← All degrees
Bachelor'sLegal

Legal Studies

Bachelor's degree pathway in Legal Studies for career exploration, job matching, certifications, and graduate degree planning.

Career paths
5
Salary range
$34K–$95K
Certifications
6
Master's options
5
Career advancement roadmap

Your path to the next level

A milestone-by-milestone view of how to grow from here.

  1. Current role
    Junior Legislative Assistant
    Entry
  2. Recommended certification
    Paralegal Certificate
    Professional
  3. Recommended master's
    MBA
    Business
  4. Next career level
    Director of Emergency Management Specialist
    Public Service
  5. Future salary potential
    $95K potential
    Top of range across mapped roles
Overview

Jobs you can pursue

Career ladder

Where each path leads

Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Emergency Management Specialist
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Emergency Management Specialist
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Emergency Management Specialist
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Nonprofit Program Manager
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Nonprofit Program Manager
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Nonprofit Program Manager
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Public Administration Analyst
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Public Administration Analyst
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Public Administration Analyst
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Grant Writer
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Grant Writer
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Grant Writer
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Compliance Specialist
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Compliance Specialist
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Compliance Specialist
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Urban Planner
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Urban Planner
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Urban Planner
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Risk and Compliance Manager
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Risk and Compliance Manager
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Risk and Compliance Manager
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Probation Officer
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Probation Officer
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Probation Officer
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Legal Assistant
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Legal Assistant
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Legal Assistant
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Legislative Assistant
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Legislative Assistant
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Legislative Assistant
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Compliance Officer
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Compliance Officer
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Compliance Officer
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Privacy Analyst
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Privacy Analyst
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Privacy Analyst
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Regulatory Compliance Analyst
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Regulatory Compliance Analyst
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Regulatory Compliance Analyst
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Contract Analyst
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Contract Analyst
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Contract Analyst
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Public Affairs Specialist
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Public Affairs Specialist
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Public Affairs Specialist
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Program Analyst
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Program Analyst
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Program Analyst
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Social Services Coordinator
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Social Services Coordinator
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Social Services Coordinator
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Case Manager
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Case Manager
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Case Manager
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Policy Analyst
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Policy Analyst
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Policy Analyst
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Claims Analyst
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Claims Analyst
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Claims Analyst
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Paralegal
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Paralegal
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Paralegal
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Legal Operations Specialist
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Legal Operations Specialist
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Legal Operations Specialist
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Community Outreach Coordinator
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Community Outreach Coordinator
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Community Outreach Coordinator
    Senior8-15+ years
Public Service
  1. 1
    Associate Government Relations Specialist
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Government Relations Specialist
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Government Relations Specialist
    Senior8-15+ years
Legal
  1. 1
    Associate Policy Associate
    Entry0-2 years
  2. 2
    Policy Associate
    Mid3-7 years
  3. 3
    Director of Policy Associate
    Senior8-15+ years
Salary range

What you can realistically earn

Entry / low
$34K
Average mid
$64K
Top of range
$95K
$34K$95K

Range aggregated across 5 roles mapped to this degree.

Certifications

Credentials worth earning

Professional
High
Paralegal Certificate
Professional
Professional
High
Certified Public Manager
Professional
Professional
High
Grant Writing Certification
Professional
Professional
High
Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional
Professional
Professional
Medium
Privacy Professional Certification
Professional
Professional
Medium
NIMS Certification
Professional
Master's degrees

Graduate paths to consider

Business
High
MBA
Graduate Degree
High
Master of Public Policy
Graduate Degree
High
Master of Public Administration
Graduate Degree
High
Master of Urban Planning
Graduate Degree
Medium
Master of Legal Studies

Affiliate disclosure: Some links to certifications and graduate programs on this page may be affiliate or sponsored links. If you sign up through them, Degree Decoder may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This never influences which programs we surface — recommendations are based on educational and career relevance only.