Pace University

What you'll study

This programme emphasises rigorous legal research methods, advanced writing and practical problem solving across public and private law contexts. Core study areas typically include advanced legal research and information retrieval, persuasive legal writing and drafting, comparative legal analysis, statutory interpretation, and empirical methods for legal research.

• Advanced Legal Research: techniques for searching primary and secondary sources, use of electronic research platforms, legislative and regulatory research, and managing large research projects.
• Legal Writing and Drafting: drafting briefs, memos, contracts and policy documents with a focus on clarity, citation norms and audience adaptation.
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution Skills: fundamentals of civil procedure, evidence, alternative dispute resolution and practical advocacy components.
• Regulation and Compliance: regulatory frameworks, compliance programme design, risk assessment and corporate governance issues.
• Quantitative and Qualitative Methods: research design, basic statistics for legal data, interview and document analysis techniques used in empirical legal studies.
• Electives and Practicum: students may choose electives such as intellectual property, environmental law, immigration law or healthcare regulation, and complete a practicum, legal research project or internship to apply skills in real‑world settings.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in law, the humanities, social sciences, business or a related field. Admissions typically consider the academic transcript, a personal statement outlining professional and academic goals, a current résumé/CV and one or two letters of recommendation. Some applicants with substantial professional experience in law‑adjacent roles may be considered even if their undergraduate background is non‑legal.

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through an approved test or equivalent evidence of prior study in English. The programme does not routinely require a GRE or GMAT, but applicants should check the latest admissions guidance from Pace for specific requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates leave prepared for a variety of roles where legal knowledge and advanced research skills are valuable. Typical career paths include:

• Legal researcher or analyst in law firms, think tanks and policy organisations
• Compliance officer, regulatory affairs specialist or corporate governance analyst
• Contracts manager or legal operations specialist in corporate settings
• Litigation support and e‑discovery roles
• Paralegal or advanced paralegal positions and specialist advisory roles
• A stepping stone to further legal study, such as a JD or LLM, for students seeking a professional legal qualification

Why study at Pace University

Pace offers close links to the New York legal and regulatory market, giving students access to internships, externships and guest practitioners from a broad range of legal settings. The programme is delivered by faculty and adjuncts with practical experience in law, compliance and policy, and students benefit from opportunities to work with the resources of Pace’s law school, research centres and career services.

Small class sizes and practice‑focused modules emphasise applied research, professional writing and project work, enabling personalised feedback and strong preparation for workplace demands. For students seeking proximity to major legal employers while retaining a campus environment, Pace provides a balance of academic rigour and vocational orientation.