What Can You Do with a Master’s in Legal Studies?

Conciliators are similar to mediators in that they guide opposing parties toward a mutually acceptable agreement. However, mediators work with both parties, while conciliators meet with each party separately and then make recommendations. Before a conciliator meets with their clients, the clients agree whether they’ll adhere to the recommendations.

A bachelor’s degree is typically the minimum requirement for these positions, but some will require a master’s or law degree. With a master’s in legal studies, you may be eligible for conciliator opportunities—one of the several legal studies jobs you can explore. 

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for conciliators in 2024 was $67,710. Along with arbitrator and mediator jobs, conciliator positions are projected to grow 4% from 2024 to 2034.

Human resources managers are among the potential master’s in legal studies jobs you might choose to pursue. Businesses and corporations aim to comply with all applicable laws regarding employee treatment and operations. Human resources managers strategize and maintain an organization’s administrative functions. They oversee an organization’s workforce, manage employee benefit programs, consult with managers on human resources issues such as sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity, and handle staff matters.

HR manager positions typically only require a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field. Some positions, however, do require a master’s degree. If you have an interest in the legal aspect of human resources, then earning a master’s in legal studies may be worthwhile. With programs offering employment law and HR concentrations, students learn about the regulatory framework that impacts recruitment, hiring, promotion and other functions of human resources. 

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for human resources managers was $140,030 in 2024. The job outlook for these HR manager positions is expected to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

Legal librarians help people find the information they need to conduct research. They conduct legal research and help law students, clerks, lawyers and judges find and analyze legal resources. They might work in law school libraries or law firms.

Becoming a law librarian is another one of the master’s in legal studies jobs you might consider as you plan your legal career. Most library positions require a master’s degree, and a specialized degree or MLS may help you gain the necessary legal acumen to assist professionals who need access to legal information. 

According to the BLS, librarians earned a median annual salary of $64,320 in 2024. The top 10% made more than $100,880. Employment of librarians and library media specialists is projected to grow 2% over the next decade, resulting in an additional 13,500 jobs.

Chief executives create strategies and policies to help organizations achieve goals and manage activities related to providing services or making products. They might be involved in negotiating contracts, appointing managers and department heads and determining ways to improve programs and performance. 

Becoming a chief executive typically requires a mix of education, substantial professional experience, and deep industry expertise. In some industries, especially highly regulated sectors, having working knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment can be an advantage, and MLS coursework may help you build fluency in topics that intersect with leadership decisions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, top executive roles (which include chief executives) typically require at least a bachelor’s degree and five years or more of related work experience.Earning potential and employment outlook vary for jobs for legal studies graduates. The median annual wage for chief executives was $206,420 in May 2024, according to BLS pay data. Despite above-average salary estimates, employment of chief executives is expected to grow 4% over the next decade.

Still asking yourself, “What can you do with a master’s in legal studies?” You may want to put your legal learnings to use within the health care field. 

Medical and health services managers—also known as health care administrators or health care executives—plan, direct and coordinate health and medical services. They may work in doctors’ offices, hospitals and outpatient facilities. An MLS degree, particularly those with health care compliance or health care law as a concentration, may be helpful in this profession since medical and health services managers often need to understand and adapt to regulatory compliance and health care laws.

According to the BLS, the median pay for medical and health services managers was $117,960 in May 2020. Medical and health services manager jobs are expected to grow by 23% between 2024 and 2034, which is much faster than the average job growth rate for all occupations.

Climate change policy analysts are dedicated to protecting the environment through researching and analyzing climate change policies. They help raise awareness and may contribute to legislation for environmental protection. 

Obtaining a graduate degree, such as an MLS, may be helpful if you’re pursuing policy- or regulation-adjacent roles where legal knowledge strengthens your ability to interpret rules, evaluate compliance implications, or translate policy into operational guidance. In the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, related career pathways vary in typical education: political scientists typically need a master’s degree to enter the occupation, while environmental scientists and specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree.

According to the BLS, professionals in environmental science earn a median annual salary of $80,060. In 2024, the highest 10% of these workers earned more than $134,830. Over the next decade, the BLS projects that employment of environmental scientists and specialists will grow 4%.

Compliance officers assess whether an individual or organization is complying with the laws and regulations set out in a contract, such as licenses and permits. They may be responsible for contacting violators to inform them of the violation and, in the case of non-compliance, reporting them to another entity, such as a board.

Even within legal- and policy-adjacent career paths, an MLS is usually an advantage, not a universal requirement. Many roles accept candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree, and the MLS can be a strong differentiator if you’re aiming for more responsibility, specialization, or advancement, especially in positions where interpreting regulations, managing compliance risk, or communicating legal concepts is part of the day-to-day work.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of compliance officers is projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The BLS also reports that the median annual wage for compliance officers was $78,420 in May 2024, though pay can vary by industry, employer, and level of responsibility.

Court reporters are responsible for documenting everything said during trials, depositions, and other legal proceedings—word-for-word. 

Like some other legal studies–adjacent careers, becoming a court reporter typically requires specialized postsecondary training, but not necessarily a graduate degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical entry-level education for court reporters and simultaneous captioners is a postsecondary nondegree award, and many community colleges and technical institutes offer certificate programs in the field. BLS also notes that many states require court reporters and simultaneous captioners working in legal settings to hold a state license or professional certification.

The median annual wage for court reporters and simultaneous captioners was $67,310 in 2024, according to the BLS. Court reporter jobs are not projected to change at all between 2024 and 2034.

Probation officers provide social services to help rehabilitate law offenders and prepare them to re-enter society. From interviewing probationers and parolees to maintaining case files on offenders, probation officers perform a range of duties.

