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What is the feeling out there on employer perceptions of concentrations or certifcations in practice areas that some schools have as part of their programs?

2LsAPlenty wrote:What is the feeling out there on employer perceptions of concentrations or certifcations in practice areas that some schools have as part of their programs?

If you're already at a school and can pick up some extra diploma bling without hurting your GPA, it can't hurt, But you should not pick a school based on their specialty ranking or if they have a concentration. Also, you shouldn't do a concentration if it would hurt your GPA by requiring harder classes. And, remember to leave it off your resume when applying to firms or agencies that don't specialize in that area of law.

generally don't matter

Depends on the specialty, IMO.

Natural Resources or Indian Law, for instance, might actually be useful for certain jobs... but useless outside of their fields, and not required to actually get a job in those fields.

I think if you like that area, then do it... otherwise, I wouldn't bother.

LawIdiot86 wrote:

2LsAPlenty wrote:What is the feeling out there on employer perceptions of concentrations or certifcations in practice areas that some schools have as part of their programs?

If you're already at a school and can pick up some extra diploma bling without hurting your GPA, it can't hurt, But you should not pick a school based on their specialty ranking or if they have a concentration. Also, you shouldn't do a concentration if it would hurt your GPA by requiring harder classes. And, remember to leave it off your resume when applying to firms or agencies that don't specialize in that area of law.

This. It's a nice cap in your feather once you've settled on a school and are in 2L. Absolutely don't do it if you think it'll compromise your grades even the slightest

Thanks. No one I talked to thought much about a business or employment concentration being helpful in any meaningful way.