Joint Degree in Law and M.A. or PhD in philosophy?

Graduate School
1

<p>Well I have been looking around at possible grad programs. I have considered doing an MPA, or my love... a PhD ... or at least a terminal masters program until I want to go further. I am 28 ... I do not think I would want to live in some small town teaching community college though... but those are the prospects of that for most. </p>

<p>I have never though of Law much as an option, as I wouldn't want to be an attorney...but writing, reading lots and studying ... I wouldn't mind. International Law interests me as well... </p>

<p>very interested in social philosophy, ethics, environmental and humanatarian ethics. </p>

<p>I need to get out of the IT field eventually. It bores me. I have done db/sys admin roles, qa roles and light programming... none of it is a fit, and I abhor meddling in corporate America stuck in a cubicle, small to large.</p>

<p>I do not mind the time it takes to get this ( I actually love school )</p>

<p>Again, I would be concerned with the career choices for somebody with these credentials...is it limited? wide? not worth the investment in the degrees? There is probably some specialization I am not familiar with that these two degrees combined would be very useful in.</p>

<p>If Harvard, Berkeley, Georgetown, Syracuse, Penn, UCLA, Stanford, NYU, Kansas, Wisconsin, Duke, UF, Cornell, Emory, Pitt, U of Texas etc. are all offering this joint program... there must be some special use to it that people go into afterwards. Otherwise why would somebody spend the time getting the MA or PhD in some programs in Philosophy along with it... it is generally not offered by less than stellar schools.</p>

<p>Just to be clear, I am wondering if this is a more useful compliment to getting an upper level degree in philosophy and not having to go to some community college in middle of Nebraska to teach... or does this open up specific parts of the law profession to you others with just a law degree wouldn't have access to? ???</p>

<p>I am doing some research as well, but... usually when I have a thought, I post it as well to try not to waste much time on it if not worthwhile from others good opinions on it.</p>

2

<p>I’m actually really interested in a JD/Ph.D program as well, though that is several years away. My opinion is that combined JD/Ph.D programs reflect the fact that more and more new Law Professors are completing Ph.D programs to give them a leg up in the competitive job market. If you look at top programs, many of the young Professors have more then one advanced degree. I think this also reflects a shift towards publication history when new Law Professors are being hired. A .pdf put out by Stanford Law school claims that publications matter more on the CV’s of incoming Law Professors then class rank or membership to the Law Review. A Ph.D program gives a student the time to build up their publication history that they wouldn’t have while working for a firm for 4-5 years or even at the SC.</p>

3

<p>If you’re not interested in academia/research, then there is little use for a JD, unless your goal is to teach/research law, in which case it may be useful. </p>

<p>That being said, OP, it sounds like a law degree wouldn’t be the best for you career wise. If you don’t want to practice law, then you don’t need to waste the money getting a JD. I would look at PhD programs in philosophy, political science, sociology, etc. as that seems to fit your goals and interests. You don’t need a law degree to research/write about/even teach about law.</p>

4

<p>also very interested in normative jurisprudence and political philosophy as well…just not really sure what I would be doing… I know my interests, options of what to do with it… I am definitely more unsure about. I am also definitely concerned about the $ of the law degree, not so much the phd…much less $</p>

5

<p>Not interested in academia/research? Think tank work is another option.</p>

6

<p>If you are thinking of Law School because you love writing, reading, and researching, why not just go for a PhD in Philosophy or English or something like the Social Thought program in UChicago? You wouldn’t be reading as much quality material in law school as you would be in these programs.</p>

7

<p>Think tanks definitely is something I wouldn’t mind doing…whether a very large ngo/gov group/sound business. The research aspect within academia or government would be fine, I am starting to doubt getting placed as a professor though as the market for that looks futile. Surely I wouldn’t look down upon it, but just from looking around, reading blogs…it doesn’t seem too likely. A position with a firm/government seems like there is a better market for that, hence my reasoning of wanting to have the JD as well. </p>

<p>Thanks for the feedback!</p>

8

<p>by the way… I have been suggested to also do an MPP/JD combination. thoughts?</p>

9

<p>An MPP is very analytical. If you pursue a PhD, then you may take the same type of courses, but they may cost less. Again, depends on your interests. An MPP is seen as a professional degree, not a research degree.</p>