[jjm1181]

There is a 3 year, part time program that would allow me to graduate with a law degree and then I’d sit for the bar exam. The school is not ABA accredited so I would only be licensed in my state, Tennessee. I already have an MBA and Masters of Finance.

Am I nuts? 3 years of law school and then a bar exam? I would focus in on business law, but don’t think I’d want to practice full time. I’d more or less use the degree and license to bolster the resume and ensure that I’d never be without a job again. Hopefully it would guarantee and good finance/accounting job the rest of my life.

Any thoughts or advice?

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[ledgermaven]

hello jjm… my take on it, with only a BS in accounting and a paralegal degree from earlier than that, is if it is not aba accredited that would limit the effect of your job prospects to only Tennesee. A good company may end up taking you elsewhere, and if you needed the actual degree to practice it wouldn't be there. Plus – does it mean taking out student loans? If you have student loan debt already I would not add more to that, especially if they were private loans. You are already well educated so that is a strong plus for you. Good luck!

[jjm1181]

Because the school is not ABA accredited, the cost is low. It would only cost around $25,000 for the 3 year program. They say it would take 4 years, but I believe I could do it in 3 if I took summer classes. My current employer would pay about $10,000 of that based on our education reimbursement plan. I do see your point about the accreditation part. If I do want that big boy job, I may have to move to get that. That's definitely a downfall. There are no other part time programs near me so this would probably be my only option.

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[senbi575]

Why get a law degree if you are not going to practice law? In all honesty if you are gettting a law degree just to boost your resume you are wasting your time and money. I think your time would be better spent getting another certification like the CMA or CIA.

[jeff]

You have to take into account the ROI on your time and money spent doing such an endeavor.

The law degree guarantees nothing, btw. I know a lawyer who runs a bar instead of practicing law.

[RedRage00]

Yeah, you're crazy. Seems like a waste of time and money if you just want to boost your resume. MBA and CPA is good enough for me LOL

Texas CPA
Licensed, March 2012

[Herbieherb]

After passing cpa I felt invinsible, and law school was a thought…How much debt will you have after…? sounds like from your mba and ms you are in pretty deep. Will IT be worth it? Like others said, law degree doesn't guarantee anything. There's just so many more grads than jobs, and unless its top tier you're going no where. Some recent grads sued their lawschool because they couldn't find a job

NEW YORK- DONE

[makinthemagic]

Yes you are nuts. First, the ratio of lawyers to job openings has never been worse. Second, re: your school choice, is concerning. I saw an article, I think in the NYTimes, about people going to non-accredited law schools. I think the story talked about people in Tennessee so it might even be the same school. The bottom line is that non-accredited schools have trouble raising funds to invest in quality education infrastructure and attracting top talent. You may find that your employment opportunities are limited, even within your state. IMHO forget about law right now. The market isn't good and more lawyers are graduating every day. Companies are looking to cut costs and one popular place to cut is their bloated legal budgets. Let us know how it goes, either way.

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Ethics - 98
California Licensed CPA
Illinois Registered CPA

[jjm1181]

I think you guys are right….I am crazy. I have no debt since my employer paid for my graduate degrees so that eliminates the issue of acquiring more debt. BUT if I plan to still follow the finance/accounting path, then you all right in that a law degree and license wouldn't benefit me.

I'm always looking for ways to stand out professionally. Another certification, another degree or another association to join. Since I'm studying for REG right now and that's all I think about, the law idea popped into my head. I think maybe too much REG and business law corrupted me and made me think it was worth it.

THANK YOU!

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[jelly]

There are a LOT of unemployed lawyers out there, maybe even more than MBA grads. There are also an unsightly number who simply leave the profession completely within 5 years. Consider it VERY carefully.

Couldn't pass again!

[Anonymous]

Spend the extra time doing well and standing out in your current job as opposed to trying to flaunt yourself with extra letters after your name.

I've got a manager who has an undergrad degree and like 4-5 certifications — CPA, CFP, CVA, etc. All this says to me is he think's he's tough shit that he can garner respect because he passed some license exams that anyone could do if you put the time in.

Unless your degrees came from a top tier school as people have mentioned, having all these extraneous degrees and certificates to me, seem like you don't know what the hell you want to do in life.

I think you'll go further in life by using your extra time to network at those professional associations you say you are apart of, or spend the extra time to mentor the lower staff, or just politic around with the stockholders.

[Anonymous]

I just read that Thomas Jefferson School of Law has an online Master of Laws program and they are ABA accredited. I was actually thinking about that, but I already have an MBA in Finance and soon will have my CPA. I work in tax, but another masters level degree may not be all that great. I'm thinking about getting my JD as well.

[Anonymous]

RUN AWAY FROM THAT SCHOOL.

Google “shitlaw” and be prepared to be running away from any ideas about law school.

Unless your school is TOP 14 AND you're a star student in your class (good GPA) – you will wind up doing “coding” or other “shitlaw” jobs making $20/hour if you're lucky.

[katiekanton]

@jjm, I believe I know what school you're talking about. I was interested in doing the same thing since I LOVED LOVED LOVED my business law class in school. I mean, I seriously loved it. Considered changing to law right then. I asked around and was told that the degree from there (the only one I could afford) was almost worse than no degree. It's like the DeVry of law degrees (not to slam DeVry, but you know what I mean). Have you checked into Belmont's new law program they're starting up?

Also, if you just want to get graduate education and you have reimbursement available, I'd get my doctorate so I was eligible to teach. Accounting professors make about $100k, plus you can still have your side cpa practice and you frequently get to do seminars and special speaking trips for even more income. Of course, then you have to deal with absolutely insane college politics.

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[jjm1181]

I did check into Belmont's program, but they didn't offer anything part time. I have a good paying job so no way I'm quiting to attend school full time. I did lookup “shitlaw” and it was quite interesting the topics I found. Didn't realize how bad it really was. Again, I was thinking of having the degree and the designation for business purposes. I have no interest in practicing. From what I can tell from my accounting friends is that it would be pointless.

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[Anonymous]

Yeah, not worth going to law school part time. The T14 (top 14 schools) programs are all full-time.

[Author]

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