Masters in Legal Studies Online Degree Programs: MA, MS or MS/LS

A masters in legal studies degree is reserved for professionals who wish to study law without becoming attorneys. Topics covered within a master of legal studies program are often similar to the topics covered by a first year J.D. candidate, and may include constitutional law, civil procedure, and contracts. While J.D. programs typically last three years, many masters in legal studies programs last just one. Below are the top online colleges offering masters degrees in legal studies and closely related programs including Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement.

MPS in Paralegal Studies	George Washington University : The George Washington University Master of Professional Studies in paralegal studies program trains students to become dedicated legal assistants. As a paralegal, you will be a key member of the legal team, providing in depth and substantive research. Start your career in this exciting field at one of America's top universities.
MS in Legal Studies MS/LS: Education & Law MS/LS: Healthcare Delivery MS/LS: State & Local Govt.	Kaplan University : Kaplan University's MS in Legal Studies offers specializations in education law, healthcare delivery, and government. These programs are perfect for those who are interested in legal and social issues and wish to incorporate legal knowledge into their careers, without the pressures of law school or bar exams. Graduates leave with a strong foundation of legal knowledge.
MS in Forensic Psychology	Walden University : Walden University's MS in Forensic Psychology with a focus on psychology and legal systems is a high level program that teaches research methods, forensic assessments, and how to improve programs for incarcerated and released offenders. The combination of psychology and legal systems allows students to better understand expert testimony, jury selection, and effective communications with police departments.
MS/LS: Law & Policy MS/LS: Homeland Security	California University of Pennsylvania : The California University of Pennsylvania's MS in Legal Studies (MS/LS) degree offers concentrations in law and public policy, and in homeland security. Students with the law & public policy specialization learn about the police process, civil liberties and the constitution, litigation, and forensics. Students concentrating on homeland security also learn the basics of civil liberties and how to balance them with the need for security and criminal justice.
LLM in Technology & IP Law LLM in Intl. Business Law LLM in Intl. Fin/Bank Law	University of Liverpool : The University of Liverpool LLM in technology & intellectual property law, LLM in international business law, and LLM in international finance & banking law provide advanced instruction in business law, global financial/commercial law, and technology and intellectual property law.
MS in Law	Champlain College : Champlain College, a highly-regarded and respected educator in the industry, offers a Masters of Science in Law both onsite as well as through online courses. The online courses have the added benefit of flexibility in choosing when and where to work on and turn in assignments. This is a great option for those who must balance education with their personal lives.
MS in Legal Studies	Grand Canyon University : Grand Canyon University's MS in Criminal Justice with a focus on Legal Studies is intended for law enforcement, corrections, probation, and parole officers who wish to advance in their careers. Students study law enforcement management, leadership, procedures for criminal investigations, psychology in the legal system, punishment methods, and the criminal justice system at all government levels.
MS in Legal Studies	Capella University : Capella University's MS in Legal Studies is a management specialization that allows students to earn an advanced HR degree in employment and labor law. This is especially useful for employee benefits managers and those who have to interpret workplace laws and regulations. Students learn the practice and theory of labor and employment law, discrimination, investigation, and workplace legal communications.
MS in Criminal Justice	South University : South University's MS in Criminal Justice program incorporates technology and criminology in a curriculum designed to create criminal justice specialists. Students learn about law enforcement, corrections, cyber crime and security, emergency response, and politics affecting criminal justice. Four specializations are available in Homeland Security, Corrections, Cyber Crime, and Public Administration.
MS in Justice Admin.	University of Phoenix : The University of Phoenix MS in Administration of Justice & Security provides the knowledge and credentials needed for students to administer criminal justice and security programs. Courses cover criminological theory, critical incident and risk management, cyber-crime, forensics and profiling, physical security, and program development, with an emphasis on administrative responsibilities.
MS in Criminal Justice	Virginia College : Virginia College's MS in Criminal Justice is designed for the working law enforcement professional who wants to advance to police detective, police officer, private security, parole officer or case manager, courtroom administrator or corrections officer. The curriculum covers petty crimes to white-collar crime investigations, and prepares students for leadership and managerial positions in the criminal justice system.
MA in Criminal Justice	Keiser University : Keiser University's MA in criminal justice is designed to help advance students' careers in the criminal justice fields. Coursework includes theory, practice, and techniques in criminal justice, along with analyzing and solving problems using applied research methods. The program covers the basics of corrections, law enforcement, and administration along with the laws and policies that affect criminal justice.
MA in Criminal Justice	University of Massachusetts : The University of Massachusetts MA in Criminal Justice program develops leadership skills and administrative knowledge in its students through academically rigorous practical coursework. The program is intended for students already working in the criminal justice system who want to specialize in another area, or who wish to advance their careers and take on management roles.
MS in Criminal Justice	St. Joseph's University : St. Joseph's University's MS in Criminal Justice program allows students to create their own unique graduate work to match their interests and career goals in criminal justice. The unusually flexible program enables students to pursue a degree beyond the Master's or focus on management skills necessary to advance their current careers.

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Legal studies revolve around the law and justice. It is common for someone who later wishes to go to law school to become a judge or work in the upper ranks of law enforcement to obtain a masters in legal studies. A masters in legal studies improves you earning power and the job opportunities that are available to you when entering the work force. Undergrad work is often in business or legal studies.

One area of students that are obtaining masters in legal studies are PhD students. Those who already hold a PhD are finding themselves more appealing to potential employers if they have an extensive background in law. With a masters in legal studies you can serve as a legal business consultant in your area of expertise. For those who have spent time studying areas that may not have readily available jobs such as music or education. People with a PhD in some areas often end up in teaching careers. Someone studying technology can further their earning power by getting a masters in legal studies and focusing on issues such as property law. When it comes to technology, the legal industry has many new areas to work with such as property and privacy laws. This will be a rapidly growing field for many years to come, as only the surface has been scratched regarding Internet laws. Adding a masters in legal studies to the mix allows you to be a consultant and make a very lucrative career out of an area of study they enjoy and are experts in.

What career can I have with a masters in legal studies?

Legal business consultant

Businesses often have a legal business consultant on hand to wade through the laws and regulations a business by follow. This may be a contract position or you may be on salary. A legal business consultant helps a business go through all contracts, negotiations and property purchases. A legal business consultant may have an are of expertise such as real estate, but in most cases legal business consultants are brought in for any legal help a business needs. Large companies bring in legal business consultants when going over new information over buying or selling portions of the company. A business owner may also bring in a legal business consultant to conduct due diligence when working with a potential partner or company.

Legal business consultant at a firm

In this position you do the same as mentioned above, only you're working for a firm, so networking is not as crucial. It is still important you have excellent communication skills for speaking with clients and conveying your message in an articulate manner. Legal business consultants who work at a firm are assigned to one client and typically work with that client for a long duration of time. Should the client call upon the firm again in the future, this same consultant will take on the new project. The need for legal business consultants is 31% of social workers are employed by the government. Over half work in the social assistance and health sectors. You may work with clients with little education or background on their rights. It is your job to see these people are well-represented and get the proper resources to improve their situation. You may also work for the city over a team of social workers. Social workers in large urban cities can make $60,000, but in most markets a social worker makes around $40,000 per year.