Education

Administrators and teachers need to possess a solid understanding of the law to keep up with shifts in legislation and changes in curriculum. Through the online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program, you will gain expertise in topics such as education law, regulatory compliance, and administrative law. By developing your legal understanding of these topics, you will be better equipped to communicate with fellow educators, ensure students with disabilities are properly educated, and understand the academic impact of new curricula.

Career paths in education that you can pursue with our Master of Legal Studies degree include:

Administrators manage schools, universities, and academic institutions, making sure they run efficiently. An MLS will provide you with the legal skills you need to make better decisions for your academic community, whether you are hiring and supervising staff, managing department budgets, advocating for students, or implementing new curricula. Courses such as Education Law, Employment Law, and Contracts will be particularly beneficial when overseeing your academic institution.

Principals are the primary leaders in a school. They provide strategic direction, develop standardized curricula, administer a budget, handle emerging issues, and speak with the public about school performance. An MLS program features courses such as Education Law, Employment Law, and Contracts, which can provide principals with the legal background needed to better evaluate staff, make public statements, and revise policies and procedures.

Superintendents serve as the point person for all school district matters. They oversee operations, supervise principals and district staff, lobby for additional resources, manage fiscal operations, and work closely with the Department of Education. An MLS empowers superintendents with the negotiation skills and legal knowledge needed to lobby for more funding, work with legislators and taxpayers, and make district-wide decisions that are compliant with state law.

Teachers need to thoroughly understand the topics they are presenting to effectively communicate with their students. With an MLS, you will bring more advanced legal concepts into your classroom when educating students on topics such as civil rights, intellectual property, and the US legal system. In addition, if you earn a Master of Legal Studies, you can teach at the collegiate level.