Bachelor’s degrees are typically required in order to become a probation officer, but specific job requirements may vary by jurisdiction so it’s important to check the desired qualifications for the position you’re applying to. With a specialization in criminal law, a Master of Legal Studies program can equip an aspiring probation officer with the relevant knowledge and skills for the role.

Salaries for legal studies roles vary widely based on factors such as geographic location and industry. According to  BLS pay data, the median salary for probation officers was $64,520 in 2024. The highest 10% of probation officers earned more than $106,290. Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034—that’s as fast as the average for all occupations.

Private detectives and investigators are responsible for gathering and reporting information to clients regarding any infractions of rules and regulations determined by the client in some kind of contract or agreement. 

There’s no clear-cut path to becoming a private detective or investigator. Some jobs require a minimum of a high school diploma, while others require an undergraduate degree in criminal justice or a related field. Even so, the private detective position may be one of the potential jobs for legal studies graduates—particularly those with an interest in criminal justice and a desire to work independently.

The BLS reports that in 2024, the median annual wage for private detectives and investigators was $52,370. Between 2024 and 20344, there will be 3,900 new private detective and investigator jobs every year, accounting for a 6% growth rate.

As an MLS graduate, employee relations specialist may be one of the legal studies jobs to consider. Employee relations or labor relation specialists are in charge of interpreting and communicating the terms of labor contracts, such as wages, health care, pensions and union and management operations. 

The minimum education and experience levels for this occupation vary based on the employer and position. A bachelor’s degree is typically required. But if you’re interested in working on contract negotiations or in labor law, an MLS program may help prepare you for that. 

Labor relation specialists had a median annual wage of $93,500 in 2024, according to the BLS.

Among jobs for legal studies graduates is the role of sales manager. People in this position are responsible for directing and organizing sales teams while ensuring that representatives are efficient and productive.

To become a sales manager, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree—though some positions may only require a high school diploma. Having an MLS however, might help you negotiate higher pay. Courses from an MLS program may cover business law, economics and financial compliance, which might be helpful for this kind of work. 

As of 2024, the BLS reports that the median annual salary for sales managers is $138,060. Despite an increase in online shopping, employment of sales managers is expected to grow 5% over the next decade.

Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers focus on curriculum surrounding criminal justice, corrections and law enforcement administration. These master’s in legal studies jobs are commonly found at postsecondary institutions. 

Teaching criminal justice and law enforcement at the postsecondary level typically requires advanced academic preparation. In BLS education-and-training assignments, criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary are listed as typically needing a doctoral or professional degree for entry. More broadly, BLS notes that requirements for postsecondary teachers can vary by subject and institution, roles often require a Ph.D., although a master’s degree may be enough for some positions at community colleges, and some jobs place added weight on field experience.

Extensive knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape can still be an asset in this career path, and an MLS may help you build stronger legal fluency—especially if you plan to teach or develop curriculum around law-adjacent topics in criminal justice.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary was $71,470 in 2024. BLS projections also indicate employment in this field is expected to grow by about 2% from 2024 to 2034.

Fraud examiners, investigators and analysts collect evidence, take statements and testify regarding fraud allegations. They may also work to organize fraud detection and prevention methods. 

Many fraud-focused roles align most closely with the BLS category financial specialists, all other (13-2099). For this category, BLS indicates the typical entry-level education is a bachelor’s degree (work experience is not typically required for entry). An MLS isn’t a standard requirement, but it may be useful if you want to move into more advanced, law-adjacent responsibilities, especially where fraud work intersects with regulations, investigations, reporting, or compliance.

BLS reports a median annual wage of $80,190 (May 2024) for financial specialists, all other, and projects employment in this category to grow 3.1% from 2024 to 2034.

Real estate brokers help their clients buy, sell and rent properties and are licensed to manage their own businesses, whereas agents often have to work with real estate brokers.

In order to become a real estate broker, you’ll need to take some real estate courses and pass a licensing exam. If you’ve taken college-level real estate classes, additional courses and the exam may be waived.

The BLS notes that employers are increasingly hiring college graduates as the field grows more crowded. With a 3% projected job growth rate from 2024 to 2034, this role will remain in demand as people look for new homes and seek to purchase properties for business. The median annual salary for real estate brokers in 2024 was $72,280. Of course, salary varies based on factors including location, employer and more. 

Just as there are a variety of legal studies jobs to choose to consider, there are legal studies courses and related law programs that cover real estate topics, helping to prepare you for positions in this field.

Legislators or lawmakers are elected officials responsible for developing, introducing and putting laws into place at the local, state, and federal levels. 

Most entry-level legislator positions require a bachelor’s degree and some level of experience. Depending on the state where you’re running for office, there may be additional requirements. Although a master’s in legal studies isn’t required, the legal knowledge acquired from the program may prove useful on the job. 

When deciding which of the jobs for legal studies graduates is best for you, you may start off by comparing earning potential. Legislators earned a median annual salary of $44,810 in May 20224, according to the BLS. While that figure is below the average for all occupations, employment for legislators over the next decade is expected to be about the national average, with a 3% growth rate.

Tax examiners are another career option for those interested in legal studies jobs. These professionals gather information and determine the amount of tax owed by an individual or business. Then, they collect these taxes for the government.

Most tax examiner positions require at least a bachelor’s degree, but that varies by employer and the exact position. You may decide to earn a master’s in legal studies before becoming a tax examiner, in order to learn about state and local taxation laws, business organization laws and other relevant topics. In 2024 the annual median salary for tax examiners and collectors was $59,740, as reported by the BLS.