Legal Research and Professional Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for individuals seeking advanced expertise in legal analysis and professional practice, this program equips learners with the analytical, research, and communication skills essential for success in legal and regulatory environments. It emphasizes rigorous inquiry into legal systems, procedural frameworks, and professional ethics, preparing graduates for dynamic roles across legal, governmental, and corporate sectors.
- Legal Research Methodology: Mastery of systematic approaches to locating, interpreting, and applying legal sources, including statutes, case law, and administrative regulations.
- Case Analysis and Briefing: Development of skills in dissecting judicial decisions, identifying legal issues, and constructing concise, persuasive legal briefs.
- Legal Writing and Documentation: Refinement of precise, formal writing techniques used in contracts, motions, opinions, and other professional legal documents.
- Professional Ethics and Conduct: Exploration of ethical standards governing legal professionals, including confidentiality, conflict of interest, and client representation.
- Regulatory Compliance Frameworks: Study of federal, state, and local regulations that influence organizational operations and legal accountability.
- Advanced Information Retrieval Systems: Proficiency in using digital legal databases, court records, and AI-assisted research tools for efficient and accurate legal information access.
Legal Research and Professional Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Legal Research and Professional Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Legal Research and Professional Studies degrees, including Lawyers and Law Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 770,550 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyers 23-1011 | $151,160 | $72,780 - $239,200 | 747,750 | $72.67 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1112 | $126,650 | $58,330 - $239,200 | 22,800 | N/A |
Legal Research and Professional Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $79,245 in Mississippi to $172,710 in Delaware—a 118% difference. The highest-paying states include Delaware, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 770,550 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Legal Research and Professional Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 42 institutions offering Legal Research and Professional Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Legal Research and Professional Studies is found at Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (87 graduates), University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman Campus (86 graduates), Fordham University (85 graduates), Washington University in St Louis (WashU) (81 graduates), and University of Chicago (UChicago) (78 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,204 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
87 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
86 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
|
85 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
81 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Master's
|
78 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Master's
|
76 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Master's
|
75 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
48 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Temple University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
45 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
37 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
33 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| St. Thomas University (STU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Miami Gardens, Florida | Private | stu.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
30 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
29 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
|
28 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
|
28 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Lewis & Clark College |
Master's
|
27 | Portland, Oregon | Private | lclark.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
|
25 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
24 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
23 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
|
22 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
21 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Duke University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
21 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Albany Law School |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Albany, New York | Private | albanylaw.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
12 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Master's
|
11 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| National Paralegal College (NPC) |
Master's
|
11 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | nationalparalegal.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
|
10 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Thomas M Cooley Law School |
Master's
|
7 | Lansing, Michigan | Private | cooley.edu |
| Samford University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
5 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Master's
|
5 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| George Mason University |
Master's
|
2 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Little Priest Tribal College (LPTC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Winnebago, Nebraska | Public | littlepriest.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Santa Clara University (SCU) |
Master's
|
1 | Santa Clara, California | Private | scu.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Yeshiva University (YU) |
Master's
|
1 | New York, New York | Private | yu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Legal Research and Professional Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Legal Research and Professional Studies degree?
Salaries for Legal Research and Professional Studies graduates vary by role and location. Lawyers earn a median of $151,160 annually, while Law Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $126,650. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Delaware average $172,710 compared to $79,245 in Mississippi. Approximately 770,550 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Legal Research and Professional Studies programs?
Currently 42 accredited institutions offer Legal Research and Professional Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (87 graduates), University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman Campus (86 graduates), and Fordham University (85 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Legal Research and Professional Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 798 in 2010 to 1,204 in 2023-24. This represents a 51% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Legal Research and Professional Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Lawyers, Law Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 770,550 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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