All companies, businesses, and organizations need legal experts to translate how the law is going to impact their company, but these professionals aren’t only lawyers.
Several schools in North Carolina and online across the country offer a Master of Science in Legal Studies (MLS) program that provides graduates with a deeper understanding of contracts, policy, regulatory compliance, and legal history.
Program graduates can enter into various disciplines ranging from cybersecurity and healthcare administration to government policy and business without earning a Juris Doctorate.
Incoming students into an MLS program don’t need to immediately specify a single study area.
Instead, students are urged to take the foundational classes and then proceed to a track that caters to their career and educational goals later in the program.
If earning an MLS degree in North Carolina sounds like an achievement you would like to pursue, keep reading to learn more!
1 American University Online
Offered through the Washington College of Law at American University, the online Master of Legal Studies program was developed for students and working professionals across numerous fields to understand the relationship between law and societal impact.
The program is structured so that students can first focus on core classes to build a legal foundation and then advance into specialization tracks that are specific to their industry or interest.
Courses/Programs Offered
The 30-credit program is available in a part-time or full-time format, giving students the ultimate flexibility.
Core classes include an Introduction to Law and Courts, Drafting for Compliance Professionals, an Introduction to Regulation and Compliance, and Communication and Negotiation.
Specialization includes:
- Government Contracting
- Human Resource Compliance
- Healthcare Law and Compliance
- Contract Drafting
- Criminal Justice
Contact Information
The American University Online website is the best resource to request additional digital information or contact an advisor if you have any questions about the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016
- Phone: (202) 885-1000
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Duke University
Duke University’s Law School is consistently ranked as one of the best in the country.
The school offers numerous legal programs, including the Master of Laws (LLM) degree.
This program was developed to introduce the U.S. legal system to students from foreign law schools while providing opportunities to take advanced specialized areas of law.
Students must have at least two years of professional experience in different legal settings to be eligible for admission.
The program is kept small to ensure more personalized student attention from faculty.
Courses/Programs Offered
Duke emphasizes writing skill development in English throughout the program, so students must first take a fall semester writing course and then an ungraded elective, the Legal Writing Workshop, in the Spring semester.
The workshop was created to instruct U.S. legal drafting and correspondence to assist with writing research papers and seminar presentations.
In addition to the core classes, students must take one of the following areas of focus:
- Litigation and the Courts
- Constitutional Law and Civil Rights
- Legal Theory and Critical Legal Studies
- Corporate and Finance Law
- Technology, Science, and Innovation
- Criminal Law and Policy
- International Law and Human Rights
- Environmental Law and Policy
Contact Information
To learn more about the program, stop by the campus at 210 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, or call 919-613-7006.
Contact Information
- Address: 210 Science Dr, Durham, NC 27708, United States
- Phone: +1 919-613-7006
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Purdue Global
Purdue Global is Purdue University’s online segment of the brick-and-mortar school.
Purdue is consistently ranked as a top U.S. university, so their online MLS program prepares students to enter the workforce or advance their careers.
Purdue’s program is different from other schools in that it teaches students practical knowledge by solving real-world challenges utilizing legal concepts and principles.
The degree takes approximately one year to complete with a 15-hour per week time commitment.
The online format gives students the flexibility to complete the curriculum in a time that works best for their lifestyle.
Courses/Programs Offered
The program is structured so that students are initially exposed to foundational topics like areas of law, legal research and writing, the U.S. Legal System, dispute resolution, ethics in the law, legal analysis, and jurisprudence.
The program then advances to more specialized electives that are relevant to each student’s industry or interest.
Graduates will better understand how to apply legal concepts and principles to complicated regulatory issues, use learned skills to solve and analyze daily challenges and apply leadership principles.
Since the school emphasizes ethics, graduates will also be able to reflect on the ethical implications that the law brings.
Contact Information
Given that this is an entirely online program, requesting information, scheduling appointments with advisors, and applying to the program can all be done online HERE.
Those who wish to speak directly with a person should call 844-787-3834.
