preLaw - Back to School 2007 - (Page 19) TREND A boom for JD-MBA degrees? Career service officials weigh the pros and cons of this three-year program BY KAREN DYBIS ore law schools are offering joint JD-MBA degrees, and employers are starting to take notice and seek out graduates with strong business acumen. The JD-MBA combines a Juris Doctor and Masters of Business Administration, giving students an educational foundation in law and business management. It is one of the more popular dual-degree programs. But prospective students should weigh the hiring prospects against their career aspirations before going down this path, according to career services officials and law firm hiring partners. There are pros and cons to this career choice, said Skip Horne, who oversees recruitment for national law firm Latham & Watkins LLP. On the plus side, JD-MBA students tend to have more team- and project-based experience — skills attractive to both law and business employers. Graduates boost their career options, enjoy future job flexibility and enjoy larger hiring bonuses and salaries from some employers. However, this path tends to add another year to most law programs, and it costs more money to complete. It also may be difficult to schedule classes, depending on cooperation levels between law and business schools. So while some say it is a boom market for JD-MBA candidates, students should understand the drawbacks. “Not all programs are created equal,” said Bill Chamberlain, assistant dean of the Career Strategy Center at Northwestern University School of Law. M Kellogg School of Management has one of the more unique JDMBA programs in the nation. The program is among the largest — it averages 20 to 25 students per year, or about 10 percent of the law school’s class. It also is shorter than most — it’s a three-year program because students continue to attend classes during the first summer. Nationwide, there is little research on the career success of students who have JD-MBA degrees, but that may be due to the limited number of students who complete these programs annually, Chamberlain said. Chamberlain said hiring IS A JD-MBA DEGREE FOR YOU? Karen trends tend to be cyclical, so Britton, director of admissions at the it behooves students to study University of Tennessee, talks about current market conditions. If employment opportunities and offers advice for they go into the program just to students interested in this dual degree. Go to make themselves more marketwww.nationaljurist.com and visit the Career page. able, they may end up disappointed. Of those who receive the degree, some end up at law For example, many employers seriously weigh the quality of the business program, firms, while those interested in business Chamberlain said. So if your B-school has tend to land in finance, consulting jobs a mediocre reputation, you may want to or investment banks, said Karen Britton, direct of Admissions, Financial Aid and avoid wasting time and money, he said. “If people are interested in business, Career Services for the University of it’s a huge benefit,” Chamberlain said. “It Tennessee College of Law. “I think [dual degrees] are the wave of can be a great advantage. You learn a lot of things not normally taught in law school, the future,” Chamberlain said. “Like anything else, you have to know why you’re including teamwork and collaboration.” Northwestern’s partnership with the doing it. It takes an entrepreneurial spirit.” Other recommendations: • Consult your career services offices in both the law and business schools before applying. They can give you a more specific idea of the career potential based on your school’s hiring trends. • Be aware that interviewing timelines may be different for students in the law school and business programs. This could affect which employers you are able to see during the peak hiring season. • Prepare for some skepticism when interviewing with employers. Some employers may question how serious you are about the law, and vice versa, depending on whether you are sitting in a law firm or corporate interview room. www.preLawInsider.com Back to School 2006 19 http://www.nationaljurist.com http://www.preLawInsider.com
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