The human resources department sits at the core of any business. Human resources managers and specialists are not only responsible for recruiting, hiring, and training top talent in their industry, but they also must work to ensure that employees remain in compliance with legal guidelines and regulations.
The Impact of a Master of Legal Studies on HR Professionals
Human resources professionals are often responsible for being aware of and managing all legal regulations that affect the work environment. Those legal regulations and compliance guidelines can vary significantly based on your chosen field, but in general, you should be well-versed in legal studies in order to effectively monitor and implement all applicable regulations.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most HR professionals need a bachelor's degree in human resources to launch a career in this realm. However, an online Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) degree can help you advance in your career and pursue specialized positions in HR.
Understanding the Intersection of HR and Law
The fields of human resources and law frequently intersect, according to LinkedIn, particularly in regards to:
- Compliance – HR professionals should have well-developed legal acumen to navigate compliance guidelines, laws, and regulations.
- Employment law – Human resources specialists must have expertise in employment law, as this allows them to craft policies that protect the organization itself while fostering a safe, inclusive work environment for employees.
- Employee relations – HR professionals are frequently called upon to manage employee disputes, highlighting the importance of having a legal background when working in human resources.
- Workplace culture – The human resources department is largely responsible for curating company policies that have a significant impact on the workplace culture. In order to create a supportive environment, HR professionals must be intimately familiar with employment law.
- Employment contract development – HR professionals often have to draft employment contracts and navigate negotiations with prospective employees, making it vital that they have an in-depth understanding of the law as it relates to employment law.
Expanding HR Knowledge and Skills with Legal Acumen
An online Master of Legal Studies degree helps you invest in your career by offering a curriculum that allows you to implement your newfound knowledge in real time. While you already have a strong working foundation in the best human resources strategies and principles, this graduate degree program guides you toward gaining industry-specific legal expertise. You will develop advanced knowledge and skills in relevant areas, such as:
- Employment law
- Compliance
- Information privacy
- Talent acquisition regulation
- Negotiation and mediation during employment disputes
Key Features of a Master of Legal Studies for HR Professionals
Though many human resources specialists feel that a master's degree in HR will equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to advance in the field, they may mistakenly overlook the power of an online Master of Legal Studies degree. For HR professionals, the Master of Legal Studies degree program presents an opportunity to develop expert legal acumen, which is incredibly valuable — and sometimes lacking — in HR departments.
Focused Curriculum on Employment Law
With a Master of Legal Studies degree, like the one from the University of Miami School of Law, you have the chance to choose a human resources track that includes courses in employment law. This allows you to customize your degree program to your unique needs and develop relevant skills you can leverage in your future position as an HR professional.
6 Ways a Master of Legal Studies Benefits HR Professionals
When you pursue and earn an online Master of Legal Studies degree, you can instantly improve your professional prospects. It is ideal to choose an innovative degree program anchored by a skills-based curriculum that allows you to apply the knowledge and skills you learn in class today at the office tomorrow.
Explore some advantages of an M.L.S. degree for HR professionals:
Dealing with Complex HR Issues
The dynamic workplace environment of the 21st century requires HR professionals to weave a complex web of policies that address wide range of issues. An online Master of Legal Studies degree can provide you with an overview of the legal system along with relevant information about how to best navigate employment law in an ever-changing work environment.
According to Forbes, some of the most complicated challenges HR professionals face today include navigating mental health policies in the workplace; developing policies for where and when employees will work; and creating an inclusive and productive workplace culture. An online M.L.S. can help you tackle these challenges with greater ease, knowing that you have an advanced understanding of modern employment law.
Ensuring Compliance in HR Practices
Navigating ever-changing regulatory compliance guidelines and employment law standards is not always straightforward, even for the most seasoned HR professionals. By pursuing an online M.L.S. degree, you will have the opportunity to learn more about risk and compliance and be better able to serve your organization by gaining the skills needed to maintain legal compliance.
In addition to delving into compliance in employment law, an M.L.S. degree program in this area helps you learn how to communicate complex employment policies as well as discover the central role of compliance officers in establishing a culture and tone in the workplace.
