Legal Studies vs. Paralegal Studies: Which Path Is Right for You?

By Dr. James Barney  |  04/29/2025

As the University’s pre-law advisor, many students interested in attending law school ask me about the difference between a degree in legal studies vs. paralegal studies. These students are curious to learn which degree to pursue if they want to go to law school.

I typically give them a safe and objective response stating that “it depends” on someone’s goals and career aspiration. Each type of program leads to the skills and knowledge to seek distinct roles in the legal field and can result in different career outcomes and long-term employment opportunities.

A degree in legal studies, which offers a broader interdisciplinary education, is the better fit for students who want to keep their options open. The legal studies degree may provide more flexibility and opportunity than a paralegal program.

For example, many legal studies graduates can choose to pursue a career across a wide array of law-related fields, and some legal studies students aspire to go to law school. A paralegal certificate program is a good first step for many students who want to transition into the role of a paralegal or formalize their experience with a recognized credential.

The Difference Between Legal Studies and Paralegal Studies

A degree in legal studies exposes students to a variety of courses. For example, legal studies courses may explore the intersection of history, law, and political science. In the criminal law courses included in some legal studies programs, students typically learn that the criminal justice system and criminal law requires understanding several subjects across multiple disciplines.

While many legal studies students are interested in law school or legal careers, a legal studies degree prepares students for a broader range of roles, including paths in government, policymaking, and administration.

However, a certificate or degree program in paralegal studies has a different focus. Specifically, paralegal education focuses on practical training and emphasizes providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue career opportunities as a paralegal or legal assistant.  

In paralegal courses, students may explore the basics of legal research, writing, and case management. They focus on how legal assistants play a key role in the operations of a law firm and how their work supports the work of attorneys.

Paralegal courses clarify the distinctions between paralegals and attorneys, offer hands-on legal training, and help students navigate legal environments. These programs usually culminate in a certificate in paralegal studies, designed for those adult learners who want to pursue paralegal job opportunities.

Where Can a Legal Studies Degree Take You?

Legal studies graduates have access to a variety of career paths. Many students enter law school, while others pursue a legal career path in:

• Government agencies
• Policy research and development
• Compliance roles in business organizations
• Human resources and labor relations
• Legal consulting and analysis at law firms

Opportunities for Paralegal Studies Graduates

Students who complete paralegal studies programs typically enter careers in law offices and legal departments, assisting attorneys with tasks like:

• Drafting legal documents
• Conducting legal research
• Managing case files and administrative processes

Choosing between Paralegal Studies or Legal Studies

A major consideration in choosing a paralegal studies certificate over a legal studies degree involves concerns about the cost and requirements of a legal studies degree. For students seeking to make a quick transition into the legal profession as paralegals, legal assistants, or other positions, a paralegal studies certificate often makes the most sense. Other students tend to view a degree in legal studies as a long-term investment, which can be useful when seeking other opportunities.

To balance these conflicting purposes, I often recommend that students start with a paralegal certificate as an affordable entry point and then continue their studies to a degree program. This approach provides students with experience in the legal profession that is marketable, relatively inexpensive, and quick. It also allows those students to walk away with an academic credential if they discover that the legal profession isn’t the right fit for them.

Trends Transforming the Legal Field

The legal profession is now at a crossroads as several technological trends have the potential to radically disrupt the legal profession.

For instance, technology like artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the work of all legal professionals. Legal professionals are using artificial intelligence to complete tasks like writing legal documents, research, and discovery – tasks once handled exclusively by attorneys or paralegals.

In addition, the line between the legal professionals and non-attorneys is evolving. States are allowing partnerships between lawyers and non-attorneys, a trend which previously was forbidden.

Another evolving trend is globalization, which is creating new dynamics in the legal profession. For example, some legal tasks, such as discovery and document review, are now being outsourced to foreign companies or completed remotely by legal professionals. This change has introduced new market pressures and opportunities.

Given the rapid transformation in the legal profession, it is important for undergraduate degree and graduate degree students nterested in entering the field to become educated about both the current and the future landscape of the legal profession. Anyone interested in law should stay informed by subscribing to legal trade publications from state bar associations and the American Bar Association.

Paralegal vs. Legal Studies: Matching Program to Purpose

Many legal studies students aspire to attend law school and become attorneys. However, it’s important to understand that law schools do not require a specific undergraduate degree or major.

Students interested in law school and eventually pursuing opportunities at law firms should focus on:

• Obtaining some legal experience
• Taking classes that focus on reading, writing, and analysis
• Preparing for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

While a legal studies degree is not a prerequisite to attend law school, it can provide students with a solid educational foundation for many roles in legal services.

Overall, degrees in legal studies and certificate programs in paralegal studies serve valuable but different purposes. Students should reflect on their motivations and their career goals to determine what educational path makes the best sense for them.

Legal Studies Degrees at American Military University

To help students better understand the processes through which laws change, legal concepts, the legal system, and legal terminology, American Military University (AMU) offers an online undergraduate certificate in paralegal studies as well as several legal studies degrees:

• An online Associate of Science in Legal Studies
• An online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
• An online Master of Arts in Legal Studies

Taught by faculty from diverse backgrounds, the courses in these programs cover topics such as litigation, real estate law, and criminal law and procedure for the paralegal. Additional courses include legal research and writing, an introduction to legal technology, and constitutional law, as well as legal ethics, family law, tort law, and property law.

For more information, visit AMU’s legal studies program page.

Note: While paralegals perform many of the same tasks as lawyers, they are prohibited from carrying out duties considered to be the practice of law, such as setting legal fees, giving legal advice, and presenting cases in court.

Note: Completion of the bachelor's degree in legal studies does not award any professional paralegal or any other certification, but may be helpful in preparing to seek such certifications. Although some states do not require a Juris Doctor for bar entry, the master's degree in legal studies does not prepare you to practice law or gain admission to the bar of any state based solely on completion of this program.