by our College Data Analytics TeamDo you love the lively exchange of a good debate? Can you successfully navigate the complex laws that govern our society? If you have it in your heart to become a lawyer, you may want to choose a major in General Legal Studies.
This major prepares you to practice law independently, take the state and national bar examinations, and complete advanced research. The main reason for choosing this major or certificate program is to help you get into law school. You will refine your thinking, reading, writing, and communication skills which will help your ability to reason. This program is most offered as a certificate program that will help prepare you for law school. This can be successfully paired with a major in English, Political Science or History.
You will take courses in theory and practice of the legal system. You will learn about statutory and administrative components of both civil and criminal law. Law schools look for candidates with a broad education. In addition to classes on logic, advanced writing, constitutional law, political science and social science, you will also learn history, philosophy, math, and science.
A degree in Non-Professional General Legal Studies covers Non-Professional Legal Studies. Read on to learn the key facts every non-professional general legal studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering non-professional general legal studies programs.
Across the country, non-professional general legal studies is a popular field of study, with 4,796 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 232 schools to determine the best overall colleges for non-professional general legal studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of non-professional general legal studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Non-Professional General Legal Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations non-professional general legal studies graduates commonly enter.
Critical thinking and the ability to reason are the most important skills to have as a pre-law student. It is absolutely necessary to be a strong reader and writer. Excellent communication skills will help you prepare convincing arguments to persuade a judge and jury. Students who have confident and outgoing personalities tend to do well in this field.
You should be a careful thinker who can creatively see ways to get out of tricky situations. This will help show your strong analytical and problem solving skills. It is also important to work hard and be prepared for an intense schedule. You will be juggling difficult classes while studying rigorously in order to keep your GPA(grade point average) high. Most programs will suggest you intern in a law office or legal rights organization. It is also important to join and be involved in student government.
Skills built by a non-professional general legal studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a non-professional general legal studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several non-professional general legal studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 86 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 458 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,253 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 992 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to non-professional general legal studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 20.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 18.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in non-professional general legal studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
This major or certificate program prepares you to get into law school. Upon graduating law school and passing the bar examination you will be able to become a professional lawyer, a judge, a prosecutor, or acquire some other law-related position.
A degree in non-professional general legal studies prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to non-professional general legal studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to non-professional general legal studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | 197,456 | -0.5% |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 60,495 | 4.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of non-professional general legal studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $41,185 |
| 4 years | $51,677 |
| 5 years | $63,687 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for non-professional general legal studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers non-professional general legal studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $134,350 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $80,735 |
With 232 different non-professional general legal studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased non-professional general legal studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in non-professional general legal studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 4,068 |
| Pre-Law Studies | 723 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies, Other | 5 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Law | 39,447 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 11,533 |
| Legal Support Services | 10,492 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 2,487 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
