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Online Bachelor Degrees

The 20 Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Legal Studies for 2023

An online Bachelor’s in Legal Studies degree consists typically of various topics in criminal justice, political science, anthropology, law, and sociology. Legal Studies is a field of study that is highly ideal for students who would like to pursue careers related to criminal justice, jurisprudence or law enforcement, and law.

This discipline enables students to search for modern patterns and concerns in the justice system along with the historical impact of legal decisions and the law. Some online Legal studies programs can be completed through a capstone course or internship.

An online Bachelor’s in Legal Studies program is designed for students who want to work in the legal field but may have closely related career choices in mind. Students who hold jobs in this field may also major in Legal Studies to either obtain advanced skills or pursue graduate studies. Some may also decide to pursue law or political science tracks.


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bachelor legal studies

Several Legal Studies programs are offered in universities and colleges as a flexible option, making them attractive to adult students and distance learners.

A completely online Legal Studies degree program allows students to take courses at their own convenient pace and complete the coursework with the least disruption to their current job and other obligations.

A Bachelor’s in Legal Studies degree program gives you the legal knowledge and skills to have a successful career and advance in the law profession. Students who complete this degree usually pursue careers in law, including paralegals, legal secretaries, and law office managers. You will gain an understanding of the different aspects of the law and the legal system, learn to conduct legal research and interpret statutes, and develop the skills needed to become a successful professional in the legal field.

The degree also serves as a great foundation for those considering advanced degree programs in law, such as a JD or Master of Laws.

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METHODOLOGY

Our Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Legal Studies made it to the list because of their outstanding program features. Rigorous coursework, a comprehensive gamut of courses, and quality of online instruction characterize the online programs being offered by the universities and colleges.

Displayed in random order, our list details the course options that develop and enhance each student’s skills so they can demonstrate proficiency in all aspects of the discipline. It also talks about the career opportunities that await students earning an online Bachelor of Legal Studies degree based on their concentration or specialization.

Because the online Bachelor of Legal Studies programs are delivered online, our list highlights the online learning platforms utilized. The online resources and the ease of access they offer making them the ideal choice for adult learners.

Other important factors may be crucial to your school selections as well, such as:

  • 100% Online or Hybrid distance learning format for added convenience and flexibility,
  • Offers fast-paced track of study, where applicable,
  • Ease of credit transfers,
  • Affordable tuition rates; providing financial aid options,
  • Adheres to proper accreditation guidelines,
  • Designed to offer students the opportunity to learn about the legal, political, and economic systems of today, as well as, the criminal justice system,
  • Teaches the foundations of Legal Studies while honing reasoning, communication, problem-solving, writing, and critical-thinking skills,
  • Prepares students for entry-level support careers within the field of Legal Studies, as well as, for professional law degree programs,
  • Instructed by experienced faculty members, along with, paralegal professionals, attorneys, and judges,
  • Includes instruction on today’s most innovative technology used in research and investigations,
  • May require an internship for practical experience.

To learn more, please see our Methodology page!

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Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Legal Studies

Liberty University

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

Online Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies

Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia features an online Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies degree program. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The online Paralegal Studies program places a strong emphasis on the ethical interpretation of the law from the biblical viewpoint.

The 120-credit coursework includes topics like:

  • criminal law,
  • constitutional law,
  • judicial process,
  • jurisprudence,
  • and persuasive argumentation.

Degree completion is three and a half years, and classes are delivered on eight-week terms. To earn this degree, students are required to complete at least 15 hours of core courses, 33 hours of concentration courses, and 39 to 42 credit hours of general education courses.

Students may also use the online resources provided by the university such as webinars, tutorials, an online writing center, and the Liberty Landing, an online student community. Tuition is $390 per credit hour.

Learn more about Liberty University’s Online Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies.

University of Maryland Global Campus

Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies B.S. Online Degre

Situated in Adelphi, Maryland, the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) features an online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree program. It aims to prepare students through the delivery of conceptual knowledge and skills to efficiently research in legal settings, conduct analysis and assessment, and draft legal documents.

Upon graduation from this degree program, students should be able to comprehend concepts of the legal system, perform legal research, comprehend legal methods, and apply critical thinking to legal cases. The program needs 33 credit hours for major coursework.

