Completing a Tennessee Master in Legal Studies program allows students interested in law but who do not want to become lawyers to meet the increasing demand for skilled professionals with legal expertise.
Studying how law and various industries intersect is one goal of a Tennessee Master of Legal Studies program.
Students learn how to analyze issues related to the industry where they work and to solve the legal issues that may arise in their chosen careers.
Earning a Master of Legal Studies in Tennessee prepares students to work in various careers where there is a requirement to have legal knowledge and skills.
People who work in these careers and who have a Tennessee Master of Legal Studies are likely to earn more than their peers who do not have the degree.
Another important benefit of earning the degree is that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects rapid job growth in these career areas.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth that is “faster than average” for human resource managers and arbitrators, compliance officers, and conciliators.
The agency projects that there will be “much faster than average” job growth for financial analysts and medical and health service managers.
Changing careers or starting a new career in a field that requires legal knowledge and skills, but not a law degree, paves the way for students interested in law to choose a growing career with a good salary.
1 University of Tennessee Knoxville
The founding of the University of Tennessee dates to when the doors opened in 1794 as Blount College.
The Knoxville, Tennessee school was renamed East Tennessee College in 1807, and East Tennessee University in 1840.
It continuously registered students every year, except when the school suspended classes from 1862-1865 because of the Civil War.
Its name changed once again in 1879 when it became the University of Tennessee.
The school serves more than 36,300 students, including more than 7,400 graduate students.
There are 547 semester-based graduate programs, offered through several degree-granting colleges and schools.
Many graduate students enroll in the University of Tennessee Master of Legal Studies programs.
The program options allow students to enroll in the concentration that best aligns with their career goals and interests.
Courses Offered
The University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Law offers a Master of Legal Studies that meets the needs of all students in the program.
Students have the option to complete the Master of Legal Studies program in the traditional on-campus setting or a 100 percent online format.
Earning the Master of Legal Studies requires that students complete a minimum of 30 credits.
They complete all core courses and all courses that are required for their chosen concentration.
Students choose from four concentrations, which include:
- State and Local Government
- Human Resources
- Contract Management and Business Law
- Law and Social Welfare
Students may tailor the degree to their interests or their chosen profession.
They need to meet with an advisor to design a flexible course of study to earn their degree.
Two required courses that all students complete include Introduction to Legal Reasoning and Communication and The Structure and Operation of the American Legal System.
Students choose two additional courses from options such as Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Property, and Torts.
Students have the option to complete a written project instead of a thesis.
Some courses that students who enroll in the State and Local Government concentration may take include:
- Legislation and Regulation
- State and Local Government Law
- Business Organizations
- Intellectual property
Students who enroll in the Human Resources concentration take courses that may include:
- Employment Discrimination Law Compliance
- Disability Law
- Contracts
- Civil Procedure
The Contract Management and Business Law concentration options include:
- Contract Management
- The Regulation of Work
- Criminal Law
- Property
The Law and Social Welfare concentration courses include:
- Family Law
- Health Law Compliance
- Legislation and Regulation
- Property
The program for each concentration is the same, whether students choose the face-to-face format or the online format to complete the program.
Contact Information
- Address: University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Law, 1505 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996-1810
- Phone: 865-974-2331
- Website: Visit School Website
2 University of Tennessee
The School of Social Work at the University of Tennessee offers a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) at the Nashville campus, at the Knoxville campus, and online.
A message from the Dean of the College of Social Work indicates that the program at the University of Tennessee ranks 24th among all social work programs in the U.S.
People who have an interest in the legal aspects of their career but who do not want to go to law school and who also have an interest in social work can enroll in the Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW)/Master of Legal Studies (MLS) Dual Degree program at the University of Tennessee.
The program, offered at the Knoxville campus, is offered through the school’s College of Social Work.
Enrolling in the dual degree program allows students to complete both degrees in two years, instead of the typical three years if they enrolled in each degree program separately.
Students interested in earning both degrees should note that the program is not offered through the College of Law, only through the College of Social Work at the Knoxville campus.
The students are required to apply for admission to both colleges.
Once students are accepted by both colleges, they can pursue the dual degree program at any time, following the program rules.
People who are interested in social work gain an understanding and background in the study of the legal system.
Students who are interested in legal studies as it relates to their career gain an understanding of and the skills of social work, which are required to make a difference in serving vulnerable populations in local communities, in the state of Tennessee, around the nation, and the globe.
Courses Offered
Earning the dual degree requires that students complete 75 credit hours.
The summary includes 30 credit hours for the Master of Legal Studies, including six credit hours from the Master of Science in Social Work, for 24 credit hours.
