At some point in their professional journeys, many mid-career adults face a common obstacle: the lack of a completed bachelor’s degree. Whether you’ve been working in a legal-adjacent field like compliance, contracts, or risk management, or you’re looking to pivot into a new career altogether, earning an online Legal Studies degree could be the credential that opens doors.
Legal knowledge is in high demand across many industries. In fact, compliance management—one of the many careers an online Legal Studies degree can help prepare you for—is expected to see more than 106,000 new job openings every year through 2034.1
Whatever career you’re interested in, a Legal Studies degree is designed for individuals who want to understand the laws, systems, and structures that influence their work every day. If you’re a working adult seeking greater mobility or new opportunities, this program offers a flexible, career-aligned path forward.
Why Legal Studies Makes Sense Mid-Career
A bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies is particularly valuable for professionals who have built substantial work experience but never completed their undergraduate education. In many fields, advancing into supervisory or managerial roles now requires a degree, even when your performance and tenure are strong.
A Legal Studies degree builds on your existing experience by helping you:
- Strengthen your legal research and writing skills
- Learn how to interpret laws and apply them in business or government contexts
- Communicate more effectively in regulated environments
- Understand compliance frameworks, administrative procedures, and ethical standards
This makes the program especially relevant to people in fields like human resources, healthcare, finance, real estate, or public service—industries where legal knowledge is increasingly important.
The flexibility of an online Legal Studies degree allows you to build this knowledge without pausing your current career.
Focus Your Studies on Relevant Legal Topics
One of the benefits of Legal Studies is its breadth. You’ll gain foundational knowledge across several key legal areas, allowing you to apply your degree in multiple directions depending on your professional interests.
Here are common types of law studies included in most Legal Studies programs:
Business and Commercial Law
Covers contracts, liability, business structures, and corporate governance. Professionals in operations, procurement, or management will find these courses especially relevant.
Employment and Labor Law
Focuses on workplace regulations, employee rights, hiring practices, and dispute resolution. This area benefits HR professionals and team leaders navigating workplace policies.
Health Law
Explores legal frameworks related to patient privacy, institutional responsibility, and healthcare compliance—relevant for those in healthcare administration or policy.
Administrative and Government Law
Examines how government agencies operate, including rulemaking, enforcement, and oversight. Public sector employees or nonprofit managers often find value in this content.
Criminal and Constitutional Law
Provides insight into the justice system, civil liberties, and government powers. Useful for professionals interested in advocacy, public policy, or legal support work.
Exposure to these types of law studies equips you to make informed decisions, contribute to compliance efforts, and lead initiatives that align with legal and ethical standards in your workplace.
Legal Professions You Can Pursue Without Becoming a Lawyer
While a Legal Studies degree doesn’t qualify you to practice law, it does prepare you for a wide range of meaningful roles that require legal understanding. Many mid-career professionals pursue the degree to transition into a new field or to become eligible for advancement within their current organization.
Here are some professions you can consider with a Legal Studies degree:
Compliance Analyst or Manager
Ensure organizations meet industry regulations and legal requirements, especially in healthcare, finance, or higher education. This is a high-growth field with faster-than-average job growth.1 The median salary for compliance management professionals is more than $136,000 per year.1
Contract Administrator or Administrative Services Manager
Draft, review, and manage contracts to protect business interests and ensure clear terms of service or employment.
Demand for these and similar positions continues to grow with more 18,000 new jobs expected to be added through 2034.2 The median salary for administrative services managers is more than $106,000 per year.2
Policy Analyst
Research, interpret, and help shape public or organizational policy, often in government or nonprofit settings.
Risk Management Officer
Assess legal exposure, develop mitigation strategies, and advise leadership on potential liabilities. The field of management analysis, including risk management officers, is growing quickly, with about 95,000 new positions expected to be added through 2034.3 The field can be quite lucrative—the median annual salary is more than $101,000.3
Legal Project Manager
Lead initiatives in legal departments or law firms, coordinating timelines, resources, and deliverables. Project management specialists are in high demand, and not only in the legal field. Through 2034, the field is expected to add more than 58,000 new positions at a median annual salary exceeding $100,000.4
Court or Legal Office Administrator
These professionals, including paralegals and legal assistants, work in courts, government agencies, law offices, and other similar settings. They use their skills and knowledge to take on a wide range of responsibilities, including managing workflows, personnel, and legal documentation. The median salary for these positions is more than $61,000 per year.5
Regulatory Affairs Coordinator
Monitor changes in laws and regulations, prepare filings, and serve as a liaison between companies and regulators. Similar to compliance management, regulatory affairs is a high-growth field. The field is growing faster than average with over 100,000 job openings projected through 2034 at a median annual salary of more than $136,000.6
These roles often combine legal knowledge with practical experience—making mid-career professionals with a completed bachelor’s degree particularly strong candidates.
How an Online Legal Studies Degree Supports Working Adults
One of the main reasons mid-career professionals hesitate to return to school is time. Between full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and personal obligations, traditional on-campus programs often feel out of reach. That’s where online learning comes in.
An online Legal Studies degree is built for flexibility:
- 100% Online: Access course materials, lectures, and assignments from anywhere, anytime.
- Asynchronous Learning: Most courses do not require live attendance, allowing you to complete your work around your schedule.
- Optional Synchronous Components: Some programs may offer live discussions or faculty Q&A sessions for those who want real-time engagement.
- Self-Paced Progress: Choose part-time or full-time enrollment depending on your availability and how quickly you want to complete your degree.
- Real-World Application: Many assignments and case studies are tied directly to current events or industry trends, making your coursework relevant to your day-to-day job.
Online learning empowers working adults to move forward in their education without sacrificing their careers or family commitments.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
An online Legal Studies degree is especially well-suited for adults with real-world experience who are ready to take the next step in their careers. Whether you’re seeking advancement, planning a career change, or looking to complete a degree you started years ago, this program offers the flexibility and relevance to meet your goals.
You might be a great candidate for a Legal Studies degree if:
- You’ve been working for years, but you never finished your bachelor’s
- You’re ready to pivot into a legal, compliance, or policy-related role
- You currently work in a legal support role and want to move up
- You want to strengthen your qualifications for leadership or administrative positions
- You’re passionate about the legal system and want to apply that knowledge in a non-attorney role
A Legal Studies degree helps translate real-world experience into formal credentials and can open doors to careers that combine law, policy, and leadership.
Take the Next Step Toward Your Online Legal Studies Degree
Completing your bachelor’s degree doesn’t have to mean putting your life on hold. An online Legal Studies degree gives you the flexibility to grow professionally while honoring the commitments you already have.
If you’re ready to take that next step, Stevenson University Online (SUO) offers a fully online, ABA-approved Legal Studies program designed specifically for working adults. With flexible course formats, a real-world curriculum, and supportive faculty, SUO helps professionals complete their degrees and advance their careers.
Request more information about SUO and discover how this degree can move your career forward.
References
- O*NET OnLine (2025, August). Compliance Managers. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9199.02
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2025, August). Administrative Services and Facilities Managers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2025, August). Management Analysts. Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/management-analysts.htm
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2025, August). Project Management Specialists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/project-management-specialists.htm
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2025, August). Paralegals and Legal Assistants. Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm
- O*NET OnLine (2025, August). Regulatory Affairs Managers. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9199.01