Masters Degree in Law

A master´s degree of law is most commonly sought by foreign attorneys seeking to practice law in the United States. A master´s degree of studies in law is designed to enhance an attorney's understanding of a particular area such as corporate law, tax law or international law. The average student seeking this degree is most often a practicing attorney who may be interested in changing his or her specialty or entering government service in agencies like the state department, the department of foreign affairs, or the IRS.

Masters Degree in Law – Facts

Most applicants for a master´s degree in law have already earned a legal degree such as a Jurist Doctor. Some applicants with bachelor´s degrees may be admitted into masters programs, but it is unusual. The master of laws program is oriented toward foreign lawyers wishing to practice in the U.S. while the master of studies in law is a research-based degree for lawyers who want to expand either their general knowledge or their knowledge in a specific area of law. These programs tend to be designed to meet the specific needs of individual students and take about one year to complete.

Top Schools Offering a Masters Degree in Law

The law schools rated as the top four in the United States are Yale University, Harvard University, Stamford University and Columbia University. Several state universities have ratings in the top 10 including NY University, the University of California at Berkley, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan. Surprisingly, the tuition for master´s degree in law studies at state universities is nearly equal to that of private institutions. The requirements for entry into most of these schools are stringent and only those with strong backgrounds in law are likely to be accepted into a master's program.

Jobs for a Masters Degree in Law

Little information is available about jobs for graduates with this degree. Since most graduates are already practicing attorneys, they may have chosen to continue their education in a particular area of law such a corporate law, international law or constitutional law to enhance their career opportunities. Specialists in international law have career opportunities in government agencies like the state department and the department of foreign affairs. Specialists in corporate law may work for corporations as advisors and as heads of legal departments and those with an education in constitutional law may seek judgeships in the federal courts.

Salary and Outlook in Law

Jobs growth in the field of law is expected to be about the same as the national average for all jobs over the next decade. There is no specific information about jobs for those with master´s degrees in law. Attorneys with specialties in certain fields like corporate law and international law may see greater job growth than attorneys in general law. The field of law has fewer openings due to attrition than many other fields since attorneys and judges have no mandatory retirement age.

The median salary for all lawyers is about $95,000 per year. Lawyers in some specialties earn considerably more than the median and many others earn less. Beyond considerations of geographical location and specialty, the salary for lawyers is affected by the law school they attended, the size of the law firm they work for and other variables. Top law partners in specialties like corporate law may earn over $1,000,000 per year including incentives.

Although the industry is fiercely competitive, there will always be opportunities for an individual well educated in law. When selecting a school, just make sure to perform your research and look at more than one option.