4 In-Demand J.D. Dual Degree Programs & Their Common Career Paths

Merging legal education with a strong understanding of business, a JD/MBA equips graduates to navigate corporate environments in roles that require both legal insight and business strategy. 

• Corporate Attorneys often specialize in high-stakes matters like mergers, acquisitions, and corporate governance, playing an important role in shaping business strategies while managing compliance. An MBA is not just beneficial for these roles, it may be a preferred requirement.
• Organizations utilize Management Consultants to guide strategies, operations, and legal compliance, relying on their ability to craft impactful solutions to complex problems.
• As an Entrepreneur with a background in law and business, individuals leverage their skills to launch and grow their ventures, ensuring compliance while managing operations.

This dual degree combines legal expertise with social work principles, preparing professionals to advocate for individuals and communities while addressing systemic challenges. These professionals gain unique skills in navigating legal systems with compassion, approaching policy development and analysis through a social work lens to promote equity and justice.

• Attorneys serving as Public Defenders provide essential legal representation to clients who cannot afford private counsel, often tackling cases involving housing insecurity, and family disputes, among others.
• Policy Advocates utilize their expertise to develop policies that address systemic inequalities in areas such as healthcare, immigration, and child welfare.
• Leaders in Social Services Administration oversee programs that provide much needed support to vulnerable populations, ensuring compliance and promoting ethical practices.

For those interested in improving public health, this dual degree blends legal study with training in health system administration. Graduates are equipped to craft policies, champion patient rights, and address systemic health disparities. 

• Health Policy Advisors shape the future of public health by crafting policies that address issues such as healthcare equity, disease prevention, and emergency preparedness. They strive to balance public health priorities within existing legal frameworks, creating strategies to make a lasting impact.
• Maintaining the trustworthiness of healthcare systems falls to Compliance Officers, who work to ensure that hospitals, clinics, and other organizations meet regulatory requirements. By doing so, they protect patient rights and reduce potential risks for their institutions.
• Public Health Attorneys advocate for ethical and accessible healthcare, taking on cases often involving health equity, medical malpractice, and health emergencies. 

In a time of rapid change, driven by advancements like AI and self-driving cars, this dual degree prepares professionals to navigate the evolving challenges of data management. Graduates are equipped to lead in areas such as academic law librarianship, legal publishing, and information analysis, ensuring the legal field continues to adapt and thrive.

• Managing and organizing vast collections of legal texts, databases, and digital resources, Law Librarians are a central part of the legal system. They support attorneys, students, and scholars by teaching advanced research techniques and ensuring access to reliable information.
• Legal Information Professionals design and maintain systems that store, organize, and retrieve legal data. Their databases enable law firms, corporations, and government agencies to access secure information with ease.  
•  Sharing knowledge is the focus of Publishing Specialists, who work to produce and distribute legal texts, journals, and online resources to the broader legal community.  

Combining a J.D. with another advanced degree is a valuable way to deepen your expertise and expand your career opportunities. When choosing a law school, it is important to consider not only the program itself but also the larger institution it’s part of and the resources available to students.

At the University at Buffalo School of Law, students benefit from being part of a world-class research university with access to a wide array of interdisciplinary programs. Explore our Dual Degrees & Interdisciplinary Programs to learn how UB can support your success.