How to Get a Master's Degree in Law

Master's degree programs in law are designed to train those in the legal profession who do not wish to become lawyers. Careers in nonprofit work, public and private sectors, government jobs, research, teaching, and the judiciary are all options for those with master's degrees in law.

How to Earn a Master's Degree in Law

Before you can begin filling out applications, you need to learn more about the scope of master's degrees in law. Once you understand degree distinctions, course delivery modes, specializations, and accreditation facts, you begin to gain a fuller understanding of the degree itself.

Combine your existing education and experience with a master's degree in law, and make your first steps toward a rewarding career in law. If you've just begun to plan your career in law and criminal justice, take a look at WorldWideLearn.com's legal career planning guide.

Step 1: Think About Different Law Master's Degree Distinctions

Far from a one-size-fits-all degree, the distinctions in law master's degrees you can earn begin with the type of degree itself. From broad-based MA degrees to professional MPS programs, schools and law departments offer different degree choices for students. Explore all your options for a master's degree in law:

• Master of Art (MA): Approach law from a theoretical standpoint with an MA degree. Graduates may go on to public or private sector careers, nonprofit work, professional opportunities within foreign service or government, and more.
• Master of Science (MS): Use a research-based approach to dig deeper into your legal specialization with an MS degree. Graduates may go on to the same careers found with an MA degree.
• Master of Science of Law (JSM): An interdisciplinary degree geared toward a broad range of study. Graduates go on to pursue careers in public policy, research, teaching, the judiciary, or governmental service. Some JSM programs are geared toward international students.
• Master of Legal Studies (MLS): This nonprofessional degree is often recommended for students with no prior legal training who want only a focused, basic instruction on the foundations of law and the legal system.
• Master of Professional Studies (MPS): This professional degree offers targeted preparation for specific careers. Paralegal master's degrees are a common legal specialization within an MPS degree.

The above degrees are considered academically equivalent. Your personal goals and career objectives can help determine which options are best for you. You may find that more than one law degree appeals to your goals; explore your options before you commit to one choice.

Step 2: Choose Among Popular Law Degree Specializations

The scope of the master's degree in law encompasses a wide field, ranging from criminal justice and diplomacy to legal studies and the legal aspects of technology. Earn your master's degree by enrolling in a broad-based law degree program, or choose among the following popular specializations:

• Legal Studies
• Criminal Justice/Law
• Corporate Governance & Practice
• Science & Technology
• International Economic Law
• Business & Policy
• Law & Diplomacy
• Paralegal Studies

Graduates go on to combine their existing education and experience with their legal training in fields varying from government work and research to business and nonprofit organizations. Consider your career's future when choosing a law degree specialty.

Step 3: Consider Both Campus-Based and Online Master's Degrees

At this point you should have a general sense of the type of law master's degree you'd like to earn. You might limit yourself to one type of major and specialization, or you may be keeping your options broad with a range of choices. Now it's time to consider the way you earn your degree.

Because they don't require laboratory research, master's degrees in law are a popular choice for online education. Earn a master's degree online or on a campus near you and enjoy specific benefits. Take a look at the benefits of both types of master's degree programs:

• Online master's degree in law: If you work full-time or travel often, an online law degree offers the convenience and flexibility of logging on from anywhere to complete your studies. Earn a master's degree online and enjoy the benefits of a self-paced learning structure. Self-motivated students who work independently often thrive in online programs.
• Campus-based master's degree in law: If you're prepared to live near campus and meet your attendance requirements, a campus-based master's degree program offers the benefits of face-to-face interaction with professors and peers along with hands-on training. Students who enjoy group work and get motivated in team settings often do well in a campus environment.

As with major types and specializations, neither type of degree program is inherently better. Your learning style and your life situation can help determine your comfort level in each type of program. Earn a master's degree online and enjoy access to your studies on your own terms, or study for your law master's degree on campus and benefit from face-to-face interaction.

Step 4: Create a List of Master's Degree Programs in Law

After you've thought about different types of master's degrees, the method in which you prefer to study, and specializations you can consider, you should have created a basic image of the type of law degree you want to earn. Now, you should be ready to compile a list of schools offering master's degree programs in law. Start by consulting resources online:

• For a list of online master's degree programs in law, browse WorldWideLearn.com's listings.
• Also research paralegal and legal services degree programs.
• Browse the list of schools accredited by the American Bar Association at the U.S. Department of Education.
• In addition to online degrees, check out campus-based master's degree programs in law and in paralegal and legal services.

