Believe it or not, legal studies for non-lawyers can be beneficial across numerous career paths, from cybersecurity and AI to healthcare administration and even real estate.
There are also several law degree options for non-lawyers, so you can choose the one that is best aligned with your interests and career goals. Some of the most common include a Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.), Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.), and Master of Dispute Resolution.
With a better understanding of how these law degrees can benefit those in fields other than law, along with what each of these different law degree programs entails, you can determine which may be right for you.
The Significance of a Law Degree for Non-Lawyers
Legal studies for non-lawyers can provide useful legal knowledge without the expectation to become a lawyer. A Master of Legal Studies assists in understanding a variety of legal concepts that may be applicable to your career.
The Unique Position of Non-Lawyers in Law-Adjacent Careers
Even if you don't plan to work directly in the legal field, having extensive legal knowledge can help prepare non-law professionals for compliance, dispute resolution, and the process of navigating common legal issues you may face in your everyday work environment. Non-lawyers in law-adjacent careers are in a distinct position to help organizations navigate legal issues and concerns with confidence, earning them added value and respect in the workplace.
How Non-Lawyers Benefit from Legal Studies
In addition, having more in-depth legal knowledge can help non-lawyers in other professions make better-informed decisions. This is especially true when working professionals are able to make a decision that helps them or their respective organizations avoid potential legal issues. At the same time, professionals with experience in legal studies can contribute to compliance and risk management within their field of work while increasing their knowledge of intellectual property and data privacy.
Understanding the Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) Program
A Master of Legal Studies program offers working professionals a unique opportunity to increase their legal knowledge through flexible courses of study designed to accommodate busy people. The topics covered in an M.L.S. can cover a wide range of fields, providing useful and applicable knowledge of common legal issues that matter.
M.L.S. - A Comprehensive Study of Law for Non-Lawyers
First and foremost, a Master of Legal Studies program can provide a comprehensive understanding of applicable laws, regulations, and compliance standards of which working professionals in various fields should be aware. This type of program can also deliver advanced legal education that can be tailored to an industry through custom program tracks, allowing you to customize your educational experience even further.
Key Features of an M.L.S. Program
As an advanced degree program, a Master of Legal Studies will be specifically designed for busy working professionals. The format and curriculum of this program help students learn central regulations and compliance issues today that they can apply to their careers tomorrow. This is because these programs center on a combination of legal education and practical, real-world applications.
Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) vs. Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.)
As you begin exploring legal degrees you could pursue while practicing in a non-legal field, the two main options you will likely encounter are a Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) and a Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.).
Similarities and Differences Between M.J. and M.L.S.
Undeniably, there are quite a few similarities between an M.J. and M.L.S. program. Notably, both programs are for non-lawyers who are working professionals in other fields. Both are designed to be completed in the same amount of time, usually consisting of around 30 credit hours each.
On the other hand, there are some key differences between an M.J. and M.L.S. program. Most importantly, an M.J. program is more focused on philosophy and law theory, whereas an M.L.S. explores in-depth legal knowledge and practical applications.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between M.J. and M.L.S.
So, how can you decide whether an M.J. or M.L.S. degree is ideal? The degree that makes the most sense for you will depend on factors ranging from your career path to your interests and long-term goals. However, for many working professionals, an M.L.S. degree provides more practical, real-world applications of law in the field. These kinds of programs also tend to cover a variety of legal topics (including data privacy, regulation, and compliance) that may be relevant across career paths.
The Master of Dispute Resolution: An Overview
Another potential advanced degree to pursue in law is a Master of Dispute Resolution, which can lead to a number of diverse career opportunities and differs quite significantly from a Master of Legal Studies.
What Is the Master of Dispute Resolution?
A Master of Dispute Resolution is a graduate-level program that offers knowledge in negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Additionally, this program helps in understanding legal concepts related to dispute resolution.
Career Opportunities with a Master of Dispute Resolution
Typically, the career paths related to a Master of Dispute Resolution degree revolve around working in law firms or as legal consultants. However, other opportunities may be available in industries such as:
- Human resources
- Compliance
- Healthcare
- Risk management
Differences Between Master of Dispute Resolution and M.L.S.
What is the difference between a Master of Dispute Resolution and an M.L.S. program? A Master of Dispute Resolution will be very focused on conflict resolution issues, whereas an M.L.S. program offers a broader breadth of understanding in legal studies for non-lawyers. An M.L.S. program also covers a wider range of knowledge in legal topics that are applicable across different fields and common issues.
