| Topic Name: |
JD or not JD? |
| Message Name: |
HR2JD&? |
| Date Posted: |
09/09/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
Hi, there, Jake - if you even see this response - your message is months old. This is just my advice as a graduate from a top 5 law school who thought the degree would open doors all over the place. The JD is NOT a "generalist" degree. It is a key that opens one lock - the one on the door to your local law firm. Why? I don't have to tell you that most people DESPISE lawyers. They don't want us in management positions - not if they can help it! They don't want to "just have an attorney around." Most people think that all lawyers are litigators, and are therefore argumentative and lacking in underlying subject expertise. They fear we'll rain on their parades by spouting legalities while they're trying to brainstorm ideas. I know plenty of JD/MBAs. Every one of them is in a career that required the MBA - not the law degree. And as for your friends planning to go into HR, let me tell ya, I have extensive HR consulting and employment law practice experience, and have been trying to land an in-house HR position for ages. Nothing doing. To this day, 98% of HR people STILL DON'T GET how much of the job is bounded by the law, so they don't "get" the JD HR candidate. Get a JD if you want to practice law. Otherwise, and this is just my humble advice - save your time and money. Your MBA will open many more doors - to buildings you actually want to go in. Good luck to you! |
| Message: |
I was one of the ones who DID get that my job as head of HR was almost purely law. Add to that the fact that my job expanded to encompass risk management & regulatory compliance on top of the normal HR Title VII & immigration stuff, & I had nowhere to go but law school. Then my boss started bribing me to stay on as corporate counsel. Now I'm not sure I want to be here anymore. I graduated in May, took the July Bar Exam, & am just marking time, waiting for my results. My job is interesting, 90% law anyway, & will be better when I can do things such as draft contracts & appear before a real court -- not an administrative tribunal. However, I want to be a Real Lawyer. Unfortunately, I already make more than the average First Year Associate in the area I live in, & have gotten used to upper-middle-management independence & responsibility, so I'm not the stereotypical new hire, & have had some trouble with that. Interviewers ask me stuff like "Why do you want to leave this great job where you are already functioning as almost corporate counsel???" I can't really say I want to be a Real Lawyer & make copies & kiss Partner Booty for the next 5 years. I'm kind of stuck as to my next move here.
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