Jd/mba

storch · 05-21-2009, 11:54 PM

A couple of questions here; first, are there any top programs other than Northwestern, Penn and Yale offering a three year JD/MBA option? I already have a year of grad school, so only 3 yrs is highly appealing to me. Second, do people think the JD on top of an MBA is worthwhile for someone who doesn’t plan to practice law (I’d speculate that it is if it’s only an extra year)? Put differently, does the JD add much value for someone who is already planning to go for an MBA and plans to work in finance?

My situation is a follows: I am working on a 1yr masters at the moment, and also plan to eventually obtain an MBA. My long term goals are to become a fund manager, and – with a little luck – eventually run my own investment firm. Prestigious degrees count in this field, and I figure a JD/MBA from a top school is about as good as it gets for a business/finance pedigree. I already have a couple years exp in investments and have completed the CFA exams, my grades undergrad were good but not great – about a 3.5 from a LAC [lackluster grades freshman year], but my grades as a grad will be outstanding and are from a highly respected and rigorous school, GMAT >700 and expected LSAT score in the 170 range – I know my UG GPA won’t help for law school admissions, but I assume being near the top of my class from a prestigious grad program will more than offset that (can anyone confirm this?), also I have leadership experiences coming out my ears: president of this, captain of that, etc…

I know that getting into one of these programs is about as tough as it can get – kind of like lightning striking twice. Can anyone appraise my chances/offer constructive advice?

Thanks for your consideration.

ThePhilosopher · 05-22-2009, 12:14 AM

If you're not going to practice law, why would you get a JD..

storch · 05-22-2009, 01:06 AM

philosopher;

SSRN-Crossing the Charles: The Experiences, Networks, and Career Paths of Harvard JD/MBA Alumni by Lynn Wood, Justin Osofsky

please read this report, the motivations are clear...

storch · 05-22-2009, 01:28 AM

also:

JD-MBA, Employment Statistics, Center for Career Strategy, Facilities & Resources, Northwestern Law: Northwestern University Law School

many do not do legal work.

ThePhilosopher · 05-22-2009, 09:27 AM

So you want to spend an extra 200k just to network?

I would look carefully at whether you need both degrees. It might not be worth it. You say "getting into one of these programs is about as tough as it gets"... I would say getting OUT is about as tough as it gets.

AmbulanceChaser · 05-22-2009, 04:23 PM

Most people who do JD/MBA do not do legal work, but for your goals a prestigious MBA will be more than enough. The two years of work experience and accompanying networking will get you farther than the extra JD, not to mention the $300k difference in extra tuition+lost wages.

storch · 05-23-2009, 04:23 AM

Good points, although I would only do the 3yr programs, so its only one year extra. Still, 300k lost is still about right though.

Thanks for both of your inputs.

Any other thoughts are welcome.

cartera45 · 05-23-2009, 10:14 AM

I see no advantage to the JD unless you plan to practice law. You learn very little in law school about the practice of law and I doubt just having the degree listed on your resume is worth the time and expense.

AmbulanceChaser · 05-24-2009, 12:57 AM

Quote:

but I assume being near the top of my class from a prestigious grad program will more than offset that (can anyone confirm this?

Most admissions officers interviewed have stated that they don't look at, or do not put emphasis on, graduate school grades because LSAC does not standardize them. They only care that you went to grad school.

However a 3.5 is adequate for just about every law school.

pnb2002 · 05-24-2009, 02:53 AM

Google is such a wonderful thing.

My 5 min of searching tells me that all t-14 schools offer JD/MBA programs. So answer your question #1: Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, Chicago, Michigan, UVA, Berkeley, Cornell, Duke, and Georgetown.

arplayer2k · 05-25-2009, 04:26 AM

I have read the first Harvard pdf storch posted a long time ago when researching the actual benefit of a JDMBA. Though there wasn't a particular or specific benefit in terms of a guaranteed path to a specific job, the argument can be made that these individuals end up working highly respected positions in whichever field they chose to enter.

Some law firms will start you as a second year associate, but you don't want to practice law, and I guess I don't blame you. If you think it will help with your personal development, then I say go for it. In my opinion, the extra knowledge and the education taught in law school, can only benefit you. Knowledge is power.