by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Advanced Legal Research/Studies involves the study of Advanced Legal Research/studies, General. An Integrated Or Undifferentiated Program In One Or More Of The Legal Research Or Advanced Practice Fields. Examples: [Advanced Legal Research/studies, General (Ll.m., M.c.l., M.l.i., M.s.l.)], [Advanced Legal Research/studies, General (J.s.d./s.j.d.)]. Read on to learn the important information every general advanced legal research/studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general advanced legal research/studies programs.
Nationwide, general advanced legal research/studies is a popular field of study, with 4,628 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 75 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general advanced legal research/studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general advanced legal research/studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Advanced Legal Research/Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general advanced legal research/studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a general advanced legal research/studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general advanced legal research/studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general advanced legal research/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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 94 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,224 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 310 |
People currently working in careers related to general advanced legal research/studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| First professional degree | 43.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general advanced legal research/studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general advanced legal research/studies prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to general advanced legal research/studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general advanced legal research/studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general advanced legal research/studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,306 |
| 4 years | $93,383 |
| 5 years | $107,509 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general advanced legal research/studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general advanced legal research/studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
With 75 different general advanced legal research/studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general advanced legal research/studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general advanced legal research/studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
