Career Opportunities - On-Campus MSL
USC Gould School of Law

In many fields, the need for legal skills in non-lawyer jobs is growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the demand for professionals with MSL and similar degrees in law will grow by 15% through 2026. As law firms seek to increase efficiency, they are hiring more employees in non-lawyer roles. Large companies are also expanding their in-house legal teams with non-lawyers rather than hiring additional attorneys. In these cases, the advanced knowledge and skills from a non-JD graduate degree (such as a MSL) benefit both the professional and the company.

Having familiarity with our legal system and applicable laws may help you:

• Increase your competitiveness as a job applicant by holding a master's degree in legal studies
• Add value to your current role through greater understanding of how the law intersects with your responsibilities
• Enhance your resume by developing a specialization in compliance, business law, or entertainment law

Possible Career Pathways

The law intersects with every major industry. It is likely that some aspect of your career would be enhanced with a MSL degree. Here are some common examples of in-demand jobs where having additional legal knowledge could help you excel:

• Compliance officer
• IT technician
• Human resources representative
• Business manager
• Contracts and grants officer
• Management consultant
• Insurance representative
• Accountant
• Government official
• Tax/payroll manager
• Courtroom clerk
• Law enforcement officer
• Paralegal
• Media executive
• Healthcare practitioner
• Legal assistant

Note that this not a comprehensive list of jobs that could benefit from a MSL degree.

Pivoting Your Career

Our on campus MSL degree may also open career opportunities by allowing you to pivot your career toward the legal aspects of your field. For example, someone working in the healthcare industry may take courses in health care compliance and regulatory compliance. Individuals working in business could obtain our business law certificate. Another person working in technology could take courses in intellectual property law.

Through our MSL coursework, you will be better equipped to:

• Review and interpret agreements such as contracts
• Understand the regulatory requirements for specific industries
• Work with attorneys and compliance officers

Our MSL program prepares you for a unique range of opportunities that will allow you to reach your professional goals.

Is the on campus MSL Degree Right for You?

In determining whether Gould's on campus MSL degree is right for you, first consider your ultimate career goals. Knowing these goals will help you understand how our MSL courses might help you achieve those goals, and whether the degree will open new opportunities for you.

Our degree is meant to be used to enhance your current skillset, so students who can identify how they plan to use this degree to develop their non-legal careers will be in an excellent position to build coursework tailored to their needs.

Moreover, a degree from a top school such as USC can help open new opportunities in your current profession. Many of our students are able to expand their professional networks simply because they are a member of the Trojan Family, our strong and well-known alumni community.

Ultimately, there are many ways in which the MSL degree might help you shape or recreate your career, and the specific path for how it can help will be up to you. The MSL degree is not intended to train you for a career as an attorney, nor to prepare you for a state bar exam. Our advisors are happy to speak with you to discuss whether the MSL might benefit your career path.

Taking the Next Step

Are you interested in exploring new career opportunities with an on campus MSL degree? Please feel free to contact one of our advisors about our program, our application process and our deadlines.