Urban planning undergrad...masters in legal studies?

[El Barto]

I will complete my undergraduate degree in urban planning this May. I sent in the application and forms, etc. for the masters in urban planning here at ASU (I've looked around the site but have not found many opinions of the MUEP there). However, with the undergrad degree, I think the masters program would be similar (same professors, classes appear similar but with a different focus and demand of course, etc.). Should I stray from a masters in planning and go into a legal studies masters? I would like to get into environmental/water law. What are your opinions of this?

The Masters in Legal Studies here at ASU is a 30 credit hour program (plus 10-12 credit hour pre-reqs to get familiar/get a broad scope of legal studies). I will meet with a few professors next week concerning what the program entails, what it can deliver as far as employment opportunities, etc.

[nrschmid]

A Masters of Legal Studies? Never heard of it. Why don't you just get an actual law degree?

[citizen]

I would like to get into environmental/water law

Expand on this. What do you want to do in the law? Practice? Consult for lawyers? Law firms with a considerable focus on environmental issues have non-j.d. analysts on staff. They tend to have experience/training in environmental sciences or planning issues that the attorneys do not typically have. If you think that's what you want to do, check out some firms and look at the background of the analysts. Call them up and get their advice.
If you want to be the one handling the litigation or negotiation, get a law degree. You might look specifically at law schools with an environmental focus (vermont, pace, lewis and clark, etc.).

[El Barto]

A Masters of Legal Studies? Never heard of it. Why don't you just get an actual law degree?

In my opinion I don't think I could be a lawyer (don't have the right characteristics I suppose).

Expand on this. What do you want to do in the law? Practice? Consult for lawyers? Law firms with a considerable focus on environmental issues have non-j.d. analysts on staff. They tend to have experience/training in environmental sciences or planning issues that the attorneys do not typically have. If you think that's what you want to do, check out some firms and look at the background of the analysts. Call them up and get their advice.
If you want to be the one handling the litigation or negotiation, get a law degree. You might look specifically at law schools with an environmental focus (vermont, pace, lewis and clark, etc.).

I was thinking consulting for lawyers (or an analyst position like you mentioned). Thanks for the tips, I'll find some environmental law practicing law firms around here and call them. There is an environmental planning degree here which might have more to offer, but appears to be limited on the course offerings other than sustainability.

The Masters in Legal Studies looks like it just familiarizes oneself with law. It is not to become a paralegal (which I don't think requires a masters degree), not to become a lawyer/attorney. The program at ASU is 30 credits (plus 10-12 pre-reqs) at $25,000. That can be split up into 3 years, 2 years, or combined into one.
http://www.law.asu.edu/?id=329