It is purely opinion based, but I have preaching the wonders of DL to a friend of mine who already has a BA from Athabasca University. He wishes to enter the business world (Human Resources Managment and General Business Management) Would a law degree even an international one increase his value in the business world? I told him it would not hurt especially in human resources and employee relations.
I suppose that it depends on how ambitious your friend might be. If your friend has any thought of climbing the ladder then I'd think that an advanced degree would be essential. Don't get me wrong, we all know that there are individuals who succeed without earning degrees but for most people it's one aspect of a successful career.
I agree with Jack's assessment... an advanced degree is essential. A Masters in International Law or some other form of legal studies could very well be an asset, but it will depend on where your friend decides to work. Non-profits (for grant writing), State or Federal regulatory agencies, and a business with an "overseas" division will see his/her degree as a plus. With some small to mid-size domestic company's, there will ultimately be a Human Resourse manager who will inquiry why your friend didn't get become a lawyer. But, this is a relatively small obstacle to overcome. Besides, someone with a "global" point of view is more desirable than the traditional, narrow view of an MBA. If I were to do it again, an MA would be my direction.
Why doesn't your friend shop around for a MBA or something similar that fits his needs and his budget? Darren.
A law degree may serve useful to your friend depending on the individual law courses that he or she would take. Labour law, contract law, commercial law, as well as dispute & mediation all fall within the realm of HR. In my view, a law degree has great utility. If your friend decides down the road that he or she doesn't like HR or Gen Bus Mgt...then he or she might want to practice law??? However, it would depend on where the law degree came from and the jurisdiction that he or she intends to practice.
Hey guys My friend was looking more for an LLB degree. He believes the legal training and the "LLB" listed on his CV will give him an edge.
I also agree with dlkereluk. Why not suggest to your friend that he or she look for an MBA or MS with a concentration in law?
what is a plus, what is disadvantage? Maybe it is the career counselor in me...but if one wants to work in human resources, wouldn't a masters degree in human resources be logical? If one plans to work in law, then a legal degree, leading to bar entry would make sense. What is a plus may vary depending on the job market. Working in human resources with a degree in law, may look like someone who is changing careers. A friend of mine was a computer programmer and thought it would be cool to get his law degree. So he went to night school and got it. He thought he would be able to move into the computer law area. It didn't work out that way. His employer was reluctant to advance him up the programmer chain, since he clearly wanted to shift careers. The employer also was reluctant to move him into legal affairs for several reason. Even after he passed the bar he had no experience in a law firm. His law school was a "night" school. and his salary as a veteran computer programmer was higher than the rookie law clerks in the legal division. He now has a small private law practice dealing in probate and works mostly as a programmer. Looking back he says he should have taken the pay cut to work as a law clerk for a couple years while getting his law degree. Then he would have had several avenues to pursue. Of course, hindsight is almost always 20/20. You might try having some "futurist" interviews with administrators in various departments. Ask what skills they are looking for. Ask them to recommend career pathways, degrees that will help the company, anticipate future skills, etc. Good luck!
