<p>Guys-I am going to law school next year, and I did not get into the MBA program for the dual degree (just finished college, no chance for admission to MBA program). As a liberal arts major I have ZERO business acumen. After law school I would be interested in maybe taking individual business courses to enhance my knowledge. What courses would you guys recommend? I know basic accounting proficiency is a must these days, but what other accounting/econ/finance/statistics/etc. area classes should I be familiar with?</p>
<p>Most states now require lawyers to spend a few hours a year taking continuing education courses. Some of the more popular offerings are things like “Accounting for Lawyers: How to Read a Spreadsheet,” or “The Pocket MBA,” which is designed to introduce lawyers to basic business principles.</p>
<p>There are also law school courses that cover subjects like corporations and other forms of business organization; some law schools offer courses on mergers and acquisitions, and securities regulation. All first year students study contracts, which are of course a major focus the business world. Classes on the Uniform Commercial Code are certainly helpful for someone with an interest in business. Even criminal law spends some time covering white collar crimes, which serve as cautionary tales in the business world.</p>
<p>Greybeard: </p>
<p>I always agree with your answers! I’ve taken some of those CLE classes myself, and they’ve been helpful. </p>
<p>I’ve also encouraged my kids to take CC classes over summers. They’ve found some night classes on intro to business, accounting 101 etc. for about $300 class. Graduates tend not to look backwards to undergraduate schools, and high achievers sometimes don’t think about the classes available at community college.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t wait until after law school to start boning up on business. My standard recommendation has always been to get a student subscription to the Wall Street Journal and start reading it during law school. Look up terms or concepts you don’t know. As noted above, you’ll osmose quite a bit through many of your courses. Definitely take an accounting for lawyers course if offered at your school. My latest discovery is the Kahn Academy website. He has short videos on everything from Time Value of Money to discount rates. It looks like a great way to back and fill for a liberal arts major. Good luck.</p>