Grad degree or government job before LS? Forum

[famousblueraincoat]

So I am currently planning on taking the September 2014 LSAT and hope to be a part of the 2018 class. Given that I am dead-set on working in government, would it be more beneficial to get an MA in PoliSci before starting law school or trying to find a job in state/local government? Not sure which would be more difficult considering how competitive government jobs and top MA programs are.

Also, would it hurt me to have two degrees from the same school? My undergrad offers a poorly-ranked but relatively cheap MA. Definitely want to keep debt down. Nothing matters for admissions purposes, but I am also trying to keep the job hunt in mind as early as possible.


Tried to search for this but couldn't really find much. Please link relevant threads.

Thanks

[xRON MEXiCOx]

An MA is Poli Sci is a waste of time/money

[politics89]

So I am currently planning on taking the September 2014 LSAT and hope to be a part of the 2018 class. Given that I am dead-set on working in government, would it be more beneficial to get an MA in PoliSci before starting law school or trying to find a job in state/local government? Not sure which would be more difficult considering how competitive government jobs and top MA programs are.

Also, would it hurt me to have two degrees from the same school? My undergrad offers a poorly-ranked but relatively cheap MA. Definitely want to keep debt down. Nothing matters for admissions purposes, but I am also trying to keep the job hunt in mind as early as possible.


Tried to search for this but couldn't really find much. Please link relevant threads.

Thanks

Hey I took 2 years off before law school and worked in state government. Feel free to PM me with any questions. Personally I'm glad I did it soley because it confirmed that this a career path I really wanted to pursue.

[TheSpanishMain]

An MA is Poli Sci is a waste of time/money

Agreed. Work > MA in Political Science. If you must do an MA, do it on the side while working. And don't do it if it's not ridiculously cheap. It won't really help you much, if at all.

[famousblueraincoat]

An MA is Poli Sci is a waste of time/money

Agreed. Work > MA in Political Science. If you must do an MA, do it on the side while working. And don't do it if it's not ridiculously cheap. It won't really help you much, if at all.

I can't find many cheap MAs, honestly. The program at Georgetown would be ideal but costs over $70k. In terms of showing commitment to government work, will any position in local/state/fed gov work? I don't want government agencies to think I suddenly became interested 1L summer.

[TheSpanishMain]

An MA is Poli Sci is a waste of time/money

Agreed. Work > MA in Political Science. If you must do an MA, do it on the side while working. And don't do it if it's not ridiculously cheap. It won't really help you much, if at all.

I can't find many cheap MAs, honestly. The program at Georgetown would be ideal but costs over $70k. In terms of showing commitment to government work, will any position in local/state/fed gov work? I don't want government agencies to think I suddenly became interested 1L summer.

They'll probably "work" to varying degrees depending on the job. Getting a decent federal or state gig is going to take awhile, though. Even if you're perfectly qualified and there is an opening (two big if's) the hiring process will take a while. If you do manage to swing it, you'll probably want to forget about the Class of 2018. Getting a decent government job in this budgetary environment isn't easy, and it would look really weird/bad if you took a government job only to completely resign 8 months later. If you do get a job, plan to put in at least 2-3 years there.

[xRON MEXiCOx]

Have you interned in gov't before? IME working in as both a contractor and an employee at the state-level they tend to like people who are already in their system. I've never really seen outsiders w/ little to no experience in the lower run gov't positions.

[famousblueraincoat]

Great point Main. I can't wait to start law school, definitely don't want to push it back another cycle unless I bomb the September test. Maybe working part-time and volunteering would be best? Do government agencies take volunteers? Sounds like more of a non-profit thing.

@Ron haven't worked in gov't before save for one internship with a presidential campaign, but that probably won't help. Granted, most of those people work for/are trying to work for Hillary now, but 2016 is too long of a wait

[TheSpanishMain]

Great point Main. I can't wait to start law school, definitely don't want to push it back another cycle unless I bomb the September test. Maybe working part-time and volunteering would be best? Do government agencies take volunteers? Sounds like more of a non-profit thing.

I know lots of DA/PD offices take volunteers. You could always contact them and ask. It would also help you make some contacts in local government, if that sort of thing is your goal.

[notalobbyist]

An MA is Poli Sci is a waste of time/money

Most jobs and many internships would be more helpful than an MA in Poli Sci.

[Jesse1983]

What about an MPA? Seems to be a better option for those looking for a career in government (especially at the local/state level) than a MA PoliSci.

[crazycanuck]

Get a job with the government if possible. Spend a couple of years there and decide whether a law degree is really worth it for what your goals are.

Despite what the law profs and Deans say, a law degree is really not that useful outside of working for law firms. Maybe it might open doors with certain government positions, but it might not and you're left having spent a ton of money on something that got your career nowhere.

What academics and internet articles say about the value of education is very different from the real world.

Do not under any circumstances get a MA in poli sci.

[BillPackets]

I got paid to get an MA in poli sci and I still think it was a waste of time/money I could have made doing anything else. Don't get an MA in poli sci.