Business

Today’s businesses need legal support to keep up with ever-changing laws and regulations that affect the way they do business. As a student in our MLS program, you can select our business specialization to learn how to effectively interpret contracts, participate in negotiations, and assess transactions to ensure compliance with the law. Business professionals with an MLS can be a great asset to their organization, helping to make better, more informed decisions resulting in a more successful organization.

Careers in business that you can pursue with a Master of Legal Studies degree include:

Business Executive

An MLS degree can help business executives better understand legal terminology and regulations that affect the contracts and transactions of their business. You will learn about laws that impact various types of business entities, from sole proprietorships to large publicly held corporations, helping you to make more effective business decisions and ensure compliance within your organization.

  • The mean annual wage for chief executives was $193,850 in May 2019.1
  • The job outlook for top executives is projected to grow 6 percent from 2018 to 2028.2

Consultant

An MLS degree gives consultants the background in legal regulations and contracts they need to make recommendations in a variety of situations. The curriculum will provide a thorough understanding of business law, ethics, and transactions that will make consultants better suited to advise their clients.

  • The mean annual wage for management analysts was $95,560 in May 2019.3
  • The job outlook for management analysts is projected to grow 14 percent from 2018 to 2028.4

Financial Corporate Compliance & Compliance Officer

Through the MLS program, you will learn the key elements of effective banking and financial compliance, including drafting and implementing compliance policies and procedures. Upon completing the program, you will know how to audit, monitor, detect, and remediate compliance failures. You will also gain the practical legal skills that are essential to effective compliance programs.

  • The mean annual wage for financial examiners was $92,330 in May 2019.5
  • The mean annual wage for compliance officers was $72,850.6
  • The job outlook for financial examiners is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028.7

Accountant & Auditor

For accountants, an MLS degree will help you keep up with changing financial laws and regulations. The curriculum provides a thorough explanation of the financial accounting cycle, accounting policies, and how law directly affects accountants and auditors.

  • The mean annual wage for accountants and auditors was $79,520 in May 2019.8
  • The job outlook for accountants and auditors is projected to grow 6 percent from 2018 to 2028.9

Insurance Agent

An MLS degree can give professionals in the insurance industry a competitive edge. Being savvy about laws and regulations can help with job responsibilities, including dealing with insurance claims or insurance coverage issues, defending disputes, and working in claims management.

  • The mean annual wage for insurance sales agents was $67,780 in May 2019.10
  • The job outlook for insurance sales agents is projected to grow 10 percent from 2018 to 2028.11

Real Estate Agent

A core job responsibility of a real estate agent is drawing up contracts for the purchase and lease of homes. An MLS degree can give real estate agents the knowledge they need to ensure compliance with contracts, and can also help an agent explain legal issues to clients during the homebuying process.

  • The mean annual wage for real estate sales agents was $62,060 in May 2019.12
  • The job outlook for real estate brokers and sales agents is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028.13

Entrepreneur

With an MLS degree, entrepreneurs will build knowledge in areas crucial to investing in or building a new business, such as negotiations, contracts, and financial compliance. With a better understanding of how the law and business intersect, you will be prepared to solve legal challenges that may arise and prevent risk for your business.

MLS courses relevant to business jobs

Prepare for the Next Phase of Your Career

Learn more about how an MLS can help you advance as a business professional. Explore the online Master of Legal Studies program at American University Washington College of Law today.

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The included data is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is not directly associated with American University’s online MLS degree. It also does not take into account unpredictable changes to job outlook due to the economy.

  • Salary statistics are the mean annual wage found by the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics survey.
  • Job outlook statistics are the projected employment change from 2018 to 2028. For reference, the average growth rate for all occupations in 5 percent.

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chief Executives, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, Top Executives, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
3Bureau of Labor Statistics, Management Analysts, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
4Bureau of Labor Statistics, Management Analysts Outlook, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
5Bureau of Labor Statistics, Financial Examiners, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
6Bureau of Labor Statistics, Compliance Officers, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
7Bureau of Labor Statistics, Financial Examiners Outlook, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
8Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accountants and Auditors, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
9Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accountants and Auditors Outlook, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
10Bureau of Labor Statistics, Insurance Sales Agents, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
11Bureau of Labor Statistics, Insurance Sales Agents Outlook, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
12Bureau of Labor Statistics, Real Estate Sales Agents, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
13Bureau of Labor Statistics, Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents Outlook, Accessed June 2020arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference