a JD is a versatile degree Forum

[Renzo]

...not according to this ex-lawyer (and T6) grad. (LinkRemoved)

Being a lawyer amounts to a strike against you if you ever decide to pursue another career.

A J.D. is not a versatile degree. Law is a specialized field which carries a heavy stigma beyond its own hermetic confines.

An “extremely versatile degree”?

That’s simply a crock.

[brosef stalin]

I read that link as "the peoples the rapist."

Also, isn't this common knowledge on TLS?

[Gemini]

This is depressing.

[vamedic03]

Not to be a smart ass - but, there is no truly 'versatile' graduate degree. Graduate education is specialized and trains you for a specific career.

Though there might be a stigma associated with a JD, its also arguable that this stigma is one that is associated with specialty degrees in general.

In many ways, a JD is still far more versatile than other graduate degrees. If a JD applicant in a non-legal job gets strange looks, imagine MD applicants. I've known a fair number of physicians who hate their jobs but are trapped in them because they feel there is nothing else they can do with their degree and they have significant debt loads.

I think this comes down to the following: don't go into a professional education program unless you want to be that professional.

[spondee]

Funny, though, that this dude is getting paid to write this specifically because he has a JD but isn't a lawyer.

[Black-Blue]

I think it's widely known that a JD hurts you if you want to enter most other fields.

[CanadianWolf]

It might be versatile if the local radio station manager suffers from dyslexia.

[MTal]

Not to be a smart ass - but, there is no truly 'versatile' graduate degree. Graduate education is specialized and trains you for a specific career.

Math is a versatile degree. So is engineering, and statistics. A JD is not.

Edit: Seriously, given the information that's out there. Anyone still contemplating paying for law school is a complete retard.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

Not to be a smart ass - but, there is no truly 'versatile' graduate degree. Graduate education is specialized and trains you for a specific career.

Though there might be a stigma associated with a JD, its also arguable that this stigma is one that is associated with specialty degrees in general.

In many ways, a JD is still far more versatile than other graduate degrees. If a JD applicant in a non-legal job gets strange looks, imagine MD applicants. I've known a fair number of physicians who hate their jobs but are trapped in them because they feel there is nothing else they can do with their degree and they have significant debt loads.

I think this comes down to the following: don't go into a professional education program unless you want to be that professional.

Some of these other degrees don't have this myth about them being so versatile though. You don't encounter too many med school applicants who talk about how they aren't really sure they actually want to practice medicine, but they have been told they can use their MD in a lot of other ways.

[BaiAilian2013]

What are you supposed to say when a fellow student talks about what a versatile degree it is and how many things you can do with a JD? I always nod and say "totally."

[vamedic03]

Not to be a smart ass - but, there is no truly 'versatile' graduate degree. Graduate education is specialized and trains you for a specific career.

Math is a versatile degree. So is engineering, and statistics. A JD is not.

Masters in stats as versatile? Really?

[kaftka juice]

Not to be a smart ass - but, there is no truly 'versatile' graduate degree. Graduate education is specialized and trains you for a specific career.

Math is a versatile degree. So is engineering, and statistics. A JD is not.

Masters in stats as versatile? Really?

you can be an actuary for health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, and teach community college

[Wavelet]

Not to be a smart ass - but, there is no truly 'versatile' graduate degree. Graduate education is specialized and trains you for a specific career.

Math is a versatile degree. So is engineering, and statistics. A JD is not.

Masters in stats as versatile? Really?

you can be an actuary for health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, and teach community college

A JD is a versatile degree because you can litigate health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, and life insurance claims. And you can teach community college.

[MTal]

A JD is a versatile degree because you can litigate health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, and life insurance claims. And you can teach community college.

You are an idiot if you think the opportunities of the former equate with those of the latter.

[merichard87]

It seems like the bigger problem for him is that he didn't know wtf he wanted to do in the first place. Law school then branding credit cards (which sounds pretty interesting by the way) and then a LMSW and now hes a Therapist? Dude figure it out.

Also, I agree with one of the posters above, graduate school is about specialized education. They're not supposed to be versatile.

[Wavelet]

A JD is a versatile degree because you can litigate health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, and life insurance claims. And you can teach community college.

You are an idiot if you think the opportunities of the former equate with those of the latter.

I was obviously being facetious. Listing what is effectively two jobs--actuary and community college professor--is hardly proof of a versatile degree.

[beach_terror]

[JOThompson]

A JD is supposed to be preferred for certain federal law enforcement jobs, right? Other than that, I can't think of a single instance where a JD is an advantage when seeking a radically different career.

[law_noob]

I'll take the rapist for 400 Alex

[beach_terror]

[northwood]

to continue beating the dead horse:
get a jd only if you want to be a lawyer. Why waste time, money and stress if you dont want to be a lawyer?
Having an advanced degree may hurt you in some job searches. People may assume you are over qualified or will cost too much even though you are the best canidate. Or they may think you will take the job and leave after 6 months to go to greener pastures.

[Shooter]

I would tell the author to try practicing law with an MBA, and then decide which degree is more versatile.

He is acting as if securing employment was difficult because of his JD, but there may not have been a causal link. Getting a job is hard work, period. A JD doesn't make it any easier - which clearly frustrated the rapist.

[Renzo]

I would tell the author to try practicing law with an MBA, and then decide which degree is more versatile.

He is acting as if securing employment was difficult because of his JD, but there may not have been a causal link. Getting a job is hard work, period. A JD doesn't make it any easier - which clearly frustrated the rapist.

I agree with the sentiment, but this isn't what the rapist said in his article. His point was that he encountered people who might have otherwise been hired, and people who might have hired him, but for the JD.

[GrapeApe]

A JD is supposed to be preferred for certain federal law enforcement jobs, right? Other than that, I can't think of a single instance where a JD is an advantage when seeking a radically different career.

Law Enforcement in general would be very happy to have a J.D. in the ranks. There are more than a few upper level managers in the LE ranks who have a J.D.

Law Enforcement is one of the few, if not only, exceptions to the general rule that a J.D. is only good for pursuing a legal career. (However, one who is planning on getting a J.D. for Law Enforcement purposes should NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER pay for the degree, it only makes sense if one gets the degree for free.)

[sundance95]

I read that link as "the peoples the rapist."

I'll take the rapists for $100, Alex.