The summary also includes 60 credit hours for the Master of Science in Social Work, including nine credit hours from the College of Law, for 51 credit hours.
Students complete the traditional first-year curriculum at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work.
They are not allowed to enroll in Master of Legal Studies courses while completing the traditional first year of the social work program curriculum.
Some other courses offered include:
- Structure and Operation of the American Legal System
- Interpersonal Practice with Adult Individuals
- Interpersonal Practice with Groups
- Family and Elder Law
- Human Behavior in the Social Environment
- Directed Research or Independent Study
Contact Information
- Address: 916 Volunteer Blvd., Stokely Management Center, Floor 5, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996
- Phone: 865-974-3351
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University, founded in 1873, has a long tradition of striving to bring out the best in humanity, creating enduring bonds, and strengthening ties within the community, the country, and the world.
Cornelius Vanderbilt gave the gift of $1 million to build the university.
Many of the trees that make the school a national arboretum are the work of a Methodist bishop of Nashville, who gained the admiration of the Vanderbilt family.
He also chose the location for the school, which has maintained its tradition of academic excellence for more than 150 years.
The school originally consisted of one main building.
It had an astronomical observatory and had houses for the school’s professors.
The initial assumption was that the school would serve male students.
Vanderbilt University did not enact any rules that prevented women from enrolling at the school.
Female students started attending the school in 1875 and enrolled every year after 1875.
Today, the school is a top research university.
It offers close to 130 academic programs, including 57 graduate programs.
One graduate program that the school offers is the Online Master of Legal Studies program.
Courses Offered
The Online Master of Legal Studies program at Vanderbilt University is a 30-credit program that features engaging online learning.
Students who want to learn about the legal system but who do not want to practice law learn the knowledge and skills that are required to understand and analyze complex legal issues.
They complete core courses that are based on the first-year curriculum of students at the Vanderbilt University Law School.
Some program courses include:
- Introduction to U.S. Law
- Regulatory State and Compliance
- Contracts
- Employment Law
- Constitutional Law (Rights)
- Legal Research
Students have the option of coming to campus to take the Negotiation course over one weekend.
Enrolling in alternative Specialized Topics courses is an option for students who are unable to come to campus.
Contact Information
- Address: 131 21st Ave. South, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203
- Phone: 844-723-9010
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | University of Tennessee Knoxville |
|
#2 | University of Tennessee |
|
#3 | Vanderbilt University |
Legal Studies Salary Information
The salary varies for students who earn a Master of Legal Studies.
One thing that may affect the salary that program graduates earn is their choice of career.
The city in Tennessee where graduates of a Tennessee Master of Legal Studies work also affects their salary.
The site salary.com indicates that financial administrators who work in Tennessee earn an average salary of $91,723.
Financial administrators who work in Chattanooga make an average salary of $90,039.
Compare this salary to the salary for financial administrators who work in Memphis, who earn an average salary of $92,813.
Health Services Administrators earn an average salary of $96,788 when they work in Tennessee.
They earn an average of $97,729 if they work in Lancaster, Tennessee, and an average salary of $99,402 if they work in Fayetteville, Tennessee.
Choose a career as a Tennessee Environmental Manager and earn an average salary of $129,694.
Work in Knoxville as an environmental manager and earn an average of $126,386, or work in Memphis, where the average salary for an environmental manager is $129,831.
Legal managers who work in Tennessee make an average annual salary of $125,312.
Work as a legal manager in Memphis and earn an average of $126,800, or in Hendersonville, and earn an average salary of $127,342.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$77K |
|
$85K |
|
$94K |
Average Salary in Tennessee
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $84,010 |
| Johnson City | $80,960 |
| Clarksville | $83,455 |
| Kingsport | $81,330 |
| Knoxville | $84,749 |
| Memphis | $86,598 |
| Hendersonville | $86,967 |
| Germantown | $86,320 |
| Franklin | $86,782 |
| Murfreesboro | $86,413 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 510 | $50,730 | $24.39 | $70,210 | $27,590 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 110 | $45,020 | $21.64 | $60,690 | $33,430 |
| Cleveland, TN | 40 | $49,520 | $23.81 | $79,630 | $28,910 |
| Jackson, TN | 100 | $47,830 | $23 | $67,780 | $29,390 |
| Johnson City, TN | 50 | $49,590 | $23.84 | $72,340 | $28,770 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 170 | $55,020 | $26.45 | $89,800 | $30,410 |
| Knoxville, TN | 680 | $53,480 | $25.71 | $78,610 | $31,420 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 1,010 | $55,000 | $26.44 | $78,150 | $35,010 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,300 | $59,960 | $28.83 | $85,760 | $38,530 |
* 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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