Master of Legal Studies (MLS) Programs in Ohio

A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree enables students in Ohio to expand their understanding of state and federal laws. While an MLS program will not prepare students in Ohio to become lawyers, some Ohio universities do offer a Juris Doctor (J.D.) for that career path. Earning an MLS degree in Ohio may prepare students for careers that support lawyers, judges and more.

Ohio employs over 30,000 people within legal occupations, which includes lawyers, clerks, judges, arbitrators and more.1 Some of these careers may be pursued with a Master of Legal Studies.

Sponsored Online MLS and Law Programs

American University

Washington College of Law

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Master of Legal Studies

  • Complete in as few as 12 months 
  • No GRE/LSAT scores required to apply 
  • Four tracks available: General MLS, Business, Health Care Compliance, and Technology 
  • Three certificates available: Business, Health Care Compliance, and Technology

Fordham University

School of Law

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Master of Studies in Law

  • GRE, GMAT, and LSAT scores not required to apply 
  • Complete in as few as 12 months 
  • Minimum two years’ compliance-related work experience recommended

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Overview of Legal Degrees in Ohio – Types and Concentrations

The American Bar Association identifies 29 schools across the United States that offer MLS degree programs. Of those programs, Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and Capital University Law School are based in Ohio. In addition, students in Ohio may also be able to earn their MLS degrees from out-of-state schools, especially via online Master of Legal Studies programs.

The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degrees at Cleveland State and Capital University are 30 credits with an initial focus on introduction to law, research and writing. These MLS programs in Ohio are also offered for full-time or part-time enrollment. The MLS program at Capital University offers five concentrations:

  • Criminal Justice
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Governmental Affairs
  • Health Care
  • Human Resources

Cleveland State University also offers the only online Master of Legal Studies in the state, with a focus on cybersecurity and data privacy.

Law School Highlights in Ohio

There are nine American Bar Association-accredited law schools in Ohio, as per the Law School Admission Council:

  • University of Akron School of Law
  • Capital University Law School
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law
  • University of Cincinnati College of Law
  • Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
  • University of Dayton School of Law
  • Ohio Northern University’s Claude W. Pettit College of Law
  • Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
  • University of Toledo College of Law

According to the American Bar Association’s (ABA) list of approved schools, each of these law schools is approved to offer a Juris Doctor (J.D.) program. Some ABA-approved online J.D. degree programs are also available in Ohio.

According to the LSAC, seven of these ABA-accredited law schools in Ohio offer LLM and other law programs:

  • University of Akron School of Law
  • Capital University Law School
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law
  • University of Cincinnati College of Law
  • University of Dayton School of Law
  • Ohio Northern University’s Claude W. Pettit College of Law
  • Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

Legal Career Outlook in Ohio

There are 34,910 professionals employed in legal occupations in Ohio, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports as of May 2019.1 The hourly mean wage for these professionals is $44.36 and the annual mean wage is $92,270. Legal occupations in Ohio include:

Legal OccupationHourly Mean WageAnnual Mean Wage
Lawyers
$59.69
$124,160
Judicial Law Clerks
$27.59
$57,380
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators and Hearing Officers
$40.69
$84,640
Arbitrators, Mediators and Conciliators
$28.98
$60,270
Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
$46.82
$97,370
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
$23.18
$48,210
Title Examiners, Abstractors and Searchers
$24.38
$50,710
Legal Support Workers, All Other
$28.24
$58,730

 Careers with a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in Ohio

A Master of Legal Studies is typically for professionals who want to study the law, but not necessarily become lawyers. According to the BLS, some of these legal occupations may include: arbitrators, mediators and conciliators; court reporters; and paralegals and legal assistants. In Ohio, these professionals may earn:1

Legal OccupationHourly Mean WageAnnual Mean Wage
Arbitrators, Mediators and Conciliators
$28.98
$60,270
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
$24.82
$51,630
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
$23.18
$48,210

Learn more on how to become a paralegal.

Top Legal Employers in Ohio

The number of people employed in various legal occupations in Ohio, according to the BLS as of May 2019:1

Legal Occupation in OhioNumber of Employed
Lawyers
18,020
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
10,280
Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
2,500
Title Examiners, Abstractors and Searchers
2,100
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators and Hearing Officers
770
Legal Support Workers, All Other
720
Arbitrators, Mediators and Conciliators
300
Judicial Law Clerks
220

The Cincinnati area is the largest metropolitan area in Ohio. The five largest law firms in the city, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier, are:

Ohio FirmLocal Lawyers
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
227
Frost Brown Todd LLC
164
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
123
Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
121
Graydon
84

Sponsored Online MLS and Law Programs

Pepperdine University

Caruso School of Law

info

Master of Legal Studies

  • No GRE or LSAT scores required to apply 
  • Complete in as few as 16 months 
  • Dispute resolution concentration available

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1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage EstimatesOhio: Legal Occupations,” Accessed August 2020.

Information on this page was last retrieved in August 2020.