Top Law Schools

Sorry if there's already a subject about this somewhere, but ever since the search feature was changed I can't find any old threads anymore.

Anyways, I'm currently going through the application process, and thus far I have only applied regular decision everywhere. I would like to do transactional law upon graduation (M&A, Securities, something in that realm) and eventually move in-house somewhere afterwards. I really haven't considered doing any kind of JD/MBA program, but lately I've kind of been wondering whether that is an option I should consider.

So, I guess my questions are...

A. I know most regular MBA programs are for people with significant WE, so is it even an option for me as a K-JD?

B. In what situations would one want to do one of these programs, and, if so, at which T-14's is it even worth it?


Any advice is appreciated!

There is some useful information in the thread MBA Help and some in the thread Is JD/MBA good for anything?, with some more information (and lots more links) in the thread Dual MBA/JD.

Thanks, that seems to clear things up pretty quickly. I guess if I ever want to lateral into a position where they want me to get an MBA I can just do it then. Makes sense.

No chance K-JD. SOME MBA programs like HBS and Stanford GSB offer 2+2 programs that allow you to apply to the standard business program alone while an undergrad, but even then, require that two year work commitment as bridge. No business school will want you right out of school - though you can apply as soon as two years out after legit WE (think management consulting or bank).

The value of an elite MBA is signaling more than skill development - so there are few, if any, big law jobs a JD/MBA would afford you access to that a traditional JD would not. Granted, an elite JD/MBA is super marketable, but only worthwhile if 1) you actually can get into an elite JD/MBA (meaning, be honest with yourself if your WE is strong enough - Poets and Quants "Handicapping Your Business School Odds" is really helpful to make that determination) and 2) you're not footing the bill. Ultimately, you're going to have to choose law or business, so either way, one degree will be extraneous and an unnecessary cost (unless, again, time/cost is irrelevant to you).

If this is something you're serious about, suggest targeting top schools offering a three-year option with nice balance of business/law school strength: short list is Wharton, Kellogg, and Columbia. Yale offers one as well, but is an outlier because the law school is so strong and the business school is so (comparatively) weak, seems silly to do the dual when YLS will open any door for you on its own.

Didn't pursue a JD/MBA (opted for an accelerated JD instead), but did some substantial due diligence. Definitely PM me if I can help at all.

wojo98 wrote:No chance K-JD. SOME MBA programs like HBS and Stanford GSB offer 2+2 programs that allow you to apply to the standard business program alone while an undergrad, but even then, require that two year work commitment as bridge. No business school will want you right out of school - though you can apply as soon as two years out after legit WE (think management consulting or bank).

The value of an elite MBA is signaling more than skill development - so there are few, if any, big law jobs a JD/MBA would afford you access to that a traditional JD would not. Granted, an elite JD/MBA is super marketable, but only worthwhile if 1) you actually can get into an elite JD/MBA (meaning, be honest with yourself if your WE is strong enough - Poets and Quants "Handicapping Your Business School Odds" is really helpful to make that determination) and 2) you're not footing the bill. Ultimately, you're going to have to choose law or business, so either way, one degree will be extraneous and an unnecessary cost (unless, again, time/cost is irrelevant to you).

If this is something you're serious about, suggest targeting top schools offering a three-year option with nice balance of business/law school strength: short list is Wharton, Kellogg, and Columbia. Yale offers one as well, but is an outlier because the law school is so strong and the business school is so (comparatively) weak, seems silly to do the dual when YLS will open any door for you on its own.

Didn't pursue a JD/MBA (opted for an accelerated JD instead), but did some substantial due diligence. Definitely PM me if I can help at all.

To be honest, at this point in my life I am much more interested in going into law than something like banking. I was more concerned with how it would supplement a JD and affect job prospects in positions that are still law related. From what I've been reading here, I think the best option for me is just to go get my JD, and there's always time to get my MBA if my plans change or a future employer wants to foot the bill. Thanks for the help, though, and I'll definitely PM you if I have any more questions.

LawBron James wrote:

wojo98 wrote:No chance K-JD. SOME MBA programs like HBS and Stanford GSB offer 2+2 programs that allow you to apply to the standard business program alone while an undergrad, but even then, require that two year work commitment as bridge. No business school will want you right out of school - though you can apply as soon as two years out after legit WE (think management consulting or bank).

