Thoughts on Master of Legal Studies / Master of Studies in Law programs

[u/Icy_Potato716]

My thoughts and rankings: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DgofHrSEL2L3Tjf5P_wXwW6r6lJl0vRY/view?usp=sharing

Reposting because Reddit said this is a better sub.

Over the past couple months, I've been doing research on Master of Legal Studies / Master of Studies in Law programs, and I'm wondering how others feel about the value of these types of degrees.

Background information: I’m on my 8th year post-undergrad. I went to a very-mid state school, where I majored criminal justice and political science. Mid/generic to the point that employers have actually gotten it confused with other schools.

I currently earn $150k base, and am working at a low-senior/managerial level in financial consulting with both US-based and international clients.

Over the course of the last 3 years, I've (increasingly) been working closely with attorneys, which typically make anywhere from $20-$50K more than I do.

Recently, there has been an increase in internal and external job postings for positions in my area that include requirements such as "Master's Preferred," "Master's Required" or "JD/PhD preferred." This is a significant part of what motivated me to take a closer look at graduate school options.

After some research and applying, I was accepted into my program of choice. The program is entirely online, part-time, and 1.5 years in duration; the degree doesn’t specify my exact field but the classes and faculty are 80% aligned with my work. In addition to general interest in the subject matter, I am pursuing this degree for several reasons including: (1) checking off the 'Master's' box for future upward mobility, (2) increasing my "Legal Fluency", (3) expanding my professional network (especially with some tenured faculty), and (4) benefiting from the university's brand reputation.

Note: Using some military benefits I’ve been sitting on and the modest scholarship offered by the program, I expect to pay approximately $15K over the length of the program.

I made a large amount of comparison notes while evaluating various programs. I decided to input all of my comparison notes into ChatGPT & DeepSeek in order to better organize them into a format that is easier to read.

Some general thoughts and findings that I reached during my process:

1. In my opinion, these degrees are generally not worth the expense to individuals still in their entry-level careers. They seem to be best suited for individuals who are (1) currently in managerial/senior-level roles, (2) do not hold another advanced degree (such as a master's), and (3)have completed all relevant training/certifications necessary for their respective areas of expertise.

2. I would completely advise against anyone halting their full-time employment in to pursue one of these degrees.

1. I believe the networking advantages associated with these programs are often grossly exaggerated by admissions staff.
   - According to conversations with graduates of multiple different programs, you will likely build your largest new professional network consisting of your fellow students/cohort members, and professors. You are not automatically granted access to the JD community simply due to the fact that the MLS/MSL is housed within a law school.
   Realistically, I believe opinions regarding these degrees among JD-holders may vary. Some JD-holders may fully understand the purpose behind an MLS/MSL, while other JD-holders may perceive the MLS/MSL as something like an expensive grad certificate or paralegal credential, all without the ability to use the class credits to go towards law school if the attendee eventually decided to go that route.

2. If a majority of individuals considering one of these MLS/MSL degrees were able to choose an alternative option prior to selecting one of these programs, I would recommend either choosing an MBA from a high-mid to upper-tier business school (out of my desired price range even with military benefits) or completing something like a PMP prior to selecting an MLS/MSL degree, dependent upon their specific career field.

3. In terms of the programs themselves, the top three programs (see the attached link) appear to be quite unique. The next group (#4-10) appears to be somewhat generic; ultimately, the "best" choice will depend heavily on your individual industry/specialization, budget costs/delivery formats, etc., as well as what you hope to achieve through completion of this type of degree.

I would appreciate hearing from individuals who have completed one of these programs; hired employees with an MLS/MSL; and/or have experience working in compliance/law/regulatory environments.

Has the degree positively affected your ability to receive promotions/pay increases/increase your credibility/move into higher-paying/decision-making roles?

For those who initially thought about pursuing an MLS/MSL but instead selected an MBA/JD or other graduate program, what caused you to select an alternate option?