University |
|
#6 | PennWest |
|
#7 | Purdue University |
|
#8 | University of Nebraska – Lincoln |
|
#9 | University of the Pacific |
Legal Studies Salary Information
Graduates of an MLS or related program become experts in many fields.
One important and popular position is Compliance Manager.
The median annual salary of a Compliance Manager in Omaha, Nebraska, is $123,788, with pay ranging from $94,769 to $159,242.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$78K |
|
$87K |
|
$95K |
Average Salary in Nebraska
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Bellevue | $87,891 |
| Norfolk | $81,330 |
| Fremont | $86,228 |
| North Platte | $84,287 |
| Grand Island | $85,026 |
| Omaha | $87,891 |
| Hastings | $85,026 |
| Kearney | $85,026 |
| Lincoln | $86,228 |
| Dalton | $85,396 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | 40 | $50,300 | $24.18 | $65,920 | $36,070 |
| Lincoln, NE | 370 | $58,340 | $28.05 | $77,420 | $42,550 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 730 | $65,000 | $31.25 | $89,170 | $46,200 |
* 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
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