It is expected that 17 credit hours should be completed in the upper division courses, and 46 credit hours are for electives. Online courses involve:

  • Techniques of Legal Research,
  • Advanced Legal Writing,
  • Criminal Law and Procedures,
  • and Contract Law.

For Maryland residents, the tuition is $312 per credit hour, while non-residents’ tuition is $499 per credit hour. The university is also accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Berkeley College

Berkeley College

Bachelor of Science Online in Legal Studies

Berkeley College in New York offers an online Bachelor of Science Online in Legal Studies degree program. Possible careers include corrections officers, court reporters, and criminal justice professors. The 120-credit curriculum has a total of 40 classes.

Distance learners can complete courses like:

  • introduction to justice studies;
  • humanities,
  • arts and design,
  • global awareness,
  • and effective writing on public issues.

Tuition is $890 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

California University of Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania

Online Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence with emphasis on Legal Studies

Situated in California, Pennsylvania, the California University of Pennsylvania offers a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence with emphasis on Legal Studies degree program. The program aims to prepare graduates for jobs such as court support personnel, law enforcement professional, and paralegal.

Graduates have the opportunity to explore careers in real estate and business, or they may pursue law school. Courses include:

  • Constitutional Law for Paralegals,
  • Classical Jurisprudence,
  • Litigation and Trial Evidence,
  • and Criminal Law for Paralegals.

Tuition is $322 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Commission of Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida

Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Online

The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida features an online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Online degree programs. The program has a goal of preparing students who are planning to take the national paralegal certification exam or pursue the Florida Bar Registered Paralegal designation.

Graduates pursue careers in the area of contract specialization, community service analysis, and court reporting. The 120-credit coursework includes courses such as:

  • Professional Ethics and Liability,
  • Law and the Legal System,
  • Property and Real Estate Law,
  • and Civil Practice and Procedure.

Florida residents pay a tuition of $212 per credit hour, while non-residents’ tuition is $384 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

American Public University

american public university

Online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Degree Program

Located in Charles Town, New York, the American Public University features an online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree program. This is designed for working adults in preparation for law school. The online program is highly recommended for those who would like to pursue careers as investigators, legal researchers, and paralegals.

In terms of online coursework, students may connect with students for topics in case law, research, foundations of the law, and legal writing and conduct significant discussions on the legal system.

Classes are typically held every month and last for 8 to 16 weeks. Courses namely are:

  • Introduction to the Courts,
  • Civil Practice and Procedure,
  • Administrative Law and Policy,
  • and Constitutional Law.

Tuition is $285 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Bellevue University

Bellevue University

Bachelor of Science Online in Legal Studies

Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, Bellevue University features an online Bachelor of Science Online in Legal Studies program that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical experience. This degree program has the goal of educating students to develop critical thinking, comprehension of legal principles, and practical application of the ethical tenets as mandated by law.

The entire degree program is cohort-based and encourages students to engage in communities that share their objectives. Courses include:

  • American Criminal and Civil Legal Systems,
  • Professional Responsibility and Ethics in Law,
  • the U.S. Legal System,
  • the Judicial Process,
  • and Constitutional Law, Liberty, and Emerging Policy.

Online lecturers are politicians, lawyers, federal judges, legislators, and corporate executives. Tuition is $315 per credit hour.

Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission through the Department of Education.

Abraham Lincoln University

Abraham Lincoln University

Online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Degree Program

Abraham Lincoln University in Los Angeles, California features an online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree program. Graduates have the opportunity to pursue careers as paralegals or enter law school.

The comprehensive legal program coursework develops student learning, particularly in the areas of:

  • effective communication,
  • qualitative legal research,
  • and legal writing.

The degree program can be completed in as little as 160 weeks through live or archived lessons via the Internet. Tuition is $415 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

Florida National University

Florida International University

Bachelor of Arts Online in Legal Studies

Situated in Hialeah, Florida, Florida National University has an online Bachelor of Arts Online in Legal Studies degree program. The degree program aims to enhance the student’s analytical skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills to prepare for careers in the legal discipline. The 120-credit curriculum is composed of 42 credits of major upper-level and lower-level courses, 39 total elective credits, and 39 education credits.

Course topics involve:

  • civil litigation,
  • constitutional law,
  • and the law of contracts.

