Best Online Undergraduate Degree in Legal Studies 2024

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that legal occupations will grow faster than average over the next decade — and with a median wage of $99,220 as of May 2023, a degree in legal studies could land you a high return on your investment.

A legal studies degree can prepare you for law school or help you hit the ground running in a number of career paths. Whether you’re a working professional with an associate degree looking to pursue a bachelor’s in legal studies, or a first-time student who wants to break into the legal field, a degree in legal studies can open up career opportunities in the legal field and beyond.

Here’s a look at the best legal studies degrees and what you can do with them.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

A legal studies program typically covers topics relating to law and political science. You will gain a broad understanding of the legal process and American government, as well as gain technical skills like legal writing and research.

Legal studies is different from paralegal studies. While a degree in legal studies can prepare you to work as a paralegal — both degrees include foundational instruction about the legal field — paralegal studies is more specialized for a paralegal career.

If you are considering law school, legal studies can help you prepare; some programs even offer a pre-law focus. While a number of majors can be paired with pre-law, legal studies can also help you gain a general understanding of what it’s like to work in the legal profession as a lawyer.

Most undergraduate legal studies degrees are 120 credits and will take 3-4 years to complete. Having an associate degree or previous transferable coursework can speed that process up.

The cost of an online degree varies by school and location. Most bachelor’s programs have 120 credits, and tuition will likely vary, depending on whether you’re attending an in-state or out-of-state school. Some programs offer accelerated degree options featuring fewer credits or more intensive instruction, allowing you to finish your degree in less than four years.

Courses typically featured in legal studies programs include legal research, academic and legal writing, law and the legal system, ethics, communications courses, and more. You may also have an opportunity to complete an internship or part-time work.

Some programs may allow you to concentrate on a specific area, like criminal or civil law, or an emerging field, like data science or data security. A concentration can give you a high-demand, niche skill set to boost your career prospects.

Businesses are constantly adapting to changing laws and regulations, and a legal studies career can prepare you for lucrative roles, helping to ensure businesses are up to code. A compliance manager, for instance, can make in excess of six figures, helping businesses follow rules and regulations.

A legal studies career can also prepare you for a number of other jobs within the legal profession, such as a law clerk, court reporter, or paralegal. As the legal profession grows, knowledgeable support staff make up a critical part of that field.

The organizational and communication skills you’ll get from a legal studies degree can also prepare you for project management and leadership roles, such as a program specialist or community service manager — jobs that earn well above the median wage, according to BLS.