Legal Studies & Education

Introduction to Legal Studies

Legal studies is a course of study that looks at the law and justice system from historical and social perspectives. Unlike preprofessional legal programs, legal studies is a liberal arts program that considers questions of ethics, how historical events shape our legal system, and what impact laws and crimes have on society. This sort of education could, of course, lead you to law school or paralegal practice, but it could also lead you into politics, working as a historian, public interest advocacy, or public administration.

What Will I Learn in a Legal Studies Program?

Because legal studies is a broad field, many schools encourage or require specializations or minors. Your studies will likely include constitutional law, legal research and writing, philosophy of law, social science research, law and economics, and psychology and the law. Because of the comprehensive nature of the program, it will generally lead to a bachelor's degree, although in order to become an attorney or government official, for example, a graduate degree may be a necessary next step.

Legal studies gives students excellent training in critical thinking, analytical skills, communication skills, and research, which means that its benefits extend to numerous careers. Lawyer positions (which can only be obtained after completing law school) are projected to grow by 13 percent during the 2008-2018 period, and paid an annual median wage of $113,240 in May 2009. Paralegals, growing at a much faster than average rate of 28 percent, earned $46,980. Historians are projected to grow at a rate of 11 percent, and earned $51,050. These are just a few examples careers you can pursue with a legal studies degree.

Jessica Santina

Jessica Santina is a freelance writer and editor with 12 years' experience in media, marketing, and publishing, and 9 years' experience as a college writing instructor.

Justice and Law Majors • The College Board - Majors & Careers Central

Major: Legal Studies • The College Board - Majors & Careers Central

Professional and related occupations - Mar 11, 2010 • Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition

National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, United States - May 14, 2010 • Occupational Employment Statistics

Find Legal Degrees by Subject

By selecting a subject one can find a Directory of Legal Schools offering degree programs, diplomas or certificates

Criminal Justice

Paralegal Studies

Study on Campus
The Top Legal Schools

Akron Institute of Herzing University
Enrich your life with a diploma in Allied Health Services from Akron Institute of Herzing University. Learn more

Available Programs:
Criminal Justice Learn more

Academy of Court Reporting
Prepare for an exciting career in the legal system at The Academy of Court Reporting. Learn more

Available Programs:
Criminal Justice Learn more

Algonquin Careers Academy
Algonquin Careers Academy has been providing career training since 1981. Small classes of adults seeking to launch new careers are led by industry professionals who understand and believe in our students’ career choices. Learn more

Available Programs:
Legal Assisting, Paralegal Learn more

Learn more about your future career...

Learn more about your Legal Career

What does it mean to study Legal Studies?
Legal studies careers center on the practice of law. If you want a job protecting people's rights, lives, and property, then a legal studies career will be right for [...] read more

Legal Careers - Future Outlook
The entertainment industry goes through ups and downs. Teaching jobs often rely on adequate funding. Even medicine seems volatile at times. It seems impossible to find a [...] read more

General Career Information: Legal Jobs
From the judges on the Supreme Court to the corrections offices in the prison systems, there are legal jobs of all shapes and sizes. Most require at least a bachelors degree or some [...] read more

General Outlook - Job Openings & Education Requirements
Projected job growth varies widely by education and training requirements. Education is essential in getting a high-paying job. In fact allmost all of the highest paying occupations require a college degree [...] read more

How to get required Education
Learn more about how to get the right education for your Legal career plans. Learn about selecting the right school that offers the required Legal degree [...] read more

Find a School in Your Area

Zip Code:
Subject:
Degree:
	Online Campus Both

Top Online Legal Schools

Virginia College
Earn your associate's, bachelor’s or master’s degree from Virginia College. Our extensive programs are offered 100% online, so you can launch the career of your choice from the comfort of your own home. Learn more

Available Programs:
Criminal Justice, Paralegal Learn more

Westwood College
A Westwood College degree means less time in school, so you can spend more time building your career and income. Designed for today’s fast-paced lifestyles, our career-focused degree programs come with great benefits. Learn more

Available Programs:
Criminal Justice Learn more

Broadview University
Launch your new career with a degree from Broadview University. Learn more

Available Programs:
Criminal Justice, Legal Administrative Assistant Learn more

Study On Campus

Students may search Legal programs by location, subject area, and even degree type. Our interface makes it easy to research Legal schools and compare different programs side by side.

Select a state in the directory below to find information about each available school in that area.

Alabama, AL
Alaska, AK
Arizona, AZ
Arkansas, AR
California, CA
Colorado, CO
Connecticut, CT
Delaware, DE
Florida, FL
Georgia, GA
Hawaii, HI
Idaho, ID
Illinois, IL
Indiana, IN
Iowa, IA
Kansas, KS
Kentucky, KY
Louisiana, LA
Maine, ME
Maryland, MD
Massachusetts, MA
Michigan, MI
Minnesota, MN
Mississippi, MS
Missouri, MO
Montana, MT

Nebraska, NE
Nevada, NV
New Hampshire, NH
New Jersey, NJ
New Mexico, NM
New York, NY
North Carolina, NC
North Dakota, ND
Ohio, OH
Oklahoma, OK
Oregon, OR
Pennsylvania, PA
Rhode Island, RI
South Carolina, SC
South Dakota, SD
Tennessee, TN
Texas, TX
Utah, UT
Vermont, VT
Virginia, VA
Washington, WA
Washington DC, DC
West Virginia, WV
Wisconsin, WI
Wyoming, WY

This Legal School Directory will help you find schools, colleges and universities in the USA and get the degree programs & training you need.

We make it easy to request free information and catalogs from Legal Schools. Simply contact the school through the "request information" links available.

Legal course curricula vary, and we suggest requesting more information from all institutions, or at least a reasonable number of them. This will allow you to compare their curricula and make the best choice for yourself.

Many of the Legal universities that you can find in this school directory offer flexible online or on-campus degree programs that adapt to the most current trends and technologies in the fast-paced business world. The institutions listed in the directory offer world-class instructors that provide high quality training. Further, these schools provide unsurpassed career counseling and opportunities for both students and learning professionals.