Tuition is $550 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Herzing University

Herzing University

Online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Degree Program

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Herzing University features an online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree program. The program has the goal of educating students on the basic knowledge for carving out careers in law firms, governments, corporations, and paralegal offices. It also aims to equip students for practical situations in terms of case investigations and reviews, high level of decision-making in different cases, development of reports, and delivery of legal arguments.

Graduates may pursue careers as paralegals in the private and public sectors, or as freelancers. The 126-credit curriculum includes:

  • legal office administration,
  • advanced legal research,
  • business law,
  • property law,
  • intellectual property law,
  • and human resource information systems.

Students need to finish a project management course as a way of determining what they have learned from the whole program. The degree program can be completed in 36 months. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Wilmington University

Wilmington University

B.S. Legal Studies Degree Online

Situated in New Castle, Delaware, Wilmington University features an online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree program. It gives students a strong foundation for success in law school and graduate-level study. Aside from specialized courses, students are required to attend classes in analytical thinking, interpersonal communication, and reading comprehension.

The 120-credit program curriculum includes:

  • Legal Research,
  • Civil Procedure,
  • Interviewing and Investigating,
  • and Advanced Litigation Skills.

Tuition is $868 per credit hour. The university is also accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Keiser University

Keiser University

Online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies Degree Program

Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida features an online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies degree program. Graduates gain effective research skills, along with the ability to write legal documents, and enough knowledge of civil and criminal law.

The 120-credit curriculum is made up of upper-division courses like:

  • advanced civil litigation,
  • alternative dispute resolution,
  • and legal interviewing and investigation,

Lower-division courses, which include:

  • civil litigation
  • and family law.

For full-time working students, the degree can be completed in 40 months. Tuition is $440 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Hodges University

hodges university

Online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Degree Program

Located in Naples, Florida, Hodges University features a fully online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree program. Graduates typically pursue careers as legislative liaisons, lawyers, and legal consultants in avenues such as the FBI, the local community, or private firms.

Small online classes are delivered by well-experienced instructors in the area of Legal Studies. The 120-credit curriculum includes:

  • advanced constitutional law,
  • criminal justice systems,
  • identity politics,
  • and the legal system.

Tuition is $595 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

UMass Global

Online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies Degree Program

UMass Global in Irvine, California features an online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies degree program. The program prepares graduates to achieve excellence in analytical thinking, moral awareness, and legal writing and research.

The program curriculum is founded on the idea that studies on systematic legal arguments and critical thinking can both develop a stable foundation for future careers in administration, government, and law.

The 120-credit curriculum is composed of 33 credits of litigation, torts, trial advocacy, and white-collar crime courses plus a legal studies capstone course. Students are required to study Supreme Court decisions, correctional systems, social movements, forensic psychology, and conflict resolution.

The degree features a 12-credit paralegal concentration that emphasizes:

  • electronic discovery,
  • law practice management,
  • contemporary legal studies,
  • and legal technology.

Courses were also created based on the UMass Global iDeal (Instructional Design for Possible Engaged Adult Learning) model. Graduates may pursue careers as adjudicators, arbitrators, and transit and railroad police administrators.

Tuition is $695 per credit hour. UMass Global is accredited within the Chapman University System and by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission.

State University of New York Canton

SUNY College of Canton

Online B.S. in Legal Studies degree program

Located in Canton, New York, the State University of New York (SUNY) Canton features an online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree program that focuses on the application of practical education in legal studies. Graduates can pursue careers in law firms, hospitals, government agencies, and corporations.

Courses include:

  • Business,
  • Criminal Justice,
  • Accounting,
  • Negligence and Intentional Torts,
  • Law Enforcement Leadership,
  • Trial Courts,
  • Rules of Evidence,
  • Immigration Law and Border Control,
  • and Legal Issues in Emergency and Disaster Management.

Students should take an internship that is equivalent to anywhere between 3 and 15 credit hours as part of a capstone experience. As an alternative, students may also take around five upper-level legal studies as electives and a senior project.

Tuition is $3,535 per semester. SUNY is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Tulane University of Louisiana

Tulane University of Louisiana

Online Bachelor of Arts, in General, Legal Studies Degree Program

The Tulane University of Louisiana in New Orleans, Louisiana features an online Bachelor of Arts in General Legal Studies degree program. It enables students to obtain a degree from an institution without losing time for career or family advancement.

