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

If you’re pursuing a J.D. degree and you know 100% that you’ll pursue an additional postgraduate degree, entering a dual degree program will shorten your time in school and get you where you want to be in your career much more quickly (which can also cut the cost of your education!). While a dual degree does take longer than the J.D. degree alone, it’s a wise investment.

Does your desired area of study coincide with existing programs? Specific programs will vary by school, but below are some of the most common dual degrees offered by law schools.

Graduating with both a J.D. and a Master of Business Administration prepares students for opportunities in business or business law.

Common career paths of J.D./M.B.A. graduates:

• Business law (including mergers, IP, real estate, white collar crime)
• Business management consulting
• Law firm administration
• Business ownership/entrepreneurship
• Financial advising
• Business law academia

Graduates who earn a Master of Social Work degree along with their Juris Doctor enter their field with leadership skills necessary to positively effectuate change in social policy. Many J.D./M.S.W. graduates end up in social justice careers.

Common career paths of J.D./M.S.W. graduates:

• Non-profit administration & management
• Welfare program administration
• Corrections officer
• Crisis counseling
• Immigration Law
• Human rights law

With both a J.D. and a Master of Public Health degree, you will gain skills to address current problems in the legal and healthcare systems, along with the needs of both individuals and healthcare delivery systems.

Common career paths of J.D./M.P.H. graduates:

• Counsel for healthcare facilities/public health agencies
• Public health attorney
• Disability Law
• Regulatory advisor
• Insurance fraud attorney

UB School of Law offers a J.D./M.A. degree in law and applied economics. This will prepare you for a career in areas of law that affect the global economy, including international & cross-border law. UB’s School of Law and Department of Economics offer an accelerated program you can complete in 3 ½ years.

Common career paths of J.D./M.A. graduates:

• Tax law
• Antitrust law
• Bankruptcy
• Product safety regulation
• Trade law
• Environmental regulation

The J.D./M.S. degree covers topics in the information management and analysis fields of law. Students learn relevant skills for academic law librarianship, other areas of the legal information system, and the publishing field.

Common career paths of J.D./M.S. graduates:

• Law librarianship (in law schools, private firms, courts, government libraries, and corporations)
• Legal research
• Human resources administration
• Copyright & licensing

This program provides training in law and biotechnology, intellectual property as it relates to the pharmaceutical industry, and other aspects of pharma.

Common career paths of J.D./Pharm.D. graduates:

• IP & patent law
• Pharmaceutical development
• Managed care contracting
• Pharma & healthcare attorney
• Government organizations (FDA, HHS, CMS)

This combination of a J.D. with a Masters of Urban Planning degree covers issues of land use and property development. Students learn how to address these issues in a variety of roles, including public service, private law firms, planning & consulting, and public legal practice.

Common career paths of J.D./M.U.P. graduates:

• Land use & development consulting
• Urban policy advisor
• Civil engineering
• Community development
• Environmental law
• Municipal administration

Specific J.D./Ph.D. offerings will vary from school to school. At UB School of Law, students can combine any graduate degree program offered at the University at Buffalo with the law school’s J.D. program.

Choose your particular area of interest and contact UB School of Law’s Office of Admissions for more information.

Common career paths of J.D./Ph.D. graduates typically include academia & research positions in their area of study.

Want to know more about dual degree options? Contact our Office of Admissions for more information!