While you draw up a list of master's degree programs in law, make sure to consider your basic requirements, including whether you want to earn a master's degree online or on-campus. Use the resources above as a first step toward establishing your list of possible master's degree programs. Before you begin narrowing down your list, think carefully about the quality of each school.

Step 5: Determine Law Master's Degree Program Accreditation Status

Make sure each law department offers a quality degree by ensuring that each school holds current accreditation. Even if the name of a school sounds familiar to you, it's important to ensure that it holds current accreditation. Learn more at WorldWideLearn.com's accreditation answers page.

The process of accreditation involves a third-party agency reviewing a school based on essential qualities ranging from academic standards and financial standards to hiring practices. Ensuring a law program's accreditation comes with a range of benefits for you as a student:

• Academic entities and hiring managers recognize accredited degrees and credits
• Students in accredited programs are eligible for federal grants and loans
• Increased confidence that your master's degree in law will keep its value over time

Step 6: Narrow Down Your List of Law Master's Degree Programs

After you've confirmed that each school on your list is accredited, you should still have a long list of master's degree programs in law, criminal justice, and paralegal studies. You may have a wide range of degrees and programs, or just a few basic categories highlighted on your list. You can fine-tune that list by thinking about each school in terms of the following categories:

• Application: Each law department comes with its own requirements for master's degree students. You may need to provide transcripts, graduate test scores, work experience listed on a resume, letters of recommendation, and more.

• Location: Think about the school's location as if you were a job seeker. Consider legal departments, government offices, correctional facilities, and other work options. The more potential employment you find in the area, the more success you may have in terms of internships and jobs after graduation.

• Cost: Consider the cost of your graduate degree. Think about the financial aid each school can offer, including loans and grants you could receive from the government. Consider scholarships, teaching stipends, and other financial aid opportunities. Find more information on financial aid in the U.S. by browsing WorldWideLearn.com's guide.

• Faculty: Think about the faculty teaching at each school on your list. Seek out faculty bios and learn their research and publication interests. As you work toward the law degree application process, seek out strong teams of professors with interesting publication histories.

• Perks: Think about the extras offered by each law or criminal justice department. You might be encouraged to work in a law-related internship or complete interesting research in the local community. When you're ready to eliminate just a few schools from your list of options, think about the extras that each school offers.

Personalize your master's degree in law to suit your needs and goals. After you've considered different elements of each law department, you can feel confident in knowing more about each school you're considering, and more about the paralegal or law degree itself.

It takes time and effort to consider each school in terms of the categories discussed. However, you are sure to find the rewards of your work as soon as you begin the application process. When you can narrow down your long list of options to a strong, heavily researched few, you can then begin your application process with the confidence that only the strongest law schools have made your list.

Step 7: Apply for Master's Degree Programs in Law, Criminal Justice, and Paralegal Studies

You've condensed your long list of law degree programs down to the strongest few. Along the way, you may have learned more about the degree itself, and different ways you can earn a master's degree in law. At this point, it's time to apply to your best options. As you begin your application, keep the following in mind:

• Requirements: Get ready to provide everything from transcripts and resumes to letters of recommendation and graduate test scores. Each law program is different; get details and deadlines from each individual school. Keep track of deadlines to help ensure your success, and begin the test preparation process.

• Personalize: Be sure to personalize your application, modifying each letter of intent to suit the personality of each law master's degree program on your list. Some law departments may put more emphasis on your work history, while others may be more interested in academics--let your personality shine in each.

Take the first confident steps on your search for the best master's degree programs in law. Learning about the true range of degree, learning method, and school options beforehand helps you save time and money on applications. In addition to saved money and focused efforts, you are more likely to attend a law degree program that truly matches your goals as a student.

Sources

• Accreditation Search, U.S. Department of Education
• Advanced Degree Programs, Stanford University
• Best Law Schools, U.S. News and World Report
• Master's Degree in Paralegal Studies, The George Washington University
• The Fletcher School, Tufts University