Is an MLS pointless? Forum

[Rdxenti]

I already an MBA and a pretty decent six-figure job. I’m just bored and restless and have convinced my employer to pay for an MLS for me.

Does it have any value? Am I going to learn anything I might find useful or is it just another vanity degree?

I’m looking at the University of Arizona program since it seems like the best cost/hour proposition for online programs. The only cheaper one I found was WVU and they’re not nearly as highly ranked.

[QContinuum]

The MLS degree could have some use if you work in a law-adjacent industry (legal journalism, Lexis/Westlaw/Bloomberg, maybe an e-discovery software company). I can't think of any other context in which it'd be useful.

[nixy]

You mean master’s of legal studies, right? Assuming you have no law degree at all, eh, it will probably give you some understanding of the legal context. I don’t see it adding much, but a lot of people know so little about the law that it could be sort of useful. But some of that depends on what you’re doing now. If your employer is going to pay for it, I don’t see why not.

[cavalier1138]

I'm impressed you managed to get your boss to agree to fund this without knowing what it actually is.

[nealric]

I already an MBA and a pretty decent six-figure job. I’m just bored and restless and have convinced my employer to pay for an MLS for me.

Does it have any value? Am I going to learn anything I might find useful or is it just another vanity degree?

I’m looking at the University of Arizona program since it seems like the best cost/hour proposition for online programs. The only cheaper one I found was WVU and they’re not nearly as highly ranked.

I don't see how one could even begin to rank such programs. I don't really see much benefit in them, but I suppose if you are bored you can knock yourself out. You might also look into part time law school instead. Even if you leave after a year, you will probably get the equivalent of an MLS out of it (sans the piece of paper, which is pretty much worthless anyways).

[omar1]

I'm impressed you managed to get your boss to agree to fund this without knowing what it actually is.

[notinbiglaw]

It probably adds nothing to your resume/employability so it really comes down to if you enjoy the classes or not.

Masters in taxation, masters in some engineering, and certificate programs in a specialty are much more common for people who just want to take some classes and learn stuff that could be useful.

[QContinuum]

I already an MBA and a pretty decent six-figure job. I’m just bored and restless and have convinced my employer to pay for an MLS for me.

Does it have any value? Am I going to learn anything I might find useful or is it just another vanity degree?

I’m looking at the University of Arizona program since it seems like the best cost/hour proposition for online programs. The only cheaper one I found was WVU and they’re not nearly as highly ranked.

I don't see how one could even begin to rank such programs. I don't really see much benefit in them, but I suppose if you are bored you can knock yourself out. You might also look into part time law school instead. Even if you leave after a year, you will probably get the equivalent of an MLS out of it (sans the piece of paper, which is pretty much worthless anyways).

Personally, I'd just look to the rank of the corresponding J.D. program. MLS degrees are so uncommon hardly anyone will have an independent sense of which program's the best. Folks will just look to the corresponding J.D. program's prestige (or lack thereof).

I agree that it'd honestly make more sense to do a year in a J.D. program. Of course, that'd require OP to take the LSAT (IIRC MLS admissions don't require LSAT scores). But doing a year in a J.D. program would give OP the option of continuing on to actually earn a J.D. Generally, MLS students don't have that option.

[Rdxenti]

The MLS degree could have some use if you work in a law-adjacent industry (legal journalism, Lexis/Westlaw/Bloomberg, maybe an e-discovery software company). I can't think of any other context in which it'd be useful.

I work in real estate development, and a good portion of my time is spent negotiating and reviewing operating agreements and looking at state, federal, and local statutes for regulatory and compliance information.

I’m still going to spend a couple hundred grand on outside counsel every year.

[Rdxenti]

I'm impressed you managed to get your boss to agree to fund this without knowing what it actually is.

I honestly think they’re just scared I’m going to leave.

[notinbiglaw]

Why not just do a real estate certificate program? I had classes focused on real estate and some of the classmates were practicing professionals who were quite serious about learning very technical material. (Modeling and taxation classes mainly.)

[Bingo_Bongo]

I'm impressed you managed to get your boss to agree to fund this without knowing what it actually is.

Yeah, I'll take Things That Never Happened for $1,000 Alex. Either that or OP's boss is a complete idiot, which may be the case.

[Rdxenti]

I'm impressed you managed to get your boss to agree to fund this without knowing what it actually is.

Yeah, I'll take Things That Never Happened for $1,000 Alex. Either that or OP's boss is a complete idiot, which may be the case.

Are there actually employers who won’t pay $5,250 a year for you to go to school? It’s completely tax deductible....

[QContinuum]

I'm impressed you managed to get your boss to agree to fund this without knowing what it actually is.

Yeah, I'll take Things That Never Happened for $1,000 Alex. Either that or OP's boss is a complete idiot, which may be the case.

Are there actually employers who won’t pay $5,250 a year for you to go to school? It’s completely tax deductible....

Does the MLS only cost $5,250?

[Rdxenti]

I'm impressed you managed to get your boss to agree to fund this without knowing what it actually is.

Yeah, I'll take Things That Never Happened for $1,000 Alex. Either that or OP's boss is a complete idiot, which may be the case.

Are there actually employers who won’t pay $5,250 a year for you to go to school? It’s completely tax deductible....

Does the MLS only cost $5,250?

No. It's about $20,000 but they allow you four years to complete the program. If I'm not too impatient, I can get the entire thing paid for by spreading it out.

Realistically, I'm probably going to want to finish it in two, but I won't have to.