For those interested in law-adjacent careers, there are several potential paths forward. While aspiring attorneys will need to pursue a Juris Doctor degree in order to become a lawyer, there are many professionals who have an interest in law or regularly interact with regulations, but do not plan to become a lawyer.
These individuals have plenty of options when it comes to careers, and they might find that graduate education in law, such as a Master of Laws, Master of Jurisprudence or a Master of Legal Studies, could enhance their career prospects. The MLS degree, in particular, is a great fit for business, healthcare, compliance and human resources professionals who need a combination of industry-specific and general legal knowledge to achieve positive outcomes for their clients or employers.
Master’s in legal studies degrees are extremely versatile, so there are many opportunities available to graduates of these programs. To help you better understand the landscape, we will provide more detail on how a Master of Legal Studies supports career advancement, explore some of the potential career paths for MLS graduates and highlight the benefits of UMKC School of Law’s online Master of Legal Studies.
How Does an MLS Prepare You for Career Success?
MLS degrees do not prepare students for roles as lawyers, but are instead designed to provide transferable skills and knowledge that professionals can use to pivot to new opportunities or enhance their performance in their current roles. Through comprehensive curriculums that are highly relevant to various industries, MLS programs position candidates for success in a wide range of fields.
A key feature of a legal studies master’s is a focus on industry-relevant laws and regulatory frameworks. Students learn about the applicability of laws and regulations to industry settings, including important legal safeguards such as adherence to compliance standards, in order to gain a better understanding of the landscape in which lawyers and non-lawyer professionals operate. This knowledge can serve as a valuable complement to a professional’s prior education and experience.
In addition to providing foundational legal knowledge, many MLS programs offer tailored specialization areas that are designed to prepare students for certain roles and fields. For example, UMKC Law offers four in-demand concentrations: health law, human resources law, compliance and general.
MLS Career Outcomes
MLS degrees offer a versatile foundation in legal education, making this degree particularly relevant for those who work in compliance, HR, insurance, government, corporate leadership and other legal-adjacent roles or fields. Below, we’ll discuss some of the potential career outcomes that graduates might pursue after earning a Master of Legal Studies.
Keep in mind that completing a degree does not guarantee a position or salary, which vary depending on experience, industry, geographic location and more.
| Job Title* | Median Annual Salary* |
| Chief Information Security Officer | $200,200 |
| Compliance Manager | $108,800 |
| Contracts Manager | $100,100 |
| Data Protection Specialist | $124,700 |
| Corporate Manager | $70,000 |
| Human Resources Manager | $90,500 |
| Risk and Quality Assurance Manager | $100,000 |
*Source: Lightcast
Chief Information Security Officer
Median Annual Salary: $200,200 (per Lightcast)
A chief information security officer is responsible for information security across their entire organization. This is a high-level role that necessitates both big-picture focus and careful diligence of day-to-day tasks. Responsibilities might include determining internal operating procedures, making strategic IT security decisions and ensuring that various departments and teams are adhering to a cohesive information security strategy.
Compliance Manager
Median Annual Salary: $108,800 (per Lightcast)
A compliance manager is responsible for ensuring that their organization is compliant with relevant laws, regulations, industry standards and ethical standards. While exact responsibilities vary across organizations, a compliance manager is typically tasked with overseeing compliance officers across departments to ensure adherence to internal policy and alignment in compliance strategy.
Contracts Manager
Median Annual Salary: $100,100 (per Lightcast)
For many organizations, contracts are essential to operation. As such, contracts managers are tasked with the important duty of overseeing the entire lifecycle of contracts in the organization. These professionals might draft contracts, negotiate contracts with vendors and clients, ensure internal adherence to contracts and more.
Data Protection Specialist
Median Annual Salary: $124,700 (per Lightcast)
A data protection specialist typically focuses on safeguarding the privacy of data that the organization transmits, stores or collects. They are often tasked with ensuring that the organization adheres to regulations and carefully safeguards critical data. These professionals may also be tasked with training and informing employees on critical data privacy considerations and protocols, as well as establishing internal policy regarding data privacy.
Corporate Manager
Median Annual Salary: $70,000 (per Lightcast)
Corporate managers — executive leaders within corporate organizations — can benefit from a thorough understanding of the inner workings of the legal landscape in which they operate. Corporate managers are tasked with making decisions that can have profound impacts on the organization, so a solid understanding of applicable regulatory frameworks and business laws can be helpful for these professionals.
Human Resources Manager
Median Annual Salary: $90,500 (per Lightcast)
Human resources professionals work in a range of industries and have a wide variety of tasks. They may be responsible for hiring, onboarding, supporting company culture, helping employees navigate benefits and even assisting with the termination process. Human resources managers are leaders within this domain, leading HR teams or acting as department heads. MLS graduates who are able to leverage their insights and knowledge of the legal landscape will be well-positioned for HR careers.
Risk and Quality Assurance Manager
Median Annual Salary: $100,000 (per Lightcast)
Risk and quality assurance managers ensure that their organization is creating high-quality products and/or services. They also are responsible for shielding their organization from untenable, unnecessary or unsafe risks. Like compliance managers, risk and quality assurance managers help protect the organization from the inside by ensuring that the organization is living up to its promises and not engaging in risky conduct. For some risk and quality assurance managers, an MLS degree may be a helpful foundation or complement, offering legal knowledge that can be leveraged to navigate relevant considerations.
Broaden Your Professional Horizons With UMKC’s Master of Legal Studies Degree
Elevate your career with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law’s online Master of Legal Studies program — a legal studies degree designed for non-lawyers looking for practical legal knowledge that applies to their professional areas of interest. Our online program is a hands-on legal studies degree program that offers four in-demand concentrations designed with your career goals in mind. In our highly flexible program, you’ll learn from expert professors and instructors who are certified in online teaching.
UMKC School of Law proudly embraces the university’s mission of promoting student-centric learning through collaboration and an interactive, applicable curriculum. Our diverse and inclusive community spans two vibrant campuses and an online network, welcoming students from all 50 states and over 85 countries. At UMKC Law, we’re not just educating future legal professionals — we’re shaping leaders who will drive cultural, social and economic prosperity in their local communities and beyond.
Learn more by downloading a brochure or get started on your application today!
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To learn more about the online Master of Legal Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and download a program brochure, please fill out the form. You can also talk one-on-one with an enrollment specialist directly by calling 816-282-1433.