by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 77 U.S. colleges awarded 5,066 degrees and certificates in General Advanced Legal Research/Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 92% of graduates. College Factual ranks 53 schools in its 2027 Best General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $78,306 one year after completing, rising to $107,082 after four years.
A 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.)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general advanced legal research/studies is a popular field of study, with 5,066 degrees awarded annually. 77 colleges award general advanced legal research/studies degrees, an average of 66 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 884.
By level, the 5,066 awards include 129 bachelor’s degrees, 4,650 master’s degrees and 287 doctorates.
Women earned 63% of general advanced legal research/studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,180 of 5,066). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,214) and Hispanic or Latino (453), and international students earned 2,004.
College Factual ranks 53 schools in its 2027 Best General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Schools ranking, including 4 for bachelor’s degrees and 49 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general advanced legal research/studies schools within 10 states. In all, 77 colleges offer general advanced legal research/studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general advanced legal research/studies credential is the master’s degree: 4,650 of the 5,066 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general advanced legal research/studies call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Law and Government, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general advanced legal research/studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 129 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,650 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 287 |
First professional degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general advanced legal research/studies, at 43.2%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to General Advanced Legal Research/Studies, with an average median salary of $82,454; the strongest outlook belongs to Lawyers, at 2.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include U.S. Law Instructor (United States Law Instructor), Torts Law Professor, Instructor and Labor Law Professor.
The occupation related to general advanced legal research/studies with the most projected jobs is Law Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,017,747.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
General Advanced Legal Research/Studies graduates earn a median $78,306 one year after completing their program, $107,082 after four years and $107,285 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,306 |
| 4 years | $107,082 |
| 5 years | $107,285 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to general advanced legal research/studies, with a median salary of $91,726.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
General Advanced Legal Research/Studies has 19 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 7,112 degrees a year; the largest are Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other (1,551), Programs for Foreign Lawyers (1,380) and American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence (959). Browse all Legal Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