The degree program is ideal for students who like to improve their skills and fundamental knowledge in preparation for a law degree. Graduates generally pursue careers like court clerks, human resource administrators, insurance adjusters, and law office managers.

The 120-credit curriculum involves 36 credits of major courses, which include topics like:

  • Computer in the Law Firm,
  • Introduction to Paralegal Studies,
  • and Legal Research.

Tuition is $1,478 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Peirce College

peirce college

Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies

Peirce College in Philadephia, Pennsylvania features a fully online Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies degree program. Graduates have the opportunity to pursue careers in government and administrative agencies, corporations, paralegal institutions, and law firms.

The 121-credit curriculum includes:

  • Professional Legal Responsibility,
  • Real Estate Law,
  • Advanced Legal Research,
  • and Advanced Legal Technology.

Tuition is $772 per credit hour. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Learn more about Peirce College’s Online Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies.

Dominican University

dominican university

Online B.A. in Legal Professional Studies Degree Program

Situated in River Forest, Illinois, Dominican University features a purely accelerated, online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies degree program. It covers areas of emphasis like Criminal Justice, Disability Advocacy, Labor Relations, Law and Social Justice, Paralegal Studies, Public Administration, and Sustainability Studies.

Degree completion is 20 to 24 months and involves courses like:

  • the American Legal System,
  • Legal Research and Writing,
  • Religion and the Law,
  • and Philosophical Basis of the Law.

Tuition is $1,612 per credit hour. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Mississippi University for Women

Mississippi University for Women

Online B.A. in Legal Studies Degree Programs

The Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi offers both an online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies degree program and a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree program. Both of these programs share the same curriculum for students to be prepared to pursue a liberal arts-related degree in their graduate studies.

The degree program aims to equip graduates and help them become effective legal professionals or pursue other careers. The degree program itself has also earned a seal of approval from the American Bar Association.

The 124-credit curriculum involves courses such as:

  • Legal Bibliography and Research,
  • Statistical Analysis for Business,
  • Legal Environment of Business,
  • and Practical Legal Laboratory.

Tuition is $7,756 per credit hour. The university has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The University of Texas Brownsville

University of Texas Brownsville

Online Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies with Emphasis on Legal Studies

Located in Brownsville, Texas, the University of Texas in Brownsville has a purely online Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on Legal Studies degree program. The degree program helps students add on to credits previously earned from an associate degree.

Students in this particular degree program are trained for advanced careers in the paralegal industry. For Texas residents, tuition is $1,132 per credit hour, and out-of-state tuition is $15,108 per year. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can a Bachelor’s in Legal Studies program take to complete?

A bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies can typically be completed in four years. However, accelerated online programs can be completed in 20 to 36 months.

What qualities should I acquire to be able to earn an online Bachelor in Legal Studies degree?

Certain qualities that can be possessed by those who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in legal studies include a willingness to learn, independent learning, teamwork with others, excellent communication and research skills, perseverance, and commercial awareness. Students also need to exercise critical thinking, analytical thinking, and decision-making skills, specifically in legal matters.

What are the common career paths for online Bachelor’s degree holders in Legal Studies?

The possible career paths for holders of a Bachelor’s in Legal Studies degree include:

  • Paralegal,
  • Law Enforcement Officer,
  • Community Services Manager,
  • Corrections Officer,
  • and Court Clerk.

Is earning a Bachelor of Legal Studies degree an excellent stepping stone to becoming an Attorney?

Yes, earning a Bachelor of Legal Studies degree can be a great stepping stone to becoming an attorney. It can give you a solid foundation of knowledge in legal topics and help you learn the fundamentals of the law. It can also provide you with the opportunity to learn relevant skills that can be used in the legal field, such as research, writing, and problem-solving.

Having a Bachelor of Legal Studies degree can also help you stand out when applying to law school or for other legal positions.

Is a Bachelor in Legal Studies a versatile degree choice?

Yes, a Bachelor’s in Legal Studies can be a versatile degree choice. This degree offers a broad introduction to legal issues and can prepare you for a wide variety of career options, including careers in law, human resources, or even business. Depending on the individual, this degree may also provide a strong foundation for more specialized graduate studies in law or public policy.