What can I do with a legal studies degree?
The training included in our online legal studies program helps you build a foundation in pre-law so you may pursue a wide variety of career paths. Earning a bachelor’s degree can help you qualify for jobs as a paralegal/legal assistant, as well as many other types of legal support positions.
Holders of a bachelor’s degree in legal studies may qualify for many different types of jobs, including:
- Business positions such as HR representative or compliance
- Political lobbyist & legislative liaisons
- City/county, state or federal government jobs
- Probation officer & parole officer
- Real estate agent
- University advising, career departments, libraries & research
Some students may consider a bachelor’s in legal studies as a good steppingstone to applying for law school.
While many JD programs do not require specific majors/minors at the bachelor’s degree level, earning a bachelor’s in legal studies can introduce you to fundamental concepts in law, preparing you for advanced study in the future on the path to becoming a lawyer.
Salary and employment outlook for common careers in legal studies*
| Job | Annual salary | Hourly salary | Emp. change, 2023-2033 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegals and legal assistants | $66,510 | $31.98 | 1% |
| Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers | $59,600 | $28.65 | 1% |
| Compliance officers | $84,980 | $40.86 | 5% |
| Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists | $71,530 | $34.39 | 4% |
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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