Key takeaways
- A legal studies degree at bachelors level is the best stepping stone toward getting a high-level law degree to become an attorney.
- A legal studies program focuses on exploring and understanding legal institutes, systems, frameworks, and policies.
- With a degree in legal studies, you may be able to find career opportunities in a variety of related fields such as in legal assistance, compliance, research, risk management, and administration.
- Typical coursework and learning objectives of a legal studies include introductory and core courses, along with a focus on skills like legal research and writing, ethics, and policy analysis.
- Typical admission requirements in the best USA colleges include a high school diploma or equivalent, standardized test scores, and personal essays.
- Specializations within legal studies programs include paralegal studies, criminal justice, cyber law, environmental law, and family/estate law.
- The best U.S. colleges offering legal studies degrees include Grand Canyon University, the University of Illinois, the University of Washington, Purdue Global, Iowa State University, and the University of Kentucky.
For an undergraduate degree, a law degree may be too advanced for many students. Typically, a law degree is more appropriate for the post-graduate level, where you’re on your way to becoming an attorney. However, an excellent choice for bachelors level law-related academic path is getting a degree in legal studies.
In particular, a bachelor’s degree in legal studies is an excellent choice for students who are interested in understanding the legal system, exploring different aspects of law, and preparing for diverse careers in the legal field. Moreover, with a degree in legal studies, you can explore numerous career opportunities in fields like paralegal, legal research, compliance, and risk management.
Within a legal studies program, over a span of about 4 years and 120 credits, you can complete coursework that enhances your critical thinking, legal writing, and research skills. You will also be equipped with the foundational knowledge required to navigate the complex yet highly sophisticated legal landscape.
In addition to this, there are multiple specializations and concentration areas that you can choose from. We discuss these areas of focus in detail later in this guide.
The following article is a comprehensive guide to getting a legal studies degree. We help you understand what the degree includes, what you may expect from it, and we also provide a list of the best legal studies colleges. Let’s get ready to explore!
What is a bachelor’s degree in legal studies?
Any college degree at bachelor’s level is completed over a span of 4 years. Typically, most colleges require the completion of 120 credits or more for an undergraduate degree. Similarly, a bachelor’s degree in legal services, is a 4-year academic program offered by recognized and accredited degree-granting institutes. Colleges and universities across the US offer an undergrad program in legal studies.
Furthermore, this degree is particularly designed to offer the knowledge and competencies needed to excel in all types of legal settings and fields. For example, a legal studies degree offers education in aspects like legal writing, case management, case preparation, and court procedures. Additionally, these degrees have multiple focus points, such as:
- Practical legal skills and legal support functions rather than theoretical legal studies
- Preparing students for careers in legal assistance, paralegal work, and administrative roles in law offices, government agencies, and corporate legal departments
- Legal research and writing for various applications
- Understanding civil and criminal law in light of court procedures and protocols
Overall, a bachelor’s degree in legal studies prepares graduates for careers in legal assistance, compliance, and law office administration. You will go through a series of courses and learning journeys to excel in this highly in-demand industry. However, if you think a legal studies degree is your true calling, you might want to explore some additional details about its degree coursework, program details, list of the best colleges, and specializations.
Degree coursework and program details
A crucial step in determining the best legal studies degree for yourself is to understand the coursework. Explore the learning objectives of the program and see what you will be doing over the course of 4 years.
So, all degree programs are designed differently. Therefore, it is entirely dependent on the college to plan the coursework and choose the teaching method or format for the program. They may use a variety of teaching tools, incorporate digital solutions, offer online flexibility, and follow different structures. Most programs have a mix of teaching methods, such as:
- Written exams
- Verbal tests and quizzes
- Capstone projects or thesis
- Group assignments and presentations
- Individual assignments
- Class participation
- Internship and practical work experience
- Research papers and reports
- Reflection papers
Admission requirements
Assessing and evaluating the college admission requirements for a bachelor’s degree in legal studies is very important. The admission requirements help you predict whether you are eligible for college, and prevent you from wasting application fees. So, following is a list of the most common admission requirements:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- Admission form and fees
- SAT/ACT scores, other standardized tests
- English proficiency tests for international students
- Letters of recommendation from credible sources
- Personal statement or essay
- Completion of foundational or core courses
Overall, the requirements for admission need you to submit important documentation of your past academic qualifications. Adding on things like extracurriculars and certificates might enhance your admission application. However, different colleges have different requirements, so you might need to look into it for each specific college.
