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Is law school worth it if I don't want to become a lawyer ?
I plan to get my B.A. in political science, and M.A. in public policy. I want to work in local government and eventually transition into working in the federal legislative process. Would having a law degree really make a big difference in my case? Thank you! #Spring26
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Jing