As I'm looking to apply I know I want either a Certification in Family law or Advocacy and I also want a Masters in Social Work. Are their opportunity costs here or can I have it all? Can I get two Certs and a masters in 4 years? If I go for the Masters is their no elective room for a Cert? If I forgo the Masters can I get two Certs? Can I get one Cert. and the Masters?
Does anyone know how this works?
Certs. and Masters, what's the limit? Forum
-
cavalier1138
- Posts: 8007
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2016 8:01 pm
Re: Certs. and Masters, what's the limit?
Are you talking about doing all this while you're in law school? And why?
-
A. Nony Mouse
- Posts: 29293
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:51 am
Re: Certs. and Masters, what's the limit?
It's entirely going to depend on the school and the requirements for the specific programs. At least based on my school, it would be difficult to squeeze in two different concentrations and finish law school in the regularly allotted time, because of the number of credits each certification requires, but again, you'd have to look at the specific schools you're considering. I'm going to presume adding a MSW would make that even more difficult, because my sense is that adding in a master's limits cuts into your JD credits, but I'm speculating. Really you need to go to the programs you're considering and map out what the requirements would be over the 3-4 years.
More to the point, though, is that you absolutely don't need to do concentrations within your JD to competitive in whatever field you're aiming for. But for that matter (since it sounds like you want to do family law), you absolutely don't need to get a MSW, either. Lawyers are not social workers and while I can see taking some pertinent classes in the MSW program might be helpful, if you actually want to practice law, having a MSW isn't going to be that helpful. (Or if you want to be a social worker, getting a JD won't be that helpful.) My belief is that you'd be better off spending time that would go to a concentration or a MSW getting practical experience through internships and clinics and law student jobs.
And honestly a certification in advocacy sounds really redundant and unnecessary. Family law I can understand (although no certifications are necessary), but the advocacy one doesn't make much sense at all.
More to the point, though, is that you absolutely don't need to do concentrations within your JD to competitive in whatever field you're aiming for. But for that matter (since it sounds like you want to do family law), you absolutely don't need to get a MSW, either. Lawyers are not social workers and while I can see taking some pertinent classes in the MSW program might be helpful, if you actually want to practice law, having a MSW isn't going to be that helpful. (Or if you want to be a social worker, getting a JD won't be that helpful.) My belief is that you'd be better off spending time that would go to a concentration or a MSW getting practical experience through internships and clinics and law student jobs.
And honestly a certification in advocacy sounds really redundant and unnecessary. Family law I can understand (although no certifications are necessary), but the advocacy one doesn't make much sense at all.
