J.D. or MPP

Fairness would dictate that I offer full disclosure. I am pretty acquainted with the law school experience, having received my J.D. and my LL.M.

If you are willing to accept that I am neither biased nor unequivocally insane, then this will allow us to tackle the issue of whether a law degree (J.D.) or a master’s in public policy (MPP) is the best choice for a future on Capitol Hill. This decision gets particularly muddled given that while someone may want to hone a certain policy expertise or market himself or herself as a “policy wonk” by attaining an MPP, they may also want the flexibility and traditional benefits of a J.D. Of course this is made even more difficult due to the investment of those two ever-so-key ingredients of life — time and money.

The good news, however, is that the law degree has emerged as an effective choice for those who are more interested in the realm of public policy than the traditional legislative path, not so much because of the nature of the degree but because of the development that legal education has undergone in recent years.

As far back as the 1930s, legal education was accused of being too “law-centric,” that the law school experience dogmatically infused legal doctrine and in the process ignored all aspects of public policy, including economic analysis, sociological theory and practical-based learning. In the end, lawyers and judges were accused of blindness to the realities of their legal decisions and incapable of forwarding practical solutions to the problems they confronted.

But what we have seen since is an evolution in legal education that has served as a direct response to this criticism. Legal education has become more focused, if not fused, with the public policy discipline. The end result is that now more than ever, law school can serve to provide you many of the skills that would be relevant in a public policy context.

First, and probably most obvious, many law schools offer joint-degree programs where you could receive both a J.D. and an MPP. The obvious benefit here is that such a program allows you to get two quality degrees while doing so in less time and likely with less money.

Also, many law schools have expanded their clinical programs to include practical work in fields that have historically been defined by the public policy realm. While traditional clinical programs entailed criminal and civil litigation, they have now expanded to include community economic development and enterprise. This offers a great opportunity for students to have work experience in the fields of affordable housing administration, commercial real estate, job creation and capital formation prior to graduation.

Finally, current law school curriculums far exceed conventional doctrinal courses to include classes that would be in line with the public policy realm. Many law schools offer courses addressing land use and planning, venture capital, private equity, community property, the non-profit sector and eminent domain. Additionally, courses that focus on the economic analysis of law, where economic tools are applied to the study of law, would sharpen much of the quantitative skills that define public policy degrees, including quantitative research, data analysis and microeconomic theory.

This is not to say that the J.D. on its own serves as an absolute replacement or is interchangeable with the MPP. One basic reason is that while some law courses will emphasize the honing of quantitative skills, this will not offer the same level of understanding you would experience in an MPP program. But more importantly, while one may be able to cut a public policy profile as a result of their law school education, there is no guarantee that this will be received as such by a Hill chief of staff.

Ultimately, this decision should come down to both your short-term and long-term goals as well as how you wish to market yourself. If you want to market yourself as purely a public policy mind while looking to pursue this field over one involving legislation or litigation, then the MPP is likely the best choice. However, if you want to display yourself as a candidate with public policy tools and experience but want more flexibility in your future, then the law degree may be the better choice.

The best indicator may very well be your gut, as the path that gives you the most comfort will probably indicate the best choice. But the central point is that your talent, diligence (and occasional luck) will offer you choices regardless of what degree you choose.

Good luck.

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