With input from the friends that you no longer see around the law school
Robert Nanni (2L JD/MBA)
Finding yourself a little low on debt? Really looking to max out that line of credit? Concerned about the employability of a JD by itself? Fear not—the University of Toronto Faculty of Law has several joint degrees.
We interviewed several of these joint-degree students to hear about their experiences. (Responses have been edited).
Erica McLachlan, JD/MPP ‘21
Why the Master’s in Public Policy?
It is only an extra year and it would help me improve my quantitative analysis. It will also help me develop the skills to become great at developing advocacy strategies, especially for non-profits.
I also really like that I have an extra year to figure out what direction I want to go in for my career. For instance, it will expose me to what it’s like to work in government through the mandatory internship, which is something I know very little about.
Pros and cons?
I like the math so far! Having a right answer is really satisfying. I have heard there’s a lot of group work though, which can be very hit or miss.
Lauren Nickerson, JD/MBA ‘21
Why the Master’s in Business Administration?
Since I do not have a background in business, adding the MBA would give me the skills to navigate the business world and understand clients’ needs in a corporate law setting. It will also be useful if I decide to transition out of traditional law down the road.
Beyond this, I think the degree combination will challenge me in complementary ways, because they require different skill sets and approaches to learning. Being successful in the joint program will require a certain degree of versatility and I think it will be valuable to develop this versatility now.
Pros and cons?
The MBA is a complete change of pace from law school. While 1L was heavy on academics and independent work, the first few weeks of the MBA have been very fast-paced (less readings, but more projects, assignments, and quizzes) and very people-oriented. I think it is valuable because it pushes me beyond my comfort zone.
The courses are not as interesting or stimulating as law: unlike the often-controversial subjects we covered in first year law, it is really hard to have a meaningful discussion about accounting. My background is in philosophy, so I loved analyzing cases and wrestling with conceptual problems and ideas in law school. There is not much, or likely any, of that in the MBA so far. Also, Rotman has way too many stairs and not enough windows.
Any advice?
Talk to as many people as you can. When I was making my decision, I talked to upper year JDs, JD/MBAs, alumni, practicing lawyers, and in-house counsel to get an idea of how useful the degree would be for me. The variety of opinions and perspectives I received were really helpful, but ultimately the decision was mine.
It is important to remember that there is no single path to success. When I was making my decision, someone told me that my path would not be “carved out” by me so much as it would “unfold”. There are many routes to getting to where you want to be—don’t overthink it!
Ben Mayer-Goodman, JD/MGA ‘21
Why the Master’s in Global Affairs?
I wanted to pursue a broader education and the MGA seemed like it would encompass broad aspects of business, economics, public policy, and international relations. This degree also contained the elements from both the MPP and the MBA programs that interested me most.
Pros and cons?
The people in the MGA are much more diverse than those from the law school and there are significantly more international students. All of the upper year MGA students I have met have been incredibly friendly, willing to give advice, and have been eager to include me in their conversations with other experienced MGA students.
In addition, the course readings are, for the most part, actually engaging (no offence to CJ Bev; point-first writing can only get you so far).
One major issue, however, is the lack of coordination between the JD and MGA administration. For example, the mandatory Public International Law class at the law school is scheduled right in the middle of the mandatory MGA decision making course. To make sure that I don’t miss anything important, I have to attend the morning Decision Making course, leave halfway through and walk to the law school for International Law. Once the law class is done, I head back to attend the last half of the afternoon Decision Making course. This makes it very difficult to fully engage in both courses.
Any advice?
The website can only tell you so much about a program, so speak to current and former students. I would also recommend evaluating your own personal reasons for pursuing the JD/MGA. If the goal is to get a leg up on the corporate job market, I would say reconsider (do an MBA instead). However, if you can afford the extra cost and are genuinely interested in the subject matter and courses, then the MGA might just be right for you.
Brittany Cohen, JD/MA (Criminology) ‘20
Why the Master’s in Criminology?
It is the same length and tuition as just a JD alone, so I figured I may as well get another degree while I am here! I also think the joint degree is a great opportunity to gain a wider knowledge base and a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system. In this way, I hope the Master’s degree will complement my law degree so that, in practice, I have a fuller perspective on my cases and clients.
Pros and cons?
In contrast to many law courses, where you are simply being taught what the rules are, the master’s classes require you to look at research and theorize as to why something is the way that it is. The topics cover very interesting areas of criminology, including different aspects of youth crime and how criminological theory has shaped the criminal justice system.
However, the grad school seems to operate at a different pace than the law school. That would not necessarily be a negative if you are only a graduate student, but having to juggle the responsibilities of two departments adds some unnecessary stress, as one is significantly more laid back than the other.
Any advice?
Understand that you are sacrificing part of the “law school experience: by splitting your 2L and 3L years. You may feel weirdly stuck in the middle of not fully being a law student, but also not fully being a master’s student.
I am someone that loves to get involved in the school community in every way that I can, but it is harder to do that when you spend half your time somewhere else. But if you are willing to put in extra effort on both sides, then it can totally be worth it!
Lily Chapnik Rosenthal, JD/MSW ‘21
Why the Master’s in Social Work?
I felt that it would be the most conducive to succeeding in my long-term goals, which is to practice law in a client-facing field with social justice-minded ideals.
Pros and cons?
The people are lovely and the professors seem very invested in our success, which is comforting. However, the material seems like it’s a little too easy at times.
Any advice?
If you want an edge in client-facing fields, the MSW might be a good idea. It’s not a typical JD degree combination, so people seem very interested in learning more about your experience with it.
Emily Baron, JD/PhD (Philosophy) ‘24
Why the Doctorate in Philosophy?
I love philosophy and thought about pursuing a PhD even before I considered a JD. Because of the combined program, I do not have to choose between them (or feel pressured into only choosing one) and I have a lot of career options open to me.
Pros and cons?
The combined program saves me a significant amount of time, since it is one year shorter than doing both degrees separately. Also, since I am interested in legal philosophy, it is super helpful to have what I learn in law classes so present in my mind. Weirdly enough, the combined program is also less stressful. For example, I do not experience the same degree of pressure as other JD students to get a firm job after 2L.
The only negative comment I have is that it can be confusing to figure out exactly how tuition, funding, and certain requirements work, since there is no one person to talk to about it. Dealing with two faculties can lead to misinformation and not everyone involved with the program is aware of how it has changed over the years.
Any advice?
If you want to do the program, do not let concerns about your chances of getting firm jobs get in the way. The program certainly sets you on a different timeline and it is more of a challenge to figure out, but it does not get in the way of job opportunities.