Enhancing Strategic Planning in HR
With a better grasp of the legal landscape, you can enhance your strategic planning skills in HR. According to the Society of Human Resources Management, strategic planning is essential in HR because:
- It helps all members of the HR team plan in advance. Expert strategic planning avoids unexpected issues that can disrupt employment procedures or result in costly changes.
- It helps predict key issues and trends impacting employment policies, giving the department time to plan accordingly and avoid significant problems in the future.
- It helps promote improved organizational structure and management, which can have a positive impact on workplace culture and morale.
Increased Decision-Making Abilities
With expert legal acumen and a well-developed understanding of employment law, you will be able to make swift and sound decisions within your position as an HR professional. The knowledge you acquire throughout a Master of Legal Studies degree program will immediately begin helping you navigate the complex challenges taking shape in your HR department.
Understanding Employment Laws
With a track specifically dedicated to the HR field, an online Master of Legal Studies allows you to develop an advanced understanding of employment laws, particularly as they relate to hiring policies, compliance, risk management, workplace policies and more. Employment law topics covered as part of an online MLS curriculum like the one at University of Miami School of Law, include information privacy in the workplace, antidiscrimination policies, contract law, wage protection and talent acquisition, to name a few.
Navigating HR Risk Management
Decision-making in HR is notoriously complex, especially when professionals have to consider employment law, compliance standards, and workplace policies when making every single choice. An online M.L.S. degree program helps build the skills needed to effortlessly conduct a risk management assessment, giving you the opportunity to easily weigh your options and move forward with the best possible decision for your organization.
The Role of a Master of Legal Studies in HR Career Growth
Whether you are looking to pursue a management position in HR or simply to specialize within your department, a Master of Legal Studies degree can help you develop the skills necessary to advance your career. An employment law degree for HR professionals allows you to acquire an in-depth understanding of the most relevant legal topics that relate to the field of HR, giving you a competitive advantage.
The Value of a Master of Legal Studies in the HR Field
After investing your time and resources into an online Master of Legal Studies degree, you can soon enjoy lasting returns on your investment — leveraging your acquired knowledge and skills to pursue advanced or specialized positions in HR. You may find that a Master of Legal Studies salary is higher than one for positions that require only a bachelor's degree.
Potential Career Paths with an M.L.S. Degree for HR Professionals
Some human resources positions that may require a master's degree include:
- Human resources manager
- Labor relations manager
- Compensation and benefits specialist
- Director of employee relations
Long-Term Benefits of a Master of Legal Studies Degree with an HR Track
A Master of Legal Studies degree in HR equips you with actionable skills that can be applied in your HR office immediately as well as the knowledge needed to fuel your career for the next several decades. Some of the benefits this degree program offers HR professionals include:
- Improving knowledge of the legal landscape and how it relates to the field of HR.
- Elevating your critical thinking skills and allowing you to engage in enhanced strategic planning for your department.
- Increasing your knowledge of compliance and employment law, making you a valuable asset to any HR department.
Many HR professionals look to an online M.L.S. for an opportunity to take their careers to the next level and seek advanced HR positions for which they would not otherwise have been qualified.
Why a Master of Legal Studies Is Worth It for HR Professionals
A Master of Legal Studies allows HR professionals to build upon their existing knowledge and skill set by improving their legal acumen and helping them to become better-versed in employment law. It is a skills-based degree program that helps you develop an advanced understanding of the areas where law and human resources intersect, giving you a chance to future-proof your career in human resources.
Pursue an Employment Law Degree for HR Professionals at the University of Miami School of Law
While pursuing an online Master of Legal Studies program at the University of Miami School of Law, you learn legal skills today that you can use at work tomorrow. The innovative Employment Law and Human Resources Risk Management Track for HR professionals allows you to begin applying your newfound knowledge and skills in real time, giving you an opportunity to elevate your career in human resources.
Request more information today about the online Master of Legal Studies curriculum at the University of Miami School of Law.
Sources
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/academics/mls/curriculum/#hr
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bridging-gap-vital-link-between-law-human-resources-twinkle-sharma/
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm#tab-1
https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/toolkits/practicing-strategic-human-resources
https://work.chron.com/salary-payroll-benefits-manager-6263.html