Joint Degrees Forum

[Artistry]

Do joint degrees allow for prospective lawyers to more easily find employment? If so, then which Masters degree would be the best option to pursue?

[rad lulz]

Generally no. They make you look uncommitted and are a waste of money. Possible exception for a badass MBA.

[Artistry]

Generally no. They make you look uncommitted and are a waste of money.

But don't they allow for an insurance policy in the event that legal work is inaccessible?

[TTTLS]

Generally no. They make you look uncommitted and are a waste of money. Possible exception for a badass MBA.

A JD/PhD may also be a credited path.

[rad lulz]

Generally no. They make you look uncommitted and are a waste of money.

But don't they allow for an insurance policy in the event that legal work is inaccessible?

You then look uncommitted to non-legal employers.

[Artistry]

Generally no. They make you look uncommitted and are a waste of money.

But don't they allow for an insurance policy in the event that legal work is inaccessible?

You then look uncommitted to non-legal employers.

This feels counterintuitive to me. I had thought that joint degrees tended to complement one another, not disrupt each other.

[rad lulz]

Generally no. They make you look uncommitted and are a waste of money.

But don't they allow for an insurance policy in the event that legal work is inaccessible?

You then look uncommitted to non-legal employers.

This feels counterintuitive to me. I had thought that joint degrees tended to complement one another, not disrupt each other.

I'll admit I know more about the law side of it, but at least on that side, you don't need a MPH to do healthcare law, a MSW to do PI stuff, MEcon to corporate work, etc. The law is mostly stuff you learn on the job, not in school. And if you work for a large/medium sized firm, a lot of them have a specific hiring timetable which you then throw off unless you do the program in 3 years.

I can't think of any reason to get like a JD/MDiv.

[Artistry]

Part of the reason I bring this up is because I'm going to be finishing undergrad with a degree in criminal justice shortly. Most government jobs in criminal justice require a masters (or related work experience) to be eligible.

I had been looking for a school for a JD in the hope of practicing, but I then thought that, if that didn't work out for some reason, I'd be able to rely on the masters of criminal justice to get a job somewhere in the federal government.

Not too many jobs exist where a bachelors of criminal justice will get you a job; that's why I thought pursuing a joint degree would be a nice compliment and an insurance policy all in one.

And if things REALLY go bad, I could try later to get a Ph.D or something.

[rad lulz]

Part of the reason I bring this up is because I'm going to be finishing undergrad with a degree in criminal justice shortly. Most government jobs in criminal justice require a masters (or related work experience) to be eligible.

I had been looking for a school for a JD in the hope of practicing, but I then thought that, if that didn't work out for some reason, I'd be able to rely on the masters of criminal justice to get a job somewhere in the federal government.

Not too many jobs exist where a bachelors of criminal justice will get you a job; that's why I thought pursuing a joint degree would be a nice compliment and an insurance policy all in one.

And if things REALLY go bad, I could try later to get a Ph.D or something.

Maybe in that field. I'm not that familiar with it. Like I said, I know more about the legal side, especially firms.

[Artistry]

Part of the reason I bring this up is because I'm going to be finishing undergrad with a degree in criminal justice shortly. Most government jobs in criminal justice require a masters (or related work experience) to be eligible.

I had been looking for a school for a JD in the hope of practicing, but I then thought that, if that didn't work out for some reason, I'd be able to rely on the masters of criminal justice to get a job somewhere in the federal government.

Not too many jobs exist where a bachelors of criminal justice will get you a job; that's why I thought pursuing a joint degree would be a nice compliment and an insurance policy all in one.

And if things REALLY go bad, I could try later to get a Ph.D or something.

Maybe in that field. I'm not that familiar with it. Like I said, I know more about the legal side, especially firms.

I see. Well, your advice is appreciated all the same, rad lulz. Thanks again.

[Doorkeeper]

Generally no. They make you look uncommitted and are a waste of money. Possible exception for a badass MBA.

A JD/PhD may also be a credited path.

Not really. Then the firms thing you're going to jump ship for academia in 2-3 years.

[TommyK]

And if things REALLY go bad, I could try later to get a Ph.D or something.

Why? Would you need a masters degree before you pursue a Ph.D.?

[DocHawkeye]

Generally no. They make you look uncommitted and are a waste of money. Possible exception for a badass MBA.

A JD/PhD may also be a credited path.

