Many students who want to go into the legal profession first pursue a paralegal degree or certificate. This is a crucial “first step” that enables entry into a career in law and might enable you to continue working as a paralegal while pursuing a higher degree in legal studies. It also allows you to gain practical experience in the industry and determine whether this is what you should pursue in the future.
Legal studies are, in a nutshell, interdisciplinary programs that focus on theory and society-based analyses of how the law operates. Although they may combine elements and courses from both the legal and liberal arts disciplines, they could be classified as either. The concepts of law, its institutions, and practices are examined by legal studies.
Legal Studies (BA) degree, Faculty Advice Video from drkit.org
What are the types of legal studies degrees?
Both undergraduate and graduate degrees in legal studies are offered. You may earn a bachelors, masters or Ph. D. Depending on the institution, setting, and course offerings in legal studies However, if you decide to major in legal studies, you may decide to concentrate on a particular area of the law. These areas include:
What do you learn in a legal studies degree program?
It’s typical to learn a variety of legal-related professional and academic skills if you decide to pursue a legal studies degree. You can study different types of law, the operation of the legal system, or how law affects social and cultural policy. This degree frequently examines important aspects of the law, such as its background, structure, and potential problems. Political science, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and economics are all subjects that have an influence on the interdisciplinary field of legal studies.
You could use the knowledge you gain from this degree to get a job right away or to continue your education. Additionally, it cultivates a variety of abilities, including communication, writing, and legal research. Students who are interested in earning another degree, like a law degree, may want to think about first studying legal studies.
What are the benefits of a legal studies degree?
People who choose to major in legal studies during college can gain a number of advantages. You might apply these advantages to your future employment depending on your desired career path. Some of these benefits may include:
Career options
After graduation, you might have more career options if you major in legal studies. You can apply your interdisciplinary degree to a wide range of positions because it gives you practical and technical skills. This degree can prepare you for success even if you decide to pursue a career that is unrelated to law or the legal field.
Preparation for law school
Some students who major in legal studies might want to pursue a higher level of legal education. By choosing legal studies, you can equip yourself with a basic knowledge of the law and an understanding of the legal system in order to start law school. Additionally, this major could demonstrate to admissions officers at law schools that you have a passion for the subject and are eager to learn more about it.
Transferrable skills
Your decision to pursue an interdisciplinary degree in, say, legal studies may give you transferrable skills These are abilities that are applicable to numerous jobs or careers. Some of these skills include:
Tips for earning a legal studies degree
If you choose to pursue a degree in legal studies, think about using the advice below:
Research potential specializations
Some colleges and universities offer specializations for degrees. Depending on your interests, you could major in legal studies with a focus in corporate or criminal law. Consider selecting a specialization that can help you get ready for that field of work if you know exactly what career you want to pursue.
Seek a mentor
You might locate a mentor as your academic career develops. Mentors can provide advice about your academic and professional journey. They may help you grow your professional network. After receiving your degree, this can help you with your job search. Look for a mentor who has followed a similar career path as you.
Ask questions
Try to ask several questions because the degree has many options and an interdisciplinary focus. This can assist you in comprehending the choices available to students majoring in legal studies. Positivity can be achieved with professors, academic advisors, and other law students by asking pertinent questions. To make sure you remember the questions you want to ask, you might want to write them down as you think of them.
Job for people with a legal studies degree
Although a degree in legal studies may prepare you to continue your education, there are many careers available to those who hold this degree. Following your studies, you might think about pursuing jobs like:
FAQ
What is the study of legal studies?
The meanings, values, practices, and institutions of law and legality are the subject matter of the interdisciplinary liberal arts major known as legal studies. The Legal Studies curriculum examines how political, economic, and cultural forces both shape and are shaped by the law.
What does legal studies focus on?
Legal terms, procedures, and rules pertaining to individual, national, and international issues are introduced to students in legal studies programs. Law topics like contract and constitutional law, as well as ethics, research, and professional writing, are all available to degree-seekers.
What is the difference between law and legal studies?
You must pass the bar exam in the state where you intend to practice law after receiving your JD. After receiving your bachelor’s degree, legal studies and law diverge. In legal studies, your undergraduate program can be your destination. Your formal education can stop there-not so in law.
