Looking back when I attended college, I knew I wanted to become an attorney for many reasons. However, I also had a strong desire to become a physician. Had I been more insightful at the time when considered which profession I was going to pursue, I can unequivocally tell you now that I so wish I had pursued one of the few Joint JD/MD Programs that were available then, instead of settling for a JD Degree. Why? Because I really enjoy practicing law, and I know I would have felt no less so in practicing medicine. It’s the perfect combination which allows one to be one of the few Joint Degreed Specialists in both law and medicine whereby virtue thereof, you have the professional credentials to become an Expert Witness in a multitude of various cases where both a law degree and medical degree complement each beautifully and the disciplines converge. The perks are second to none. That’s my only professional career regret. So when considering your career options, talk to advisors in areas of study that interest you, and perhaps you might be able to combine them creating one fabulous, esoteric profession! Good luck.
This is interesting! I think I want to double major in law and neuroscience. Perhaps I’ll find some way to combine them.
It’s generally not a good idea to major in law/pre-law as an undergrad. You don’t need any legal background to get into law school.
Maybe OP would have enjoyed being an MD/JD, but that seems to me like a whole lot of school (and tuition) without much benefit. You don’t need a JD to be an expert witness in a trial. And you don’t need an MD to work on medical malpractice cases. There are definitely legal jobs where it helps to have a science background, but I think you can usually achieve that with an undergrad major or maybe an MA in that subject. Getting an MD is just such a grueling process that it’s hard to imagine it would be worth it if you actually want to practice law instead.
I’ve known a couple JD/MDs. They all ended up either practicing law while knowing a bit of medicine or becoming doctors who know a bit of law.
But I just can’t imagine either a JD or an MD is worth all that work just to know a bit about a field outside of your focus. We’re talking about years of school and as much as a quarter of a million dollars of debt just for a bit of specialization?
All the ones I’ve known started as practitioners in one field that developed an interest, and switched, to the other. I’ve heard of, but don’t personally know, some medical malpractice lawyers that did med school to better understand their cases. I agree that sounds implausible given the prices involved.
You don’t need to know any law to be an expert witness. If you want to be a medical expert you have to go through 4 years of medical school, possibly 5 years of internship/residency and generally be very well known in your area to be credible.
No jurors will believe you just because you have an MD and no practical experience. Your expertise will be questioned and ridiculed that’s the end of your ‘medical expert’ career.
We have two friends who have both degrees, and both are coroners. My D who is a lawyer has a friend and fellow grad who practiced for a few years and is now in med school.
I can’t see why anyone would do this simply to have the possibility of being an expert witness. First of all, expert witnesses are a rare bunch, most of whom have extensive experience in their field of expertise. They aren’t appearing as expert witnesses upon graduation. Being an expert witness isn’t a career to be aspired to, or planned for, it is almost always a situation that results from many years of experience and being well-respected in your field.