What can I learn in a legal studies degree?
Before you make up your mind about opting for a degree in legal studies, it is vital to understand what the journey will offer. Academic coursework is vital for shaping you for a successful professional journey, fostering essential skills, and handing you over important knowledge.
In addition to this, a legal studies degree is much broader and covers a range of topics. It is not very much like a law degree, and instead focuses on different aspects of the legal systems. Therefore, it equips students with essential skills in legal research, critical thinking, and communication, preparing them for various legal and policy-related careers.
So, some of the key focus areas and learning objectives in legal studies are:
- Understanding foundations of law with an overview of legal principles, including the history and evolution of legal systems. Moreover, this area covers the role of law in society, explores the distinctions between civil and criminal law, and assesses how legal frameworks shape governance and public policy.
- Teaches students how to get done with legal research, surveying, and data management. Additionally, the degree also covers competencies like drafting legal documents such as case briefs, contracts, and memoranda.
- Lots of learning time is spent on understanding the constitutional laws, its amendments, bill of rights, and more. You may also look into civil laws, property laws, legal proceedings, and court cases of different kinds.
- In legal studies, a lot of focus is on developing important knowledge of ethics and professional responsibility. You learn about areas like attorney-client privilege.
All of the aforementioned concepts and knowledge is provided to students through courses. Typically, college programs in legal studies offer courses divided into broad categories such as introductory courses, electives, specializations, and core or foundational courses.
So, here we provide you a list of courses that are typically included in a legal studies degree:
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What are the specializations within legal studies?
If you really think that pursuing a legal studies degree is your true calling, you must dig deeper into the field and explore the sub-field there are. In a college program, sub-fields are referred to as specializations or concentration areas. Therefore, selecting the right, most appropriate and relevant specialization is essential for ensuring that you follow the right career path.
Moreover, a degree in legal studies provides a broad understanding of law, legal systems, and their impact on society. However, unlike a law degree (J.D.), which prepares students to become practicing attorneys, a legal studies degree is designed for those interested in legal support, compliance, policy, and administration. Therefore, specializing within Legal Studies allows students to tailor their education toward specific career goals.
So, to help your college planning process, here are some common specializations within this field. However, keep in mind that different colleges will be offering a variety of specializations, depending upon resources and other factors.
Paralegal studies
Firstly, a paralegal specialization is one of the most popular ones within legal studies programs. It focuses on developing the skills needed to assist lawyers in legal research, drafting documents, and case preparation. Moreover, with this degree, you may become eligible for working in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies, supporting attorneys with legal analysis, client communication, and trial preparation.
Additionally, you can also explore a standalone paralegal bachelor’s degree!
Criminal justice
Secondly, there is criminal justice specialization. This is ideal for students interested in law enforcement, criminal law, and corrections. Furthermore, the typical coursework within criminal justice specializations covers criminal procedure, forensic evidence, policing strategies, and rehabilitation programs. Moreover, graduates with a CJ specialization can work in roles such as court clerks, probation officers, or legal analysts within law enforcement agencies.
For further career prospects and ideas, you can also explore getting a degree in criminal justice.
Compliance and risk management
Third on our list is compliance and risk management. Firstly, this may not be as common or popular, but can be a unique and rewarding stream to follow. Particularly, this specialization focuses on increasing government regulations in industries like finance, healthcare, and technology, compliance professionals are in high demand. Additionally, this specialization teaches students how to interpret laws and ensure that organizations follow legal requirements. After graduating with a focus in compliance and risk management, you may find work as compliance officers, regulatory analysts, or corporate auditors.
