MD/JD for Forensic Psychiatry Forum

[josephSF27]

Hi Everyone

I studied Political theory in College and wish to continue the research in law school. My top choice is University of Chicago for their focus on Law and political theory research. But I am also interested in their JD/MD program. I want to get a job as an FBI Special Agent or an Operations Officer with the CIA after law school. I am interested in analysis, but it does not sound as exciting. I understand forensic psychiatry is the best use of a JD/MD, as it is a fusion of Law, Medicine and Public policy. I have a few questions on the application of this specialty as it pertains to working as in the Civil Service, as a Special agent in the FBI (or operations chief in the CIA), or as an intelligence analyst.

1. Will the MD add any tangible value in Law Enforcement or intelligence work?

2. Will I receive a higher pay grade for having both degrees?

3. What is the career progression of someone who picks forensic psychiatry and works in the Civil Service like?

3.a. Is it easy to transfer to move up in the Civil Service with a job like this, I.E to a Department secretary position or a cabinet level position?

3.b Do people with this background and experience get to try cases or are they more often than not relegated to expert positions?

[A. Nony Mouse]

I can't answer any of the rest of this, but FBI agents don't try cases - they're investigators, not lawyers. They're very involved in cases, and may well testify, but don't represent the US in court.

[josephSF27]

I can't answer any of the rest of this, but FBI agents don't try cases - they're investigators, not lawyers. They're very involved in cases, and may well testify, but don't represent the US in court.

But will that experience give me the credentials to transfer in to the US attorney's office and succeed there?

[A. Nony Mouse]

I don't know of anyone who's done a JD, then become an FBI agent, then become an AUSA - obviously that doesn't mean no one ever has, but my sense is that it would be very very uncommon. I think it's not unheard of to go the agent --> LS --> lawyer route. If you want to be an AUSA you don't need an MD and you don't need go be an FBI agent first.

[josephSF27]

I don't know of anyone who's done a JD, then become an FBI agent, then become an AUSA - obviously that doesn't mean no one ever has, but my sense is that it would be very very uncommon. I think it's not unheard of to go the agent --> LS --> lawyer route. If you want to be an AUSA you don't need an MD and you don't need go be an FBI agent first.

The only reason I would want to be a Special Agent is because it sounds more fun than being an AUSA. Would a MD in Psychiatry help in being a criminal profiler?

Being a Clandestine Service Officer sounds better than both, but I know that most people who do that have had 10+ years of government service or a PHD in a related field prior to hiring.

But all these paths support the same conclusion that and MD would be superfluous for my career choice.

[TheProsecutor]

FBI ---> AUSA can be had and it will make you more competitive to be an AUSA. There are several well known people who took this path, the most prominent of which was Louis Freeh who was an FBI agent and then an AUSA at SDNY before becoming a judge and FBI director.

If you want to be an agent and get paid, you should become a member of the justice department before becoming an agent. If you become an agent from a position in the private sector, you are paid the same salary that entering agents are paid (very very low salary), but if you're already in DOJ, then you get paid at some rate closer to what you make at DOJ (which is likely to be significantly more than you would make as an agent).

I don't know anything about having a MD adding any tangible value. My guess is no.
Not sure what the pay is for having both degrees
No idea what the career progression is like.
Yes, it is very hard to become a department secretary or a member of the cabinet. Duh.