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curious as to this question myself. Also, OP, what are you hoping to accomplish via the joint-degree program?

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MPA won't help your legal employment prospects nearly enough to do it concurrently, and could throw a wrench into OCI. Go back for it or do it part time if you want it later, but it should not be necessary to achieving your stated goals. Bonus degrees are great ways to make your JD less useful and more expensive.

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Bump

vlienj24 wrote:Bump

As someone who just graduated as the top student at a top 10 MPA program, I am thinking Disco is probably right.

Undoubtedly your school has a specific policy for this. Different schools do it different ways. Asking us won't help very much.

OP - I am in a similar situation (JD/MBA). Here is the answer at my school (CCN). Your mileage may vary.

My school allows you to go through 2L OCI twice. That is you can do it once before your second year and once before your third year (and, presumably, once before your fourth yea as "3L" OCI). Most school I have heard of do it this way, but it could be different some places.

Many firms do not consider candidates unless they will be graduating the year after the summer program (i.e., they will not consider you your second year). That said, a fair number will. Some firms consider all joint degree students. Some only consider joint degrees from top schools. Some only consider JD/MBAs. One way to figure this out to go onto NALP - there's a line that says "Accepts applications from joint degree students graduating in 2013 [in my case] or later." This is a first stop, but it's not entirely accurate. What you will end up having to do is calling every firm you're interested in and asking them. Not only will this get you accurate information, it may get you into some firms that wouldn't consider you otherwise - I had a firm say "no" then ask what school I went to, then change their answer to "yes."

Regardless of whether they will nominally consider you, you will be at a disadvantage doing OCI your 2nd year. Given two equally compelling candidates, the firm will go for the normal JD every time considering they are almost certain that person will come to their firm if offered, whereas joint degree candidates might summer again at another firm. That said, you're also at an advantage since (1) not everything is riding on one OCI - you essentially get a free shot and if it doesn't work out you do it again next year, and (2) during 3L OCI, you can have an advantage over normal JDs if your joint degree is relevant to the firm's practice.

Hope that helps.

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