Colorado Technical University

Should I get an MBA or go to Law School?

I graduated two years ago from my undergrad degree. I’m now working at a big financial corporation. I know I want to continue my education, but I’m wondering if I should go for my J.D. or MBA. I’m hoping that someone with either an MBA or J.D. can tell me about his/her experience with the career after school.

Public Comments

1. There are programs that combine both because business and law are intertwined. Check it out on the web ...there might be some in your area. They will be longer than the 3 years for law school, maybe one more year but worth it.
2. I graduated two years ago as well, and my first job was as an assistant at a big law firm. I wanted to be a lawyer and thought the experience would benefit me in law school. I talked to one of the lawyers about going to law school once, and he spent 45 minutes telling me not to do it. He said he was a partner at a big firm in a good-sized city, and that he hated it, and that whenever he heard about his buddies with MBA's going golfing for a third time this week, he got a little jealous. I asked him if he got much time with his family, and he just silently shook his head, "No." I'm not a golfer and I don't work at the law firm anymore, and right now I am very seriously considering an MBA program. That's just my experience. The only other thing I should add is that if you go to law school and become a lawyer do it to make money and not for any other reason.
3. Definitely not law. There are no jobs and the profession is crumbling. Maybe an MBA. Actual case study: I have a friend who majored in civil engineering and got his MBA. He works for the state's department of transportation and recently purchased a $1.1 million home in a new development. He's been working for about 15 years. I am a JD and my salary is on the lower end of lawyers. I live in a $180,000 home in a lower income neighborhood. I can't see myself where he is in 10 years when I reach his age. There may be a better payout in the long run with an MBA. But that's just me...
4. Please be aware of what you are proposing on getting yourself into. Please do more research first. >>>>>>>Reminder: We are in a World-wide Recession. Warning> Jobs in the field of Law are drying up fast!! This is just not a good field to invest time and/or money into. This is a SHRINKING vocational field. Many reasons. Many people today (mistakenly) think they can do their own legal work, thanks to the Internet. Also, we simply already have way too many Legal Professionals - we have an absolute glut!! ("Legal Professionals" includes, but is not limited to: Attorneys/Lawyers, Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Bailiffs, Court Reporters, etc, etc) Employers (usually law firms) in the field of Law today want employees with degrees from traditional colleges/universities. Those "certificates" you see advertised aren't worth the paper they are printed on - they are generally scams. (I found this out the hard way.) Cost of law school to be lawyer, approx $150,000+. Be prepared to take on a lot of debt. Even if you finish law school, you won't be able to find a job when you are done. Since this vocational field is shrinking, many new attorneys/lawyers are, themselves, having to work "down" as Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Bailiffs, Court Reporters, etc, etc, to simply try to keep some of their bills paid <<this would be your competition. And the competition is fierce!! Now... the law schools know this, but they won't tell you the truth >that the job market/economy is just saturated with way too many Legal Professionals. Instead the schools will feed you a fairytale and will lie to you. The root of the problem is we have too many law schools. We are in a recession, and the schools are fighting for their own survival - they will tell students anything to get to the students' money. (Which is why they won't tell you the truth about the job market for the field of Law.) And these schools continue to recruit and churn out even more graduates............. If you don't believe me, then just do a search here on Yahoo Answers to see what other posters are saying about the current status of the field of Law. Call some local law firms - ask to speak to the Manager of Human Resources - ask them if they are hiring; ask them what they think about job availability in the field of Law.................. In the book "So You Want to be a Lawyer?" by Marianne Calabrese and Susanne Calabrese (ISBN 0-88391-136-1): "The United States has more lawyers than any other country in the world. About 38,000 students graduate >each year< from the 200+ law schools in the United States. The competition is very keen for jobs and clients." - Even Associate Justice Antonin Scalia (who served on the U.s. Supreme Court for more than 20 years) says there are too many lawyers. (9/14/2008) Check out these websites: http://informeddecisionmaking.blogspot.com http://calicocat.com/2004/08/law-school-big-lie.html http://abajournal.com/news/triplt_bad_news_for_law_students_three_firms_aX_summer_associate_programs/ http://abajournal.com/news/as_rio_tinto_saves_millions_other_corps_will_outsource_too_counsel_says/ (A link to a website does not constitute endorsement.) If you want a job when you are done with your studies, consider and look into the field of >>>Healthcare! I spoke to a career counselor from Jobs and Family Services, and HE told me that this is where the jobs are, and future job availability! and scholarships! Good luck. (This is based on my current knowledge, information, and belief. This was intended as personal opinion, and not intended to be used as legal advice. Please be careful and do your research.)
5. I would recommend getting your mba. It will give you more opportunities once you get your degree. I recently got my mba and it helped me get a great job. It will give you more experiencein your field of study. In these time it is better to get a broader degree leaving you with more options. http://www.adelphi.edu/manhattan/business.php