5 Best Masters in Legal Studies Programs in Ohio

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Ohio schools that offer a master’s in legal studies program allow students to gain legal knowledge and skills.

Students who earn a Masters in Legal Studies enhance their career options without having to sit for the bar exam or work as a lawyer.

Program graduates are usually working professionals who want to advance their career opportunities as non-lawyers.

They work with regulations and laws, and people in the legal community.

Students benefit from having the specialized knowledge and skills that come with earning an Ohio Master’s in Legal Studies.

Some Ohio schools offer programs that require students to attend full-time classes, while others offer part-time or online options.

Students who want to work in a specialized legal area, or in some other areas that require legal knowledge and skills often benefit from choosing to attend an Ohio school that offers various program concentrations.

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1 Ohio State University

Ohio State University is one of the largest universities in the U.S.

Founded in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, students arrived on opening day to find some doors not hung, some floors not laid, and other problems.

More than 65,000 students enrolled at Ohio State University for the 2023-2024 school year.

The school indicates that more than 14,000 graduate and professional students attend Ohio State University from across the U.S. and from 90 countries.

Located north of Downtown Columbus, Ohio, the school offers more than 200 undergraduate programs, and 278 graduate and professional programs.

One program offered at the school is the Master in the Study of Law (MSL).

Courses Offered

The Master in the Study of Law program at Ohio State University requires that students complete a minimum of 30 credits.

Students who attend full-time complete the program in about 12 months.

Part-time students complete the program in about two years.

The school understands that students often need flexibility to accommodate their work schedule or their other responsibilities.

Ohio State University offers students the opportunity to complete the program in a 100 percent online format.

Students follow the General Master in the Study of Law program or one of the five concentrations.

The concentrations and their format include:

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution (Hybrid)
  • Intellectual Property and Technology Law (Hybrid)
  • Legal Environment of Business (Online or hybrid)
  • Health Law (Online or hybrid)
  • Compliance (Online or hybrid)

All students complete Intro to the U.S. Legal System, and Legal Research and Writing. Students complete 15 credits in their concentration.

Core courses in the Alternative Dispute Resolution concentration include Legal Negotiation and Mediation. Elective courses include Arbitration, Dispute Resolution in the Digital Age, and International Dispute Resolution.

The core courses for the Intellectual Property and Technology Law concentration include Law of Cyberspace, Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Regulation and Compliance, and Introduction to Tech and IP Transactions.

Some elective courses include Copyright Law, Contracts, Biotechnology Law and Policy, and Food and Drug Law.

Core courses in the Legal Environment of Business concentration include Business Associations and Contracts. Elective courses include Business Bankruptcy, Labor Law, and Financial Compliance.

Students who choose the Health Law concentration complete two core courses.

They take electives such as Public Health Law, Forensic Mental Health Law, and Legislation and Regulation.

The students who choose the Compliance concentration complete five core courses.

Students choose their electives from options such as Employment Discrimination Law, Securities, and Law of Cyberspace.

Contact Information

  • Address: Michael E. Moritz College of Law, 55 West 12th Ave., Drinko Hall, Columbus, Ohio, 43210-1391
  • Phone: 614-514-8612
  • Website: Visit School Website

2 Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University dates back to the 19th century when the YMCA offered classes for students who did not have access to higher education.

Several name changes, including when it was named Fenn College, paved the way for Cleveland State University to add new programs.

The Cleveland–Marshall School of Law became the Cleveland State University School of Law.

One program offered by the school is the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program.

Courses Offered

The Master of Legal Studies program at Cleveland State University offers the opportunity for students to take some courses alongside law students.

The school offers a 30-credit program in flexible daytime and evening hours.

Students in the general Master of Legal Studies program complete Introduction to American Law, Independent Legal Research, and Legal Research and Writing during their first semester.

The curriculum includes other options, such as Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Property, and Torts.

Some students choose the Master of Studies in Law in Cybersecurity and Data Privacy.

It is a 100 percent online program

The courses include Cybersecurity, Legal Writing, Research and Advocacy, Corporate Compliance, and Privacy Law and Management.

Contact Information

  • Address: 2121 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 44115
  • Phone: 216-687-2000
  • Website: Visit School Website

3 University of Dayton

The University of Dayton opened its doors as the St. Mary’s School for Boys in 1850.

The school got its current name in 1920.

Today, the school is a top-tier research university that serves nearly 11,400 undergraduate, graduate, and law students.

The school has more than 80 undergraduate programs.

It offers more than 50 graduate and doctoral programs.

The school also offers several online programs.

The Master of Study in Law (MSL) program allows students to earn a degree through the School of Law that does not require them to earn a Juris Doctor to become an attorney.

Courses Offered

Students who enroll in the Master in the Study of Law (MSL) program and who complete all core courses have an opportunity to further advance their knowledge and to make themselves more marketable to future employers.

Earning a certificate without having to pay additional tuition or taking additional time also helps students stand out for career advancement opportunities.

The program courses include Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Cyberspace Law, and Criminal Procedure Investigation.

Students may take courses that meet the requirements for completing a Criminal Law Certificate, Social Justice Certificate, Cyberlaw, or Government Contracting and Procurement certificate.

Contact Information


4 University of Cincinnati

The City of Cincinnati established the University of Cincinnati in 1870.

The move absorbed two earlier schools, which were Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio.