The value of an elite MBA is signaling more than skill development - so there are few, if any, big law jobs a JD/MBA would afford you access to that a traditional JD would not. Granted, an elite JD/MBA is super marketable, but only worthwhile if 1) you actually can get into an elite JD/MBA (meaning, be honest with yourself if your WE is strong enough - Poets and Quants "Handicapping Your Business School Odds" is really helpful to make that determination) and 2) you're not footing the bill. Ultimately, you're going to have to choose law or business, so either way, one degree will be extraneous and an unnecessary cost (unless, again, time/cost is irrelevant to you).

If this is something you're serious about, suggest targeting top schools offering a three-year option with nice balance of business/law school strength: short list is Wharton, Kellogg, and Columbia. Yale offers one as well, but is an outlier because the law school is so strong and the business school is so (comparatively) weak, seems silly to do the dual when YLS will open any door for you on its own.

Didn't pursue a JD/MBA (opted for an accelerated JD instead), but did some substantial due diligence. Definitely PM me if I can help at all.

To be honest, at this point in my life I am much more interested in going into law than something like banking. I was more concerned with how it would supplement a JD and affect job prospects in positions that are still law related. From what I've been reading here, I think the best option for me is just to go get my JD, and there's always time to get my MBA if my plans change or a future employer wants to foot the bill. Thanks for the help, though, and I'll definitely PM you if I have any more questions.

I'm a K-JD and a JD/MBA currently at Stanford. Feel free to PM with questions. You're dead on in thinking that if you want to do just law work anyway the MBA isn't necessarily a great idea. It's all about knowing yourself and your goals and then figuring out what makes sense for you.

Like I said, open to PMs. Good luck.

Instinctive wrote:

LawBron James wrote:

wojo98 wrote:No chance K-JD. SOME MBA programs like HBS and Stanford GSB offer 2+2 programs that allow you to apply to the standard business program alone while an undergrad, but even then, require that two year work commitment as bridge. No business school will want you right out of school - though you can apply as soon as two years out after legit WE (think management consulting or bank).

The value of an elite MBA is signaling more than skill development - so there are few, if any, big law jobs a JD/MBA would afford you access to that a traditional JD would not. Granted, an elite JD/MBA is super marketable, but only worthwhile if 1) you actually can get into an elite JD/MBA (meaning, be honest with yourself if your WE is strong enough - Poets and Quants "Handicapping Your Business School Odds" is really helpful to make that determination) and 2) you're not footing the bill. Ultimately, you're going to have to choose law or business, so either way, one degree will be extraneous and an unnecessary cost (unless, again, time/cost is irrelevant to you).

If this is something you're serious about, suggest targeting top schools offering a three-year option with nice balance of business/law school strength: short list is Wharton, Kellogg, and Columbia. Yale offers one as well, but is an outlier because the law school is so strong and the business school is so (comparatively) weak, seems silly to do the dual when YLS will open any door for you on its own.

Didn't pursue a JD/MBA (opted for an accelerated JD instead), but did some substantial due diligence. Definitely PM me if I can help at all.

To be honest, at this point in my life I am much more interested in going into law than something like banking. I was more concerned with how it would supplement a JD and affect job prospects in positions that are still law related. From what I've been reading here, I think the best option for me is just to go get my JD, and there's always time to get my MBA if my plans change or a future employer wants to foot the bill. Thanks for the help, though, and I'll definitely PM you if I have any more questions.

I'm a K-JD and a JD/MBA currently at Stanford. Feel free to PM with questions. You're dead on in thinking that if you want to do just law work anyway the MBA isn't necessarily a great idea. It's all about knowing yourself and your goals and then figuring out what makes sense for you.

Like I said, open to PMs. Good luck.

An ideal resource (though this is an outlier/idiosyncratic trajectory for most MBAs and/or JD/MBAs - mean WE is like ~4/5 years at most programs).

wojo98 wrote:

Instinctive wrote: I'm a K-JD and a JD/MBA currently at Stanford. Feel free to PM with questions. You're dead on in thinking that if you want to do just law work anyway the MBA isn't necessarily a great idea. It's all about knowing yourself and your goals and then figuring out what makes sense for you.

Like I said, open to PMs. Good luck.

An ideal resource (though this is an outlier/idiosyncratic trajectory for most MBAs and/or JD/MBAs - mean WE is like ~4/5 years at most programs).

This is absolutely true. Honestly, K-JDs seem to be a minority in the law school alone here, though I haven't formally looked it up.