With incomes for corporate lawyers averaging over $140k in the US, it certainly pays well to work at the intersection of business and law, and studying a JD MBA program is an excellent way to get there. The general management instruction of an MBA and the fundamental legal training of a Juris Doctor (JD) degree are combined in this joint degree program.
While it takes two years to finish the majority of MBA programs in the US and another three to earn the majority of JD degrees, the majority of combined JD-MBA programs only take four years to complete, allowing you to start your preferred career one year sooner.
Although legal expertise is valuable in all business contexts, JD MBA programs are particularly suited to people interested in corporate law environments where business expertise is required to excel in prospects like acquisitions and mergers. Here are the top JD-MBA programs you should consider.
Columbia University (New York, NY)
Business and law move swiftly in an increasingly globalised world. That’s why Columbia University offers an unparalleled JD/MBA degree that students can complete in only three years. The school’s interdisciplinary emphasis helps students think creatively and be prepared to tackle real-life problems.
The program equips students with crucial skills despite its extreme intensity and demanding course of study. Students will graduate from the curriculum with a strong foundation in the principles, procedures, and theories of law and business, as well as the specialised knowledge required for their chosen careers. Students get the skills they need to live and work in the 21st century by working with knowledgeable instructors who have experience in their profession and also through access to Columbia’s alumni network.
Yale University (New Haven, CT)
Students at Yale University have the option of a three-year or a four-year dual degree program. Students in the three-year Integrated MBA-JD program attend Yale Law for their first and second years of study, followed by the Yale School of Management for their third year. Yale students who take advantage of the school’s combined MBA curriculum and the legal elective can complete their degree in six semesters.
The four-year MBA-JD curriculum begins with two years at Yale Law, one year at the School of Management, and a year of elective coursework.Whichever path they choose, Yale’s students receive extensive instruction in international business and law, positioning them to excel in a variety of fields.
Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
Stanford University’s JD/MBA joint degree program, which is housed in the Law School, is ideal for anyone who wants to pursue a career in law, public service, or management and wants to compete on a global scale.
In other words, a combination JD/MBA is for them if their future employment requires knowledge of both law and business.Stanford offers a variety of choices for people pursuing a dual degree, much like many of the other institutions on this list. On one track, they can divide their time between the first and second years of law school and the final two years of business school. On the other track, they switch each year between the two institutions. But Stanford’s residency program is what sets it apart. Students have to finish five trimesters of residency while taking advantage of all the graduate program’s resources.
University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
The University of Pennsylvania’s Francis J. & William Polk Carey JD/MBA Program combines the strengths of the Wharton School and the Carey Law School, as would be expected from an Ivy League university.
Students will be totally immersed in the study of law and business for three or four years. The calibre of the program’s students, however, serves as the strongest indicator of its effectiveness. Students who have worked as research fellows for environmental non-profits and charter school teachers are currently enrolled in the program with the goal of one day founding an organisation that supports sustainable economics.
Duke University (Durham, NC)
What could be better than graduating from Duke Law School? Why not earn your degree from the Fuqua School of Business simultaneously?
In addition to allowing students to complete their joint degree in only four short years, the JD/MBA program also gives them the freedom to decide at which school and in what order they want to concentrate on their studies. In exceptional circumstances, the school even offers accelerated degrees, allowing students to earn their dual degree in three and a half years.
The programme allows participants to benefit from all that both schools have to offer because of its emphasis on the needs of the individual student. They can create a study schedule that is most suitable for their intended future careers in disciplines like management, law, finance, and more.
UC-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
A dual degree program offered by the Haas School of Business and the UC Berkeley School of Law is advantageous for students at UC Berkeley (formerly the Boalt School of Law). However, UC Hastings students can also take part because Haas and the Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco have partnered to offer an exceptional MBA/JD degree.
43 business credits and 75 legal credits can be completed in four years at Berkeley Law by students enrolled in the program. Students at Hastings spend three semesters at Haas and five at their parent university. Regardless of the extra work, it is evident that UC Berkeley offers students a rare chance to obtain both degrees.
Apply with Rostrum
One of the greatest methods to combine a business degree with a law degree is to acquire a JD/MBA. As a strategy to assist graduate students to complete two of the most demanding degrees in a more reasonable window, both in terms of time and money. Although a JD/MBA is demanding, graduates enjoy future success. The available job options are valuable for JD/MBA graduates that go on to pursue lucrative careers in multiple industries. At Rostrum, our mentors are experts in the field and can guide you on the right path towards a JD MBA. To know more, contact us for a free consultation today.