The school indicates that it serves 53,235 students across 14 colleges, as of the Fall 2024 term.

Graduate students choose their program from 114 graduate programs.

Students who have other responsibilities benefit from the fact that the school recognizes the need for flexibility.

The University of Cincinnati offers several programs in an online format.

Student Success Coordinators and Enrollment Services Advisors guide students through the admissions and enrollment processes.

They assist students throughout their path to graduation.

One program where students may need the services of helpful coordinators and advisers is the Master of Legal Studies Online program.

Courses Offered

The University of Cincinnati offers a 100 percent online Master of Legal Studies program.

The school designed the 30-credit program to meet the career needs of students who do not want to practice law.

They work in careers that interact with the law.

Students in the Online Master of Legal Studies program want to enhance their current career knowledge and skills, or they want to start a new career.

Program graduates often work in career fields that require working with legal professionals on an ongoing basis or working with the legal aspects of businesses for business owners.

They may also choose a career that requires working in highly regulated industries.

University of Cincinnati Master of Legal Studies program students do not have to make any campus visits.

They take two seven-week courses each semester and earn their degree in five terms.

Some courses offered in the program include Legal Research and Communication, Risk Management, Compliance, Administrative Law, and Privacy and Cybersecurity Law.

Students may complete Business Law, Employment Law, and Contracts: Negotiation, Formation and Interpretation.

Contact Information

  • Address: 625 University Pavillion, 2618 University Circle, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221
  • Phone: 513-556-0078
  • Website: Visit School Website

5 Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University, founded in 1826 in Hudson, Ohio, was originally named Western Reserve College.

It was the first college in northern Ohio.

Located 30 miles from Cleveland, the school quickly gained a reputation as one of the few schools that embraced sciences and innovation.

The school moved to a new location and was renamed Western Reserve University.

It later became the Case School of Applied Sciences before changing names again, and finally becoming Case Western Reserve University in 1967.

The School of Law, which was established in 1891, offers several programs, including the 30-credit Master of Law degree.

The program is for students who do not have a law degree, but who seek relevant legal training.

Courses Offered

Students who enroll in the Master of Law program at Case Western Reserve University choose the general program or one of several concentrations.

The concentration options include:

  • Criminal Law
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • U.S. and Global Legal Studies
  • Health Law
  • Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • International Business Law
  • Public International Law

Students meet with the Master of Law program director to develop a program curriculum that satisfies their concentration requirements.

Some courses include Criminal Law, Legal Writing, Leadership, Experiential Learning, Advocacy, and Professionalism, and Legal Analysis and Problem Solving.

Students may also take courses such as U.S. Contract Law, International Arbitration, Health Care and Human Rights, and International Human Rights.

Contact Information

  • Address: 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 44106
  • Phone: 216-368-2000
  • Website: Visit School Website

Schools Summary Table

Rank School
#1 Ohio State University
#2 Cleveland State University
#3 University of Dayton
#4 University of Cincinnati
#5 Case Western Reserve University

Legal Studies Salary Information

The salary that graduates of an Ohio Master in Legal Studies program earn depends on things like their job experience and the city where they work.

Dispute resolution managers earn an average of $81,502 in Cincinnati.

The average salary for dispute resolution managers in Dayton is $80,836.

The average salary for dispute resolution managers in Youngstown, Ohio is $77,669.

Healthcare administrators who work in Columbus make an average of $77,099.

Healthcare administrators in Kent, Ohio earn an average salary of $75,764, while healthcare administrators in Chillicothe typically earn $72,623 per year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that faster-than-average job growth is expected for mediators, arbitrators, and conciliators. Ohio ranks in the top five highest-paying states for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators.

The average salary for Ohio arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators is $87,720.

Compliance managers in Ohio earn a median salary of $127,302.

The average salary for compliance managers in Toledo is $125,740.

Compliance managers in Dayton, Ohio earn an average salary of $126,261.

Annual Salary Range:
Item Percent
$81K
$90K
$99K

Average Salary in Ohio

City Name Salary
Mansfield $89,185
Cleveland $90,757
Columbus $90,757
Cuyahoga Falls $89,185
Canton $85,489
Akron $89,185
Dayton $89,647
Mansfield $89,185
Springfield $87,245
Toledo $89,278

Regional Salary

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Akron, OH580$54,040$25.98$75,550$34,070
Canton-Massillon, OH140$54,340$26.12$74,400$38,090
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN1,770$60,620$29.14$82,180$40,750
Cleveland-Elyria, OH2,550$59,020$28.38$86,850$35,660
Columbus, OH1,960$60,260$28.97$83,810$43,020
Dayton, OH440$55,630$26.74$76,290$37,040
Lima, OH50$47,030$22.61$59,640$33,090
Mansfield, OH50$38,910$18.71$53,190$28,670
Springfield, OH50$49,510$23.81$70,870$30,130
Toledo, OH540$52,520$25.25$69,620$34,510
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA190$43,820$21.07$61,440$29,000
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Paralegals and Legal Assistants, OCC Code 23-2011, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Legal Studies Programs by State

Chelsea Wilson
Chelsea Wilson is the Community Relations Manager for Washington University School of Law’s distance learning LLM degree program, which provides foreign trained attorneys with the opportunity to earn a Master of Laws degree from a top-tier American university from anywhere in the world.

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