Masters or Work at a law firm? Forum

[wsparker]

So I have the choice to finish my Masters in Public Policy in 1 year (took grad classes last two years of undergrad) or go work for a law firm as a file clerk.

I am thinking the law firm would look better on applications, but I also already committed to the Masters....

[walkingpanda]

Go study.

[thelawdoctor]

Do you already have the JD or are you talking about picking between a masters vs paralegal experience to apply to the JD?

If the latter then why not just apply? What is your lsat/gpa?

[wsparker]

No JD. Not applying this year because I was planning on doing the Masters. 166 (retaking in June) 3.94

[jselson]

Do you have any other full-time work experience? If not, def the firm job for two years, especially if you want to be in private practice after law school. If so, AND you want to do more policy/gov/PI stuff after law school, then the MPP. But for admissions, I imagine the two sorts are fairly equivalent. Or hell, if you have the money, do the MPP, then the firm job, then law school.

[IAFG]

Get a job.

[09042014]

Who is paying for the MPP and how much does it cost?

[Ben Franklin]

Go for the job. The added work experience will be good for you on a personal level, and will also give you the chance to see if you even like working in a law firm. You might find it be be very mundane and boring (which it is). Worst case, you decide you don't like law and go finish up your grad degree. Best case, you avoid adding a useless year of tuition to your student loan debt and gain some insight into your future career.

[Tom Joad]

If the MPP is free or close to free anyway and the firm will work around your school schedule.

[thelawdoctor]

Just apply to a JD. The rest is filler if that is your terminal goal.

[star fox]

Why do you want the Masters in Public Policy if you're not going to use it? Just seems like a waste of time.

[Ben Franklin]

Why do you want the Masters in Public Policy if you're not going to use it? Just seems like a waste of time.

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