Best institutions to study Advanced Legal Research/Studies
An integrated or undifferentiated program in one or more of the legal research or advanced practice fields.
77 U.S. institutions graduated 5,052 Advanced Legal Research/Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 22.0201, a specialization of Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (CIP 22.02), and leads most directly to the Lawyers occupation (BLS SOC 23-1011).
About Advanced Legal Research/Studies programs
An integrated or undifferentiated program in one or more of the legal research or advanced practice fields.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Advanced Legal Research/Studies program, part of the Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies field, offers an integrated approach to legal research and advanced practice. This program is designed for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of legal principles and enhance their research skills, making it ideal for aspiring lawyers and legal professionals.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework often includes topics in law and government, research methodologies, and advanced legal writing, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to navigate complex legal issues.
Credentials awarded
What Advanced Legal Research/Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree3,935 graduates / yr · 66 institutions78%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate309 graduates / yr · 4 institutions6.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year241 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.8%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice220 graduates / yr · 2 institutions4.4%
- Post-master's certificate162 graduates / yr · 3 institutions3.2%
- Bachelor's degree118 graduates / yr · 4 institutions2.3%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship67 graduates / yr · 20 institutions1.3%
Graduates over time
Advanced Legal Research/Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,580 |
| 2013 | 1,688 |
| 2014 | 1,939 |
| 2015 | 2,090 |
| 2016 | 2,204 |
| 2017 | 2,467 |
| 2018 | 2,476 |
| 2019 | 2,501 |
| 2020 | 2,964 |
| 2021 | 2,188 |
| 2022 | 4,353 |
| 2023 | 4,152 |
| 2024 | 4,615 |
| 2025 | 5,052 |
Top 50 institutions for Advanced Legal Research/Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 884 | 84% | — | — |
| 2 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster'sDoctoral | 453 | 95% | $22,242 | — |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 333 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 4 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicMaster's | 283 | 0% | — | — |
| 5 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicMaster's | 270 | 86% | — | $74,141 |
| 6 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 239 | 91% | $18,925 | — |
| 7 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster's | 213 | 93% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster'sBachelor's | 213 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 9 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 201 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 10 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 184 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 11 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 180 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 12 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 179 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 13 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 107 | 85% | — | — |
| 14 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 104 | 65% | $28,911 | — |
| 15 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OHPublicMaster'sMaster's | 85 | 52% | — | — |
| 16 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 81 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 17 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 73 | 83% | $41,986 | — |
| 18 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 54 | 80% | — | $40,966 |
| 19 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 51 | 89% | $20,914 | — |
| 20 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 42 | 75% | $30,225 | — |
| 21 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicMaster's | 37 | 68% | — | — |
| 22 | Florida International University Miami, FLPublicMaster's | 36 | 74% | — | — |
| 23 | Suffolk University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 36 | 61% | $28,895 | — |
| 24 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 35 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 25 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 34 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 26 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicMaster's | 34 | — | — | — |
| 27 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicMaster's | 31 | 75% | — | — |
| 28 | Seattle University Seattle, WAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 31 | 76% | $31,900 | — |
| 29 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 31 | — | — | — |
| 30 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 26 | 93% | — | — |
| 31 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicMaster's | 26 | 89% | — | — |
| 32 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 24 | 76% | $28,888 | — |
| 33 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 22 | 95% | $19,452 | — |
| 34 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicMaster's | 21 | 74% | — | — |
| 35 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 21 | 54% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster's | 21 | 85% | — | — |
| 37 | University of the Pacific Stockton, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 20 | 69% | $23,964 | — |
| 38 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 20 | 91% | $20,586 | — |
| 39 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 78% | $36,004 | $59,077 |
| 40 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 19 | 63% | $31,672 | — |
| 41 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicMaster's | 18 | 58% | — | — |
| 42 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicMaster's | 17 | 69% | — | — |
| 43 | Hamline University Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 17 | 60% | $20,981 | — |
| 44 | Cleveland State University Cleveland, OHPublicMaster's | 16 | 51% | — | — |
| 45 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicMaster's | 15 | 53% | — | — |
| 46 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicMaster's | 14 | 83% | — | — |
| 47 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 14 | 75% | $19,899 | — |
| 48 | University of California College of the Law - San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicMaster's | 13 | — | — | — |
| 49 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster's | 13 | 90% | — | — |
| 50 | Stetson University DeLand, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 62% | $21,948 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies field (CIP 22.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 31 states & territories
Where Advanced Legal Research/Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 23-1011, Lawyers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Advanced Legal Research/Studies program can pursue careers as lawyers or law teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook for legal professions is expected to grow by 4.1%, with approximately 31,500 annual openings and a median wage of $151,160, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 22.0201
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lawyersprimary SOC 23-1011 | $159,670 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~31,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Law Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1112 | $128,500 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~2,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Advanced Legal Research/Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
- Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
Tools and technology used
Other Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies specializations
The 24 other 6-digit CIP codes under Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (CIP 22.02).
- Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesCIP 22.02991,551 graduates / yr42 institutions
- Programs for Foreign LawyersCIP 22.02021,380 graduates / yr34 institutions
- American/CIP 22.0203
U.S. Law/ Legal Studies/ Jurisprudence 949 graduates / yr40 institutions - Tax Law/CIP 22.0211
Taxation 749 graduates / yr24 institutions - Health LawCIP 22.0208448 graduates / yr21 institutions
- International Law and Legal StudiesCIP 22.0209388 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities LawCIP 22.0205353 graduates / yr25 institutions
- International Business, Trade, and Tax LawCIP 22.0210316 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources LawCIP 22.0207255 graduates / yr21 institutions
- Human Resources LawCIP 22.0220partial data235 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Intellectual Property LawCIP 22.0212110 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Arts and Entertainment LawCIP 22.0215limited data98 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Comparative LawCIP 22.0206partial data84 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Real Estate and Land Development LawCIP 22.0222limited data56 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Tribal/CIP 22.0224
Indigenous Law partial data56 graduates / yr7 institutions - Compliance LawCIP 22.0216partial data38 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Criminal Law and ProcedureCIP 22.0217partial data30 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Entrepreneurship LawCIP 22.0218limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Patent LawCIP 22.0213limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 5 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Canadian Law/
Legal Studies/ Jurisprudence22.0204 - Agriculture Law22.0214
- Family/
Child/ Elder Law22.0219 - Insurance Law22.0221
- Transportation Law22.0223
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, a postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Doctor's degree in professional practice.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 77 colleges in the U.S. offering the Advanced Legal Research/Studies program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, writing, and legal analysis.
What is the job outlook for careers in this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.1%.
What is the CIP code for Advanced Legal Research/Studies?+
Advanced Legal Research/Studies is CIP 22.0201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (CIP 22.02). NCES defines it as: An integrated or undifferentiated program in one or more of the legal research or advanced practice fields.
How many institutions offer Advanced Legal Research/Studies programs?+
77 U.S. institutions reported Advanced Legal Research/Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 31 states & territories, awarding 5,052 credentials in the year. That is 41.6% of all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates.
How much do Advanced Legal Research/Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Lawyers occupation, which Advanced Legal Research/Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $159,670 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies field report median earnings of $64,062 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card