I am studying to become an international lawyer but I go to a private university and they do not have international law as a major so I was going to do an accelerated program that my school has where I get my B.S. in political science and then get my masters in international studies with a concentration in international relations. Should I get this masters before law school, or after?
No undergraduate college has a major in any type of law. It sounds like you are a fereshman.
I’d figure out what you want most:
- Do you want to be a lawyer most?
- Or do you want some type of "international" something in a career (which is usually most interesting only if you live or travel abroad--otherwise it's pretty similar to a non-"international" career)?
A career that combines 1 and 2 is extremely rare, and if it’s in the public sector, it’s very rare and not very well-paid.
If you want to be a lawyer most, go to law school first and then you can get a master’s later if you decide that it’s helpful in getting a more “international” legal career. If you want an “international” career, get the master’s first and then go to law school only if you’re not getting the career you want.
There’s no bigger red flag for a prospective law student than a desire to do “international law.” International law is not a thing. U.S. law schools teach U.S. law, and U.S. lawyers practice U.S. law. Do serious research into precisely what kind of practice interests you. Then look to see how many people do that, how old they are, and how they got to that point.