What Can You Do With an MLS — Is It Worth It?

A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree prepares professionals in a variety of industries to work in law-related roles or on law-adjacent tasks. Sometimes referred to as a Master of Studies in Law (MSL), these programs are not for people seeking to be licensed attorneys. Rather, they serve professionals working in industries impacted by law such as human resources, compliance, criminal justice and even the exciting world of professional sports.

MLS programs provide students with highly versatile skills and knowledge that can be applied to various roles across a wide range of industries, including gaining an understanding of how regulations and contracts impact a variety of entities. For many professionals, their master’s in legal studies provides them with a solid foundation to pursue career growth and professional development. As such, Master of Studies in Law jobs vary greatly depending on your goals, interests and experience. This article will explore skills that MLS students gain — and what jobs you can land with those skills.

What skills do you gain with an MLS degree?

Skills gained with a Master of Legal Studies degree include both broad skills that are highly transferable across industries, and those that are more specific and industry-focused.

Foundational skills

Master of Legal Studies students will learn foundational skills that are applicable across industries including critical thinking, leadership, decision-making and effective communication. By engaging with a core curriculum targeted to legal knowledge and skill development, MLS students will gain additional skills that are specifically related to law, compliance and regulation:

• Identifying and analyzing legal documents
• Negotiating with stakeholders, especially in relation to contracts
• Conducting research and writing legal documents
• Improving compliance with industry regulations
• Recognizing potential legal issues that impact your industry

Industry-specific skills

Master’s in legal studies students will also gain skills that are more industry-focused, the specifics of which vary depending on the program. However, many MLS programs offer concentrations to their students, enabling learners to tailor their education to specific disciplines and domains relevant to their careers.

Some of the most common Master of Legal Studies concentrations include HR and employment law, business law and compliance law. These concentrations serve business professionals seeking career advancement in these fields, or those seeking to transition into these fields. At SMU Dedman School of Law, the M.L.S. program offers concentrations in all these areas, as well as a unique concentration in criminal justice and sports law.

These concentrations provide students with the option to attain key skills to advance their careers. For example, those who opt for a concentration in compliance will learn to develop and implement effective compliance programs. They’ll also learn how to assess and manage legal and regulatory risks. On the other hand, students who choose a criminal justice concentration will learn more about criminal law, working with crime victims and the various ways law impacts their work.

Career opportunities with a Master of Legal Studies

Since a master’s in legal studies is a highly versatile degree, there are a number of career paths that graduates can pursue. Roles can range across both industries and organizations, and the concentration that students choose can play a role in their career trajectory.

For example, individuals who opt for a concentration in compliance law might seek out roles as compliance or ethics managers, or any role where government regulations are particularly pertinent. These roles can be critical in numerous industries, particularly highly regulated ones such as healthcare, finance and international business. Students who opt for a criminal justice concentration, on the other hand, will be well suited to careers within and adjacent to the criminal justice system.

Master of Legal Studies potential jobs and salaries

Business industry

Business development manager

Median annual salary: $109,400 (Per Lightcast)

In order for a business to grow, it needs strong leadership and strategic business development. Business development managers are vital to organizational growth, as they are responsible for a company’s expansions and growth in new markets. Business development managers are often tasked with negotiating contracts, ensuring compliance with government regulations and identifying new business opportunities.

An MLS with a business law concentration can provide them with key skills to navigate various legal issues they may face.

Contracts manager

Median annual salary: $112,500 (Per Lightcast)

Contract managers are responsible for overseeing contract lifecycles within organizations, from proposal to drafting to execution. They also may be tasked with overseeing teams, as well as establishing procedures and policies.

This is a role where knowledge of business law and contract law is particularly pertinent. MLS programs will provide guidance on reading and drafting contracts, enabling contracts managers to excel in their roles.

Contract compliance specialist

Median annual salary: $69,900 (Per Lightcast)

Contract compliance specialists serve an important role within organizations by ensuring that contracts comply with applicable regulations or laws. Contract compliance officers work in municipal or state governments, as well as in private businesses that operate in regulated industries. They might be tasked with reviewing contracts to ensure they comply with local, state and federal laws; monitoring contracts to ensure they’re adhered to; and addressing potential issues of non-compliance.

In this role, specialists need a thorough understanding of the legal environment of their contract type, organization and industry at large. A thorough understanding of business law can also be a strong foundation, especially when combined with experience in contracts.

