Back to School after JD? Forum

Drew2010 · Post by **Drew2010** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:17 pm

Can you go back to school after finishing your JD and working for a few years without screwing over your career?

starsong · Post by **starsong** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:22 pm

Drew2010 wrote:Can you go back to school after finishing your JD and working for a few years without screwing over your career?

Back to school for what?

Drew2010 · Post by **Drew2010** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:09 am

I'm not sure, but I guess my question was specific to things non-legal (so not like an LLM).. I toy with the idea of getting a masters in economics or philosophy one day, but I obviously wouldn't do it if it meant I wouldn't be able to go back to work afterwards

(Also, I guess this question is specific to biglaw.. could you go biglaw -> more school -> back to biglaw?)

starsong · Post by **starsong** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:38 am

Drew2010 wrote:I'm not sure, but I guess my question was specific to things non-legal (so not like an LLM).. I toy with the idea of getting a masters in economics or philosophy one day, but I obviously wouldn't do it if it meant I wouldn't be able to go back to work afterwards

(Also, I guess this question is specific to biglaw.. could you go biglaw -> more school -> back to biglaw?)

Well, law is considered a terminal/professional graduate degree. If you become a lawyer, you're advancing in a career, you can't just put your career on pause for two years while you get a MA in economics or something...why would anyone hire you back, it just shows you're not 100% committed...

gogulc · Post by **gogulc** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:45 am

I don't agree that it makes you not look committed. I went to law school 20 years ago and am considering going back for an LLM in Securities law at Georgetown. I think that the worst problem is that if you already have achieved a certain level of income, you really do not recover financially after a year off. Plus you also are taking a gamble on the type of employment you'll find when you finish the degree.

starsong · Post by **starsong** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:47 am

gogulc wrote:I don't agree that it makes you not look committed. I went to law school 20 years ago and am considering going back for an LLM in Securities law at Georgetown. I think that the worst problem is that if you already have achieved a certain level of income, you really do not recover financially after a year off. Plus you also are taking a gamble on the type of employment you'll find when you finish the degree.

There is a big difference between an LLM and a MA in Economics in Philosophy...

rockthelaw · Post by **rockthelaw** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:59 pm

Just met a guy last night who graduated BC Law in '02 and is now getting his MBA from a top MBA program. He said he realized after a year in law school that he didn't want to be a lawyer, so he finished the degree and has been in business ever since.

I guess it just depends what you want to do, and if the post-JD degree will help you achieve those goals.

starsong · Post by **starsong** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:34 pm

rockthelaw wrote:Just met a guy last night who graduated BC Law in '02 and is now getting his MBA from a top MBA program. He said he realized after a year in law school that he didn't want to be a lawyer, so he finished the degree and has been in business ever since.

I guess it just depends what you want to do, and if the post-JD degree will help you achieve those goals.

OP specifically asked about returning to biglaw after getting a MA...

motiontodismiss · Post by **motiontodismiss** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:38 pm

How helpful is getting a tax LLM say 5-10 years into practicing? How bout if you do it part time?

Sclerenchyma · Post by **Sclerenchyma** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:14 am

motiontodismiss wrote:How helpful is getting a tax LLM say 5-10 years into practicing? How bout if you do it part time?

Conventional thought seems to be that an LLM wont get your any farther than your JD and WE alone would have.

At the same time, the majority of LLMs pursued in the US seem to be either for those pursuing academia or "comparative law" LLMs for foreign degree holders looking to sit for the bar. So I'm not actually sure how much good information is out there relating to the experiences of LLMs who pursued their degree with the sole intention of improving their professional opportunities.

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