Education opens doors to advance your career. Obtaining a higher degree gives you an edge in a competitive job market. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2022 only 14% of Americans had completed advanced education such as a master’s degree, professional degree, or doctorate. If you’re looking for an advocacy career, the specialized knowledge gained from a master’s degree is a tool to become a better advocate.
McGeorge School of Law has a Master of Science in Law (MSL) in Government Law and Policy that teaches students the ins and outs of things such as legislature and policymaking. When it comes to being an advocate and enacting change, the real-world education provided at McGeorge gives our graduates marketable expertise.
Advocacy as a Calling
If you are someone who has always had the passion to fight for others and the betterment of the community, advocacy could be your career calling. There are various types of advocates. Many careers hold some level of advocacy within. Teachers, social workers, and lawyers advocate for their students and clients. You can get involved in the political space, by helping lobby for legislation that protects the community or even running for an elected office. You jump into the legal space in a different manner, by helping grassroots movements and writing policy. You can work in the nonprofit realm, as many nonprofits have missions related to the public interest. Many people have a personal tie to the cause they are advocating for, and there are many options out there.
What an MSL Can Do For You
Some advocacy careers, such as lawyers and teachers, require specific degrees. Others don’t have an education requirement beyond a bachelor’s degree. So why is getting your MSL beneficial? How can it help you professionally? And why an MSL in government law and policy?
First, many advocacy careers intersect with the law in some way. Whether or not you are involved on the ground level trying to change policy, the laws that are out there affect the people you are advocating for. In order to work to change them or figure out how they can help, you’ll need to have a better understanding of how the system works. In many cases, whatever is out there isn’t enough. You’re advocating for more. An MSL degree can enhance the role you are currently in. It can also help you pivot your career into the legal field if you were not there already and you want to head in that direction. Plenty of advocacy careers, such as lobbying, legislature, policy, and elections, benefit from specialized knowledge of government law and policy.
Why McGeorge
Our MSL program enables you to learn from professors and practitioners who are experts in law, legislative process, regulation, and policymaking. Our students come away with knowledge and a skillet that allows them to:
- Review and understand agreements such as contracts
- Review and draft proposed local, state, and federal laws and regulations
- Understand and comply with regulatory requirements for specific industries
- Work with attorneys and compliance officers
They also have a publishable piece of research. The coursework is designed to benefit many career paths that our graduates go on to pursue. They become analysts, law clerks, and government staff. Graduates can advance their current career path or step into a new role entirely.
When it comes to logistics, McGeorge works to ensure that getting your MSL is not prohibitive for the rest of your life. Students come in with full-time jobs and other obligations that don’t need to be put on hold while they get their degree. Our program is part-time, completely online, and asynchronous. This gives students the freedom to mold class to their schedules instead of the other way around. It is a facet that makes education more accessible without sacrificing quality. Our program was built on the foundation of McGeorge’s nationally-ranked program in public law and its renowned Capital Center for Law & Policy, and our MSL students have full access to our resources as well as our extensive alumni network.
An MSL can help you hold greater space for impact. McGeorge’s MSL program in Government Law and Policy is the perfect place to start. What are you waiting for? Contact our admissions office today.