Career Paths for Non-Lawyer Degree Holders
There are various career paths for non-lawyer degree holders to consider, but these vary depending on the program you choose. For instance, a master's in dispute resolution will lead more toward dispute resolution careers. Meanwhile, a Master of Jurisprudence is likely to result in a greater grasp of the philosophy of law and careers stemming from that.
Ultimately, a Master of Legal Studies degree can offer flexible legal expertise plus compliance and regulation knowledge that applies within a variety of fields.
How Non-Lawyers Jobs Benefit From Legal Studies
Non-lawyers benefit from having strong legal knowledge because they can apply what they learn from the program to their everyday work; this includes legal concepts, regulations, and compliance standards within your given industry.
If you work in healthcare, for example, an M.L.S. program with a healthcare track would focus on compliance issues related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. With a better understanding of the legal and compliance issues around this important act, you can make better-informed decisions in your own work.
How an M.L.S. Degree Stands Out from Other Law Degrees
Compared to other law degrees, an M.L.S. is distinguished because it offers many different tracks related to one's career. Graduates with this degree can make sure they keep their respective organizations aligned with compliance, regulation, and risk management best practices. This is an excellent degree for those wanting to expand their legal expertise and knowledge without practicing law.
Unique Aspects of an M.L.S. Degree
An M.L.S. degree is valuable for working professionals and custom-tailored to a variety of fields. This type of program is made specifically for working professionals who want to learn applicable regulations and laws for their organizations. Likewise, this program stands out for its direct applications in such specialized fields as healthcare, real estate, and human resources.
Why Choose M.L.S. Over Other Law Degrees?
An M.L.S. is a sensible choice over some other types of law degree because of its tailored approach to learning and application to non-legal fields. Compared to other law degrees, it is more focused on real-world application than theory, while remaining broad enough to be useful for many working professionals.
Practical Applications of an M.L.S. Degree in Various Sectors
Explore just a few of the most practical applications of an M.L.S. degree to particular fields:
M.L.S. in Business and Compliance
An M.L.S. is valuable for those in business and compliance-related careers, especially if your work revolves or requires knowledge around risk-management and business compliance issues.
Influence of M.L.S. in Healthcare and HR
The healthcare and human resources fields deal with regularity and compliance requirements, particularly as they relate to information privacy, employment laws, and the use of AI in HR. HR professionals and healthcare administrators can benefit from the information covered in an M.L.S. program, as many of the concepts are directly applicable to these lines of work.
M.L.S. in Cybersecurity, AI, and Information Privacy
Those working in the realm of cybersecurity and information privacy can benefit from an M.L.S. degree, too, as this program covers compliance and regulations related to these fields. And because artificial intelligence is altering work across industries, a legal understanding of AI-related regulations could be useful as well.
How an M.L.S. Is Applied in Real Estate and Construction
M.L.S. is also applicable to real estate and construction work when it comes to strengthening legal knowledge and comprehension and handling of real estate transactions, green building regulations, property law, and risk management.
M.L.S. in Financial Regulations and Compliance
There are multiple regulations and compliance standards in place in the finance and banking industries, and investors need to be aware of them. Fortunately, these are all topics that would be covered in an M.L.S. program.
Why Is a Law Degree Beneficial for Non-Lawyers?
A law degree such as an M.L.S. is useful for non-lawyers across a range of disciplines because this kind of program provides a better understanding of the law and legal matters relating specifically to your chosen field. M.L.S. degree programs often have tracks for fields like healthcare, real estate, finance, human resources, and other common career paths.
Are Law Degrees for Non-Lawyers Offered Online?
While format varies from one school and program to the next, some M.L.S. degree programs are offered entirely online for your convenience. This includes the M.L.S. program through the University of Miami School of Law, which is available with flexible, part-time scheduling that makes it possible to complete your studies without making sacrifices in other essential areas of your life.
Looking to Pursue Legal Studies?
Understanding the law and its implications is beneficial across numerous fields, even if you have no plans to work in law directly. The legal knowledge you obtain from an M.L.S. program could help you better perform your own job, level up your skills, and potentially improve your career prospects.
At Miami Law, we're proud to offer an online law degree for non-lawyers through our online Master of Legal Studies designed for non-lawyer professionals. With available tracks ranging from healthcare and cybersecurity to HR and real estate, you can choose the one that best suits your professional goals. In addition, our online Master of Legal Studies curriculum consists of just 30 credit hours that can be completed part time with a flexible schedule. Reach out to learn more, or start your application today.
Sources
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/academics/M.L.S./
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/academics/M.L.S./curriculum/
https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/apply/index.html
