Prepare yourself for a range of law-related careers.
The Master of Arts in Legal Studies (formerly Legal and Ethical Studies) program provides coursework in law, the legal system, legal research and methods, and the ethical and historical underpinnings of law. It can be used as a stepping stone to law school or to advance in the many law-related careers that do not require a law degree.
Graduates of the program have found jobs working for the courts (as clerks and commissioners), government contractors (in compliance), law firms (as legal assistants and paralegals), nonprofit organizations (as intake managers and legal coordinators), companies (in risk management and human resources), and in a wide variety of other jobs in government and business. Graduates also sometimes use the program to improve their preparation and credentials for law school.
This degree does not lead to a paralegal certification but to a master’s degree, and provides more advanced instruction in legal skills and knowledge.
Classes are offered evenings; some courses are offered online and some are offered in the summer for continuing students.
Got questions?
We've got answers. Watch our Q&A session with Legal Studies program director, Michele Cotton, and Court Navigator Program faculty adviser, Justin Hollimon.
Hear from some of our talented alumni...
Paul rodriguez, M.A. '15
"The faculty by far is the best reason to choose this program. It is extremely rare or even unheard of for a program not run by or through a law school to have practicing and previously practicing attorneys among its faculty. It is like getting a preview of what a legal education actually looks like.
The program ultimately helped me decide to attend law school, and afforded me a chance to create a network of professionals in the legal field with whom I have remained in touch."
James Scott, B.A. '10, M.A. '12
"The Legal Studies program was applicable to my future goals because I wanted to enter the legal job market after graduate school—and to be marketable—and I wanted to position myself to apply to law school in the future. After graduate school, I had the opportunity to gain real-world experience by working in the state and federal court systems and at a couple of public sector law firms. The knowledge and skills I gained from the Legal Studies program allowed me to seamlessly and effectively perform my duties at an advanced level and allowed me to make valuable connections along the way."
Contact Us
Justin Hollimon
program director
email:
jhollimon@ubalt.edu
| phone: 410.837.4060
view Prof. Hollimon's
faculty profile
Toni Martsoukos
managing academic adviser
email:
amartsoukos@ubalt.edu
| phone: 410.837.6298
For more information about graduate admission, please contact the Office of Admission at gradadmission@ubalt.edu, 410.837.6565.