Contact Information
- Address: West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
- Phone: 844-PURDUE-G (844-787-3834)
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Regent University Online
Regent University is consistently rated as one of the top 15 best online law schools in the United States, making its Master of Arts in Law a top-notch program.
The curriculum was designed to assist graduates with communicating legal perspectives in the workplace.
The school achieves this goal by exposing students to ethical, legal, regulatory, and compliance topics throughout the program.
Courses/Programs Offered
The program will begin with students taking core classes to build a robust legal foundation.
These core classes cover topics like ethics, corporate compliance, regulatory information, torts, contracts, different law types, and an introduction to the U.S. Legal System.
During the core classes, students research American law, examine legal issues across many industries, and learn how to effectively communicate legal issues.
Students will then proceed to select one of the following concentrations:
- Human Rights and the Rule of Law
- Healthcare Law
- Regulatory Compliance
- Nonprofit Organizational Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Criminal Justice
- Cybersecurity Law
- Constitutional Law
- Immigration Law
- Human Resources Law
- National Security
- General Legal Studies
- Advanced Paralegal Studies
- International Business Transactions
- Business
Contact Information
The Regent University Homepage is your source for requesting digital information or speaking to an academic advisor on the next steps in your academic career.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 Regent University Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23464, USA
- Phone: 800.373.5504
- Website: Visit School Website
5 University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina (UNC) has a one-year, self-paced MLS program comprised of 10 total courses, equaling 60 credit hours.
The program was created to give students a complete understanding of the American Legal System and its related impact on society.
Throughout the program, students explore the foundations of law, various case analyses, and different law types helping them gain insight into topics like constitutional, civil, and criminal law.
The total tuition cost is $27,000, including all fees, but not books and supplies.
Courses/Programs Offered
Throughout the program, students learn core topics like basic legal principles, foundations of legal theory, and the judicial system.
Students will also engage in hands-on legal practice through real case studies, legal clinics, and mock trials.
The purpose is to apply conception knowledge to actual situations, which gives students critical insight into the legal practice.
Contact Information
To speak with an admissions counselor, students must call 1-833-399-2698 or 1-828-820-7259.
Students can also request additional information by emailing info@uonc.education or stopping by the campus at 301 Arlington Ave., Charlotte, North Carolina.
Contact Information
- Address: 301 Arlington Ave., Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Phone: +1 704-687-8622
- Website: Visit School Website
6 University of South Carolina
Although not located in North Carolina, those who live in Charlotte or close to the South Carolina border can drive 90 minutes to Columbia to take the University of South Carolina’s Master of Studies in Law (MSL).
This 30-hour program was developed for healthcare professionals who want to mitigate risk or employers, navigate the changing regulations of the healthcare landscape, and advance their careers.
Leading practicing healthcare attorneys and scholars teach classes.
Courses/Programs Offered
Students must take 27 credits of core classes and three credits of elective courses.
Core classes include:
- Introduction to the Legal System
- Healthcare Contracting
- Legal Foundations of Healthcare Systems
- Ethics in Healthcare Systems
- HIPAA and Electronic Medical Records Compliance
- Risk Management
- Medicare Compliance for Medical Facilities
- Billing Compliance and Fraud Prevention
- Directed Independent Study
Elective courses include Public Health and Comparative Systems, Fundamentals of Healthcare Compliance, Billing Compliance and Fraud Prevention II, Organizational Leadership and Professional Development for Healthcare Professionals.
Contact Information
- Address: Columbia, SC 29208, United States
- Phone: +1 803-777-0169
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Vanderbilt University Online
The only department of Vanderbilt University has developed an MLS program that gives students the tools needed to manage corporate legal risk and navigate regulatory requirements.
Students come from various backgrounds ranging from compliance and human resources to real estate and finance.
Those who wish to solve law-related challenges, who need to identify risk areas, or collaborate with legal teams in the workplace should consider this program.
Vanderbilt Law is regularly ranked as one of the top 20 law schools in the U.S.