Not really. Then the firms thing you're going to jump ship for academia in 2-3 years.

As one who got a PhD (admittedly in a field that is very difficult to relate to the law) before going to law school, let me tell you what a pain in the ass it is to explain it away in interviews. Unfortunately, leaving it off my resume isn't really possible either, as it would create a three year hole in my employment history as well. I agree with the advice here. Don't bother - the J.D. is sufficient in almost every case and the PhD would be an added burden that you just don't want.

[DocHawkeye]

And if things REALLY go bad, I could try later to get a Ph.D or something.

Why? Would you need a masters degree before you pursue a Ph.D.?

In some fields, and at some schools, a masters degree is a prerequisite for admission to the PhD program. Some schools confer both degrees upon completion of the PhD.

[TommyK]

And if things REALLY go bad, I could try later to get a Ph.D or something.

Why? Would you need a masters degree before you pursue a Ph.D.?

In some fields, and at some schools, a masters degree is a prerequisite for admission to the PhD program. Some schools confer both degrees upon completion of the PhD.

Then it doesn't seem worth the time, effort, risk to legal employment just so if 1) you can't find a legal job, 2) you want to go into a Ph.D. program and 3) that particular Ph.D. program requires a masters degree.

JD/MBA seems like it could be a useful pairing. You could explain it away pretty easily in interviews that you were originally interested in corporate law and thought this would provide a stronger foundation for future practice.

[SLim1124]

With the exception of science people doing patent work. PHD is the only way to get to the top. I'll probably have to squeeze one of those in someday...

[twenty]

I do understand and appreciate why people are saying that a JD/Ph.D can actually hurt you, I really can't help but think no one employer is going to actually go, "Stanford JD, awesome!... but, you also have a Stanford PhD... damn... and I was almost going to hire you, too."

Having said that, I've also heard from law school professors (albeit, professors that have been out of the hiring market for the last 10+ years) that feel like a HYSCC* JD/PhD is especially helpful for academia/clerkship.

(*that sound you heard is Brian Leiter crying himself to sleep.)

[aekea]

I do understand and appreciate why people are saying that a JD/Ph.D can actually hurt you, I really can't help but think no one employer is going to actually go, "Stanford JD, awesome!... but, you also have a Stanford PhD... damn... and I was almost going to hire you, too."

Having said that, I've also heard from law school professors (albeit, professors that have been out of the hiring market for the last 10+ years) that feel like a HYSCC* JD/PhD is especially helpful for academia/clerkship.

(*that sound you heard is Brian Leiter crying himself to sleep.)

My sister's doing a joint PhD JD and since she's in both programs at the same time, she gets to apply her PhD money toward her JD even though she won't be actively working on the PhD for 3 years. So, even though she didn't get any sort of grants for the JD, it's only going to cost her $15,000 total. Seems like a pretty awesome deal to me.

[twenty]

Which school? I know Stanford provides funding for both, is there another one?

[aekea]

Which school? I know Stanford provides funding for both, is there another one?

Yeah, at Stanford.

[romothesavior]

Generally no. They make you look uncommitted and are a waste of money. Possible exception for a badass MBA.

A JD/PhD may also be a credited path.

Not really. Then the firms thing you're going to jump ship for academia in 2-3 years.

As one who got a PhD (admittedly in a field that is very difficult to relate to the law) before going to law school, let me tell you what a pain in the ass it is to explain it away in interviews. Unfortunately, leaving it off my resume isn't really possible either, as it would create a three year hole in my employment history as well. I agree with the advice here. Don't bother - the J.D. is sufficient in almost every case and the PhD would be an added burden that you just don't want.

I think you guys both missed the sarcasm.

[twenty]

Could have easily, although I've seen the same sentiment on other threads. Granted, they may have all been sarcastic, too.

[aekea]

Not really. Then the firms thing you're going to jump ship for academia in 2-3 years.

As one who got a PhD (admittedly in a field that is very difficult to relate to the law) before going to law school, let me tell you what a pain in the ass it is to explain it away in interviews. Unfortunately, leaving it off my resume isn't really possible either, as it would create a three year hole in my employment history as well. I agree with the advice here. Don't bother - the J.D. is sufficient in almost every case and the PhD would be an added burden that you just don't want.

I think you guys both missed the sarcasm.

Hmm, yeah that makes much more sense as sarcasm.