Cyber and digital law
One of the most interesting specializations within legal studies is cyber and digital law. Inevitably, cybercrimes of all sorts are increasing day by day. In fact, they are also becoming more advanced and sophisticated. As a result, this is increasing the demand for young and educated professionals in the cyber law and cybercrime industries. So, this specialization covers topics like intellectual property, cybersecurity regulations, and digital forensics.
You can also learn more about cyber security degrees and explore related fields.
Business and corporate law
There are a lot of young and adult students with a blooming business acumen. However, in the legal field, you can balance your passion for law and business by opting for a business and corporate law specialization. So, for those interested in the legal aspects of business, this specialization provides knowledge in contracts, corporate governance, employment law, and mergers and acquisitions. It also prepares students for roles in corporate compliance, legal consulting, or human resources.
Environmental law and policy
Another recent trend around the globe is an increasing attention and concern for environmental laws, policies, and regulations. So, the environmental law and policy specialization focuses on legal regulations related to environmental protection, sustainability, and natural resources. Students learn about policies that address climate change, pollution control, and land use. With this specialization, you may find work in the private sector as well as government or state-level agencies.
Family and estate law
Lastly, we have on the list family law and estate law. This concentration area is suited for those interested in legal issues related to family relationships, divorce, child custody, and estate planning. So, you will be dealing with issues like inheritance, property law, will assessment, and so on. Additionally, you can explore careers like legal assistants in family law firms, court administration, or estate planning offices.
What is the difference between legal studies and a law degree?
As a young starter, it is very easy to get confused between the overwhelming amount of college majors and undergraduate programs thrown at you. Whether you are a young student or an adult looking for a college education, understanding the differences between different college majors is very important in making the right decisions.
One of the most important questions regarding legal studies is whether it is the same as a law degree. The simple answer is, no, both are extremely different from one another. So, this section of the article will explore the differences between legal studies and a law degree, so that you can make an informed choice and plan your career path accordingly. Here is everything you need to know:
| Legal studies | Law degree |
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Where can I get a legal studies degree from?
So, now we come to the most important section of this guide — the list of colleges. While there are hundreds of renowned and accredited colleges in the USA offering legal studies programs, only a few will meet your criteria. Therefore, it is crucial that you explore a narrowed down and selective list of the best colleges in the USA for legal studies. To help you get started, here is an overview of the best colleges:
| College | Program | Location | Acceptance rate | Key points |
| University of Houston | Legal Studies B.S. | Houston, TX | 83% | Best for transition into higher studies in law
Qualified faculty members from State Bar of Texas |
| Berkeley College | Legal Studies Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) | NY and NJ | 97% | Offers some courses online
Lots of facilitation for career development |
| University of Southern California | Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies | Los Angeles, CA | 12% | Selective admissions and high-standard education
Best private college |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | Online bachelor’s degree in legal studies | Online | 100% | Online flexibility for working students
Self-paced learning |
| Ball State University | Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies | Muncie, IN | 69% | Highly accredited
Approved by American Bar Association Excellent variety of specializations |
Bottom line — Bachelor in legal studies
In summary, legal studies prove to be a smart choice for people who see themselves pursuing a legal career, and a future as an attorney. At the undergraduate level, a bachelor’s degree in legal studies makes the most sense. Additionally, the amazing perks and benefits of a legal studies college major are quite promising, encouraging many young students like yourself to take this path.
Firstly, there is an excellent variety of the top US colleges offering BS and BA programs in legal studies. So, you can find on-campus programs at Ball State University, or get 100% acceptance at online schools like the University of Maryland Global Campus. Moreover, if you have above-average high school grades and standardized test scores, you can also explore the option of private colleges like USC with lower acceptance rates and selective admissions.
In addition to this, there are also good specialization options that further streamline your career trajectory. You can explore a variety of career paths with specializations like paralegal, cyber law, and estate law. Finally, we strongly recommend seeking expert advice from All Bachelor Degrees so you can make a well-informed decision.