Courses/Programs Offered
The curriculum is structured similarly to other MLS programs in that students must take core classes like Introduction to the Law, Different Law Types, ethics, compliance, policy, Legal Research and Writing, contracts, and Torts.
Where Vanderbilt’s MLS program differs is the school emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, process design, and oral and written communication skills.
These are lifelong attributes that can be applied to any position within all fields.
Contact Information
Students should navigate to the Vanderbilt MLS website to request more information, schedule time with an advisor, or have all questions about the program answered.
Contact Information
- Address: Nashville, Tennessee 37240
- Phone: 615-322-7311
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Wake Forest University
Offered through Wake Fores Law School, the entirely online Master of Studies in Law program gives working professionals the skills and knowledge needed to navigate laws and regulations across various industries.
The program focuses on giving graduates comprehensive knowledge of legal principles, enhancing their expertise and qualifications, developing communication and critical thinking skills, and learning from expert faculty.
The self-paced MLS program can be completed as quickly as 21 months.
Courses/Programs Offered
Students begin the program with foundational topics like an introduction to law, legal research and writing, ethics, different law types, torts, negotiations, contracts, compliance, and policy.
Then, attendees must select from one of three professional tracks created to fulfill industry-specific needs: Business Law and Compliance, Health Law and Policy, and Human Resources.
Contact Information
To learn more about the program or speak to an advisor, call 336-758-5695 or stop by the school at 1965 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27109.
Students can also email Adam Landreth, Assistant Dean for Online Programs at landrea@wfu.edu.
Contact Information
- Address: 1834 Wake Forest Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, United States
- Phone: +1 336-758-5000
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Legal Studies Salary Information
Graduates of MLS programs can enter into a variety of fields in the corporate, government, and non-profit sectors.
One of the most common roles for a graduate is compliance manager within a corporation.
The median income for this position in North Carolina is $126,912, with pay ranging from $97,161 to $163,261.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$80K |
|
$88K |
|
$97K |
Average Salary in North Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Durham | $89,463 |
| Burlington | $86,505 |
| Fayetteville | $84,010 |
| Jacksonville | $84,010 |
| Cary | $90,110 |
| Asheville | $84,934 |
| Winston Salem | $86,782 |
| Raleigh | $90,110 |
| Greensboro | $86,875 |
| Charlotte | $89,647 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 540 | $56,570 | $27.2 | $72,890 | $40,000 |
| Burlington, NC | 70 | $49,950 | $24.01 | $72,790 | $36,390 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 3,890 | $62,550 | $30.07 | $91,670 | $43,600 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 710 | $59,660 | $28.69 | $104,100 | $37,980 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 320 | $51,070 | $24.55 | $73,380 | $37,350 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 90 | $45,810 | $22.03 | $68,830 | $33,470 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 720 | $53,650 | $25.79 | $76,300 | $37,800 |
| Greenville, NC | 150 | $54,670 | $26.29 | $78,230 | $36,970 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 170 | $48,610 | $23.37 | $66,180 | $37,910 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 190 | $49,600 | $23.84 | $69,100 | $35,360 |
| New Bern, NC | 170 | $52,210 | $25.1 | $74,860 | $36,650 |
| Raleigh, NC | 2,350 | $64,730 | $31.12 | $86,420 | $37,690 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 80 | $47,830 | $22.99 | $60,330 | $35,710 |
| Wilmington, NC | 470 | $50,300 | $24.18 | $67,910 | $38,130 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 920 | $52,460 | $25.22 | $74,900 | $38,350 |
* 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
This list of top Master’s in Legal Studies programs in North Carolina is so helpful! It’s great to see options for those looking to deepen their understanding of law without pursuing a JD. Are there any programs on the list that stand out for their focus on practical, hands-on learning?
Thanks for putting this together! North Carolina has a strong educational landscape, and it’s exciting to see these programs highlighted. I’d love to hear from alumni—how has earning a Master’s in Legal Studies helped advance your career?
Such a great resource for anyone interested in legal studies! I’m curious if any of these programs offer online or hybrid options for working professionals who might not be able to attend full-time.