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Corporate Compliance Career Opportunities with an MLS Degree

A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) opens up a plethora of career opportunities. Compliance officer jobs exist in many industries. In highly regulated industries, such as healthcare, compliance officers work to ensure that companies and employees adhere to the many regulations that impact the work of the organization.

Seattle University School of Law offers an MLS program in compliance and risk management that gives students a competitive advantage in the job market by helping them obtain a specialized degree. Our program allows students the flexibility to pursue a general MLS degree or choose a concentration: sports, data and cybersecurity, healthcare, financial compliance, or corporate law.

The Journey To An MLS

Students in the United States must complete their bachelor’s degree to be eligible to pursue an MLS degree. Although applicants are not required to complete a specific program for their undergraduate major, many students may choose to major in risk management in college.  Students may also choose to major in finance, sports management, or a variety of other undergraduate programs focused on the industry they want to work in. Regardless of whether or not the undergraduate major directly relates to compliance, eligibility for acceptance into Seattle University’s graduate MLS program will not be affected.

A bachelor’s degree is all that is needed to be eligible for the Seattle University School of Law program. Transcripts from all prior academic institutions are required with an application. Additionally, if English is not the student’s first language, a TOEFL score report must be sent to the law school admissions office. Our FAQ and admissions pages go into more detail, and an admissions officer can answer any questions. 

Unlike prospective attorneys, prospective MLS students do not need to take the LSAT exam. Only a complete application, personal statement, cover letter, resume, and reference letter are required. 

Post-Degree Opportunities 

Once you’ve graduated from your MLS compliance program, there are a few different career path options. 

1. Chief Compliance Officer

Chief compliance officers are often one of the highest-ranking leaders within a compliance team. Chief compliance officers, or CCOs, oversee a team of compliance experts to build a culture of compliance within a large or complex organization. Their responsibilities include monitoring compliance, investigating violations, assisting with risk management, creating an ethical culture, and staying up to date on the regulatory changes occurring in the industry. From those changes, they make recommendations and update the company’s ethical practices.  

2. Compliance Specialist

Compliance specialists develop, implement, and enforce policies to ensure full compliance with internal processes and external regulations. They work to reduce legal and regulatory risks by developing policies, performing internal audits, protecting data, and investigating any issues that arise. 

3. Compliance Analyst

An organization’s compliance analyst’s primary role is to ensure that all standards and regulations are met and adhered to. They do this by reviewing regulations, comparing them to the organization’s business practices, and making sure that proper training occurs on the front end as well as periodically through continuing education with employees. The analysts perform internal audits of corporate activities to manage risk and ensure compliance.

4. Other Positions

Individuals who obtain an MLS degree in compliance and risk management may find themselves in other jobs as well. They may serve as executive directors or work in the federal government. They may work for large or small companies, protecting data and sensitive information. They may also join the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics SCCEE, which supports the compliance and ethics profession with educational opportunities, certification, networking, and other resources.

Seattle University Opens Those Doors

Seattle University School of Law is the largest and most diverse law school in the Northwest, committed to educating outstanding lawyers who are leaders for a just and humane world. We received an “A” from The Jurist for our programs in business, corporate, and banking law. In choosing us for your education, you choose to be in great hands for your future career. 

Our online MLS program was designed to give our students more – more flexibility, more options, and more ways of achieving their goals. We prepare you for leadership roles in a growing field, one that is constantly changing as technology advances and bad actors continue to take advantage of vulnerabilities in organizational systems. 

If you strive to lead innovation, promote corporate responsibility, and contribute to economic development, then your MLS degree will help get you there. And Seattle University School of Law’s MLS program is the perfect place to start. What are you waiting for? Call our admissions office today, or click “Apply Now” to get started. 

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