NLMA Newsletter | June 2026

What Graduates Are Telling Us About Legal Masters Degrees

In this newsletter, we’re excited to share results of our early conversations with legal masters graduates. To our knowledge, this may be the first-in-the-nation survey of legal masters students across multiple schools and programs.

Before we share this month’s survey findings, we have a bit of news of our own: Alongside our surveys, focus groups, and research efforts, NLMA recently received recognition as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This milestone gives us a strong foundation for the work ahead, and we’re looking forward to becoming more active in the months to come as we continue building a national community around legal masters degrees.

A First Look at Graduate Perspectives

This spring, NLMA conducted its first survey of graduates from legal masters programs. The response was encouraging: We received responses from alums across the U.S working in a wide variety of fields and industries. The results provide an early look at how graduates view their degrees, careers, and professional opportunities.

Several themes emerged consistently across responses:

• Graduates generally value their degrees. Most respondents described their program as a good or very strong investment and reported that it continues to support their professional work.
• Many graduates are applying their legal education in meaningful ways. Respondents frequently reported that their degree remains relevant to their current role and professional development.
• Recognition remains a challenge. Many graduates believe employers do not fully understand the value of legal masters degrees, creating challenges around positioning and career advancement.
• Graduates are looking for a professional community and identity. Respondents expressed strong interest in professional connections, career development, advocacy, and opportunities to engage with others who share similar educational backgrounds and career paths.

What This Means for NLMA

The survey suggests that graduates see significant value in their legal masters education. At the same time, many are looking for stronger professional recognition, clearer career pathways, and opportunities to connect with others who share similar experiences – and, as we read the findings, a sense of professional identity.

These findings reinforce an important part of NLMA’s mission. Graduates are telling us they want more than awareness of the degree itself – they want a professional community that helps define, connect, and elevate the growing population of legal masters degree holders.

Next Up: Graduate Focus Groups

Surveys help identify broad themes, but they rarely capture the full story behind the data. To better understand the experiences reflected in these responses, NLMA will convene a series of graduate focus groups in June.

These conversations will explore questions raised by the survey, including professional identity, career pathways, employer recognition, and the ways graduates are using their legal education in practice.

Invitations and registration information will be distributed separately in the coming days. We encourage graduates who would like to contribute to watch for those announcements. If you know of graduates who might want to participate, please forward this newsletter and invite them to sign up on the NLMA website.

The insights from these discussions will help inform both NLMA’s future research agenda and the organization’s next steps.

Advisory Committees Launching Soon

As survey responses and focus group discussions continue, NLMA will soon begin convening its advisory committees. These groups will have an opportunity to review findings, identify areas where additional information is needed, and help shape the organization’s priorities for the coming year.

Formal invitations will be sent separately in the coming weeks. Individuals interested in contributing to these conversations are encouraged to express their interest through our Contact page.

News from the Legal Masters Section of AALS

As part of our ongoing partnership, from time to time NLMA shares news from the American Association of Law Schools Legal Masters Association.

June 12 Webinar:

‘Think Like a Lawyer: Why Legal Writing Matters for Non-Lawyers”

Strong legal writing is more than a law school skill. It is a professional advantage. This webinar will explore the role of legal writing in legal masters programs and examine how writing skills help professionals analyze risk, communicate effectively with decision-makers, and translate legal complexity into practical guidance.

For details and to register, Click Here

Share NLMA With Your Network

If you know graduates, employers, or colleagues connected to legal masters programs, we encourage you to share NLMA’s work and invite them to join our mailing list.

The broader and more diverse our participation, the stronger our understanding of the legal masters landscape will become.