Joint Degree Programs Forum

[jared6180]

I was reading about a Joint Degree Program that offers your JD and Masters in Business or a Masters in Economics in 3 years and 1 summer semester. My question is this, will the Masters in either help attain a "Big Law" job (or in my case a medium Law job as I am in the Kansas City Market), or would a larger firm not hire you specifically because after you graduate with your JD, you have one more summer of school to get your Masters? Or would the firms look at the Masters as worthwhile to their business needs, and hire you after the summer?

Am I over thinking it?

Thanks

[ran12]

I was reading about a Joint Degree Program that offers your JD and Masters in Business or a Masters in Economics in 3 years and 1 summer semester. My question is this, will the Masters in either help attain a "Big Law" job (or in my case a medium Law job as I am in the Kansas City Market), or would a larger firm not hire you specifically because after you graduate with your JD, you have one more summer of school to get your Masters? Or would the firms look at the Masters as worthwhile to their business needs, and hire you after the summer?

Am I over thinking it?

Thanks

It really depends on which school you get the JD/MBA. The only respectable schools that do a 3 yr are Northwestern and Columbia from what I know. Most people do a 4 year JD/MBA and biglaw firms will give these people an extra bonus when hired b/c of the MBA. Other people here will prob say it's not worth it and truth be told, to a degree it's not. If you're going into M&A, securities, general corporate, etc. type of law, MBA will give you an advantage in the beginning b/c you will know more about leveraging firms, underwriting, etc. In addition, MBA does give you options in case you don't get a legal job you like and from what I've seen, a JD has more pull in the business world than a MBA in the legal world. With that said, I wouldn't get the MBA unless it's from a legit b-school.