<p>I know that there have been some discussions arguing whether an extra 4th year for the JD/MBA program carries any value in landing a job and advancing in the firm as a corporate lawyer or is it just a waste of time and money. Some say it will actually give negative impression to the firm during the job interview due to the fact that the graduates with MBA degrees tend to leave the firm after few years. </p>
<p>My question is, if you do not intend to get into the business field, can MBA actually help you in advancing your career as a corporate attorney?</p>
<p>I did check out some profiles at some of the largest law firms and found many attorneys in their corporate department with MBA degrees. And I also had a impression that the more recently joined associates tend to have more MBA degrees than the partners. </p>
<p>With Upenn launching a 3 year JD/MBA program, should we suspect that this is going to be a trend in the market especially in the times like this with financial crisis and everything...? What do you guys think?</p>
<p>MBA will not play a big role in your law career. If you want to get out of law down the road, go for it, but it won't matter. I'd venture to guess that the JD/MBA programs are designed for ones that are interested in business more than law.
Penn MBA is as you know a real tough deal. I'm gonna guess and say that this is basically a move to steal students away from kids who are interested in jd/mba at Harvard or Stanford, schools with comparable MBA programs but much better JD programs, by giving the incentive of one less year, which in terms of opportunity cost works out to be a quarter million dollars.</p>
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MBA will not play a big role in your law career.
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<p>As a corporate lawyer with a JD/MBA, I think that the value of the MBA varies greatly from career to career. My MBA has actually played no small role in the career opportunities that I have had to date.</p>
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I'm gonna guess and say that this is basically a move to steal students away from kids who are interested in jd/mba at Harvard or Stanford, schools with comparable MBA programs but much better JD programs . . .
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<p>Those programs are more highly ranked by US News and World Report, but much better JD programs? By what standard? I believe that the education offered by each of the law schools you listed (and many others) is excellent. </p>
<p>To the OP: An MBA may certainly help you in your career as a corporate lawyer, but it is by no means necessary to be a successful corporate lawyer. I would review previous threads on JD/MBA programs generally, as well as the new 3-year JD/MBA program at Penn for additional thoughts on these issues.</p>