Is a Master of Legal Studies Worth the Investment?

24 October, 2025

Master of Legal Studies degree programs are designed for professionals who want to deepen their understanding of laws and regulations without becoming practicing attorneys. However, not every professional needs this deep understanding of the US legal system. 

To decide if an MLS is a valuable investment for you, you’ll need to consider your career goals, industry, and the potential benefits of an MLS that are relevant to you.

Before committing to the program, it’s key to understand how an MLS could support your professional growth, as well as what tangible and intangible benefits you can expect. 

Is a Master of Legal Studies Worth the Investment?

Earning an MLS can provide advanced skills and knowledge to professionals in roles that intersect or relate to law, compliance, or governance. Though this degree does not prepare students to practice law, it does help professionals understand complicated legal frameworks and the skills to apply that knowledge to their career responsibilities.

The curriculum of an MLS offers courses that meaningfully develop your skills and expertise, and that advanced knowledge can open doors to high-level roles in industries that rely on legal understanding.

Professional Benefits of an MLS

One of the most direct benefits of earning an MLS is career mobility. Many professionals, especially those in highly regulated industries or roles that deal with compliance and regulation, reach a point where they need advanced legal knowledge to move up or stand out in their organizations. An MLS provides that sort of expertise in less time and at a lower cost than a traditional law degree.

Some of the most common professional advantages include:

• Career mobility and advancement: Professionals who apply legal frameworks to their jobs, like compliance officers, HR specialists, and contract managers, often find that an MLS makes them more competitive for leadership roles. Employers value the ability to interpret regulations and anticipate likely risks.
• Credibility and legal fluency: An MLS gives professionals the ability to speak the language of law within their industries. That fluency improves credibility in meetings, negotiations, and strategic planning sessions, especially in situations where attorneys are key stakeholders.
• Specialized knowledge: Online MLS programs often offer concentrations in areas like health care, human resources, and technology. This specialized expertise allows you to better understand and apply the law to the challenges in these industries.

Intangible Benefits

Not all benefits of an MLS show up on a resume or paycheck. Some advantages are harder to measure but still offer significant benefits to your legal career.

• Confidence in legal decision-making: Knowing the principles behind contracts, liability, and compliance reduces uncertainty and helps you make faster, better decisions.
• Stronger communication with legal teams and stakeholders: With an MLS, you’ll be able to bridge the gap between legal counsel and non-legal departments.

MLS graduates, and master’s degree holders in general, also benefit from more professional credibility and respect from colleagues. This can allow you to have more influence in team discussions, strategic planning, and policy development, which all translate into the ability to make stronger decisions that have more meaningful impacts in your organization.

What Can You Do with a Master of Legal Studies?

An MLS can prepare or enhance careers across a wide range of industries where laws and regulations shape operations. With an emphasis on critical thinking in situations where legal and regulatory frameworks have an impact, a master’s in legal studies gives you the skills you need to excel in leadership roles in legal-adject roles and fields.

Some of the highly regulated industries and functions where MLS graduates are poised to make their biggest impact include:

• Compliance: Compliance officers and risk managers monitor and enforce policies to keep organizations aligned with laws and industry regulations, avoiding costly fines and litigation.
• Human resources: HR professionals with legal expertise can help clarify employment law, resolve workplace disputes, and ensure benefits compliance with greater precision.
• Health care: Hospitals and health systems need leaders who understand patient privacy laws, health care regulations, and insurance frameworks.
• Government: Public sector roles often involve interpreting regulations, drafting policies, or managing grants, each benefiting from advanced legal knowledge.
• Corporate business: Many large businesses hire MLS graduates for contracts, procurement, or corporate governance roles.

In practice, career opportunities for MLS graduates typically combine management duties with specialized legal oversight. 

Other developing roles for MLS graduates include data privacy officer, risk assessment analyst, and regulatory affairs manager. These positions require a combination of legal insight and operational expertise, making the MLS particularly valuable. The degree can also support consulting roles where legal knowledge enhances business strategy and compliance guidance.

Financial Considerations of an MLS, Including Cost, Salary, and ROI

Going back to school to earn a master’s degree is an investment of your finances, as well as your time and energy. While it’s clear that an MLS provides a strong education that can be incredibly valuable, it’s also important to measure the potential costs of the degree against the long-term career and salary benefits. This will help you ensure that your MLS offers a strong return on investment. 

• Tuition ranges: Tuition for MLS programs can vary greatly, with some university tuition creeping up toward $100,000 for an on-campus degree. Online programs tend to offer a more reasonable tuition rate than traditional on-campus programs. 
• Time costs: Most online MLS degrees take one to two years of part-time study. If the program offers asynchronous learning options, then professionals will be able to work through coursework when it’s most convenient for them, meaning that they can continue working.
• Salary benchmarks: Professionals with master’s degrees report higher salaries and lower unemployment rates compared to professionals with a bachelor’s or less. MLS graduates may see an even stronger outcome. According to Lightcast, the average annual salary is $103,325 for job postings that require a master’s degree alongside skills in compliance, regulation, risk management, and/or contracts.

The type of benefits and career advancement that you’ll see with an MLS largely depends on your career stage. For early-career professionals, the degree may provide access to higher-paying jobs more quickly. For mid-career professionals, it may offer leverage for promotions, transitions into new industries, or roles with more responsibility.

It is also worth noting that career growth and salary potential can vary significantly by region, industry, and prior experience. Professionals who combine the MLS with other certifications or technical expertise, like project management or HR certifications, may see even higher ROI.

MLS Versus JD: Which Is Right for You?

Both the MLS and the JD are graduate-level degrees in law, but they serve different purposes.

• Cost and time commitment: A JD typically takes three years of full-time, on-campus study and costs well over $100,000 at most institutions. An online MLS usually costs half as much and can be completed in one to two years while you continue to work.
• Outcomes: A JD qualifies a graduate to sit for the bar exam and practice as an attorney. A Master of Legal Studies does not qualify a professional to become a lawyer, but it supports careers where legal knowledge is valuable.
• Career goals: If your goal is to represent clients and argue cases in a court of law or other legal environment, a JD is the right choice. An MLS is a better fit if you want to enhance your understanding of laws and regulations to advance within your existing industry, or if you want the flexibility to excel in a variety of legal-adjacent careers across industries.

Deciding on an MLS as the Next Step in Your Career

Deciding to pursue an MLS should be based on your long-term aspirations and the realities of your current role. Consider the following questions:

• Do you work in a field where compliance, regulation, or legal frameworks drive major decisions?
• Would a stronger grasp of legal principles increase your effectiveness in your current job?
• Are you aiming for leadership roles that require cross-department collaboration, especially with legal teams?
• Can you balance the time and tuition costs with your professional and personal commitments?

If you answered yes to at least two of these questions, a Master of Legal Studies could prove an excellent opportunity for career advancement.

Elevate Your Legal Knowledge with Emory University School of Law’s MLS

The part-time Master of Legal Studies Program from Emory Law combines the flexibility of online learning with immersive assignments to ensure students have the skills and experience to think critically in a variety of legal situations. Designed by leading legal researchers and practitioners, our curriculum imparts practical and relevant legal knowledge that is applicable to various industries. Students can customize the curriculum by choosing one of four concentrations or building their own study plan with a variety of electives. 

Emory Law is a preeminent graduate school of inquisitive learners, where faculty, staff, and students of any background can thrive and feel a sense of belonging. We prepare students for fulfilling careers, equipping them with the legal skills to enrich communities and affect positive societal transformation. 

Download a brochure to learn more or start your application today. 

Emory University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, doctorate, and professional degrees. Emory University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Emory University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404.679.4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).