Compliance industry

Compliance officer

Median annual salary: $85,400 (Per Lightcast)

Compliance officers are tasked with ensuring that the organization complies with laws and regulations, especially in heavily regulated industries such as finance, international business, tech and manufacturing.

Compliance officers’ specific tasks will depend on their area of expertise. Compliance officers working in tech businesses, for example, may be particularly focused on complying with data and privacy regulations, while those working in the healthcare industry may be focused on quality of care, protected health information and insurance.

An MLS program offers broad foundational knowledge relevant to compliance, and some universities offer specific compliance concentrations for expert-level knowledge.

Compliance manager

Median annual salary: $109,800 (Per Lightcast)

A compliance manager’s tasks are similar to a compliance officer, but with the addition of leadership duties such as team management and process and procedure development.

Compliance managers leverage their knowledge of industry-specific laws as well as generalized compliance in their duties, but it is important that these professionals have strong leadership competencies as well. An MLS degree will give managers guidance on navigating employment law issues as well as compliance specific knowledge.

Compliance analyst

Median annual salary: $80,100 (Per Lightcast)

Compliance analysts also typically work in carefully regulated industries, but in a more data-focused and analytical role. Compliance analysts are tasked with combing through large sets of data to find critical insights. These can include areas of potential non-compliance and improvement opportunities in compliance procedures. Compliance analysts may work in a monitoring capacity, reviewing data from various departments regularly to ensure that they remain compliant with applicable laws and regulations.

Criminal justice

Fraud investigator

Median annual salary: $77,700 (Per Lightcast)

Fraud investigators are tasked with investigating potential fraud in various industries, such as financial services, insurance and healthcare. Fraud investigators typically collect and analyze evidence, interview witnesses and other sources, and present their findings to relevant parties.

The requirements for fraud investigator roles can vary, and candidates may need to pursue additional relevant certifications such as the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential to be qualified for these roles.

Probation officer

Median annual salary: $56,200 (Per Lightcast)

Probation officers oversee the progress of individuals who have been placed on probation after being convicted of a crime. Senior probation officers may work as staff supervisors, who support and manage more junior probation officers. Probation supervisors often face unique issues involving individuals on probation that may impact the criminal legal proceeding. A strong understanding of criminal law and the rights of those accused of crimes is important.

While specific job requirements vary, an MLS degree with a criminal justice concentration will give probation officers insight into criminal law and legal decision-making in the field, allowing them to complete their work with greater expertise into the justice system as a whole.

Sergeant/deputy/sheriff

Median annual salary: $74,600 (Per Lightcast)

Law enforcement officers face the unknown every day, and those in more senior roles help junior officers avoid legal pitfalls while they do their important work. In addition to managing a police department and officers, sergeants, deputies and sheriffs may investigate and report various crimes or incidents, interview various individuals, gather evidence and present evidence to courts

An MLS with a focus in criminal justice will provide law enforcement supervisors with key constitutional and criminal law knowledge.

Victim advocate

Median annual salary: $50,600 (Per Lightcast)

Those who suffer at the hands of crime need support throughout the criminal justice process, and victim coordinators and advocates are key to ensuring their voices are represented. As such, victim advocates provide emotional support, share expert information about victims’ rights and help them access legal resources and services.

Negotiation skills and criminal law knowledge gained from an MLS degree will help these professionals avoid legal pitfalls when advocating for crime victims.

Human resources and employment industry

Human resources consultant

Median annual salary: $83,200 (Per Lightcast)

Human resources consultants provide input and develop improvement plans related to a variety of HR considerations. HR consultants lend their expertise to businesses by helping them optimize their employee management processes. This can include everything from recruiting, hiring and onboarding; conflict resolution; benefits, FMLA leave and PTO navigation; and employee termination.

A foundation gained in employment law, employee benefits law and the litigation process from an MLS degree can benefit HR consultants and their business clients.

Human resources manager

Median annual salary: $94,100 (Per Lightcast)

Human resources managers work within organizations to oversee HR teams. They are typically responsible for establishing internal procedures regarding human resources responsibilities as well as leading the teams that enact these procedures.

With an MLS in human resources and employment law, aspiring HR leaders can gain key knowledge regarding labor and employment laws that impact their industry to better serve their organization and its employees.

Sports industry

Sports agent

Average annual salary: $84,906* (Per Lightcast)

Sports agents work with collegiate and professional athletes to help them navigate the legal side of sports, but they are not required to be licensed attorneys. However, a working knowledge of various aspects of the law is important for a sports agent. This includes contract negotiation, financial representation, minor legal counseling, sponsorship and endorsement management, marketing, PR support and general support for the athlete’s well-being.

