<p>I think my ideal job would be practicing law for the State Department at an embassy. It would combine my interest in public service with my desire to travel around the world and learn about other cultures and languages. So I started looking into it and found a program at the University of Virginia school of law that lets you get a J.D. and an M.A. in 'Foreign Affairs' in 3.5 years. A similar program at Georgetown offers a law degree and an M.S.F.S (master's of science in foreign service) in four years. </p>
<p>Both of these programs, and I'm sure there are others like them across the
country, seem to offer the exact kind of educational opportunity I need to pursue my dream job. But I have some reservations--- from what I've heard and read, law school by itself can be a punishing experience academically, emotionally, and physically. I know that these two programs above don't start the master's degree until the second year of law school, but still I would be balancing law school and graduate school. Is it worth it? I want to do as well as I possibly can in law school, get the highest grades I can, maybe make law review. I don't want to jeopardize my first career choice (law) by trying to do too much at once.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any opinions, supporting or otherwise? Thank you for your input.</p>