Sports agents are responsible for navigating the complex rules and regulations of the fast-paced sports environment, so an MLS with a concentration in sports law can provide vital training in negotiation, NIL, licensing and contracts.

*May be impacted by contracts and commission

Sports manager

Average annual salary: $73,466 (Per Lightcast)

Whether they’re managing a local league or a professional team, sports team managers are responsible for keeping a team running smoothly and efficiently. Overseeing an athletic program includes a lot of responsibility, so managers can expect to support athletic training, provide resources for athletes, ensure compliance with league rules and regulations and even work to gain community support for the team.

An MLS will provide sports managers with knowledge of the legal framework that apply to their team and industry.

Is a Master of Legal Studies degree worth it?

For those who are deciding if they want to pursue an MLS, the most pressing question is if the degree is worth the investment. While the answer depends on a variety of factors, it is clear that an MLS can provide a solid return on investment, especially for individuals who aspire to work in management roles in highly regulated industries.

Earning a Master of Legal Studies degree provides you with a versatile legal education that allows you to apply the law in a variety of real-world situations.

Skill development for advanced roles

Developing your skills by earning a master’s degree can lead to promotions and new opportunities — this is true for all master’s degrees, but it is particularly applicable to the Master of Legal Studies degree.

Unlike professional degrees, like JDs and MDs, MLS degrees do not train students for a single career path. Instead, an MLS provides students with transferable knowledge and skills that can be used to pivot to new opportunities or enhance existing job responsibilities. Professionals who understand their industry’s laws and regulations can make law-informed decisions, which leads to a safer, more compliant and more profitable organization.

Aside from enhancing your existing skill set, an MLS can lead to higher level career opportunities. Historically, bachelor’s degrees were a solid educational background for senior-level employees. But in today’s competitive job market with increasingly educated talent, many organizations now require or prefer a master’s degree for advanced roles. A survey by CareerBuilder states that 33% of employers are hiring workers with master’s degrees for positions that had previously been held by those with four-year degrees.

Master of Legal Studies salary and ROI

Salary is influenced by a variety of factors, including your salary before graduating, industry, organization, role and geographic location. This means that the exact return-on-investment of your MLS will depend in part on your circumstances.

One way to ensure a greater ROI is to invest in a competitively priced MLS from a well-regarded school with a strong alumni network. While some individuals may apply to the program nearest to them geographically, it’s important to keep in mind that there are many online MLS programs from around the country that may be more affordable (and more flexible) than the ones offered by your nearest law school.

As advanced opportunities open up for you after you’ve earned your Master of Legal Studies degree, so too does your earning potential. Master’s degree holders earned a median salary of $90,324 in 2023, with bachelor’s degree holders earning only $77,636. Considering that the median salary for master’s degree holders 10 years ago was only $68,000, it’s clear that employers are valuing master’s degrees now more than ever before.

Gain practical legal knowledge with SMU Dedman Law’s online M.L.S.

The online M.L.S. curriculum features a mix of asynchronous learning and weekly live sessions with classmates and faculty, and five concentrations in in-demand areas that intersect with law:

• Business law: The business concentration will serve early and mid-career managers or aspiring managers who can benefit from legal knowledge.
• Compliance law: The M.L.S. in compliance law provides professionals who work in ethics, compliance, internal investigations and more with the legal skills to avoid pitfalls in challenging regulatory environments.
• Criminal justice: Criminal justice professionals navigate challenging legal situations. Those seeking leadership positions will benefit greatly from SMU Dedman Law’s M.L.S. in criminal justice.
• HR and employment law: A working knowledge of employment, employment discrimination, contract and civil law are important for those working in human resources. The HR and employment law concentration teaches key legal aspects of employment and contract law.
• Sports law: The M.L.S. in sports law offers aspiring sports agents and other professionals education in key contract provisions, negotiation skills and how NIL impacts athletes and organization. SMU is uniquely positioned in the sports industry due to its proximity to Dallas, named the No. 1 sports business city in 2023 by the Sports Business Journal.

SMU Dedman School of Law — proudly celebrating its centennial anniversary this year — gives its students a strong legal education that is both deeply rooted in its 100 years of history and future-focused for the legal environment of the 21st century.

A nationally ranked private university located in the heart of Dallas, SMU is a distinguished center for global research and teaching. SMU’s diverse, high-achieving students come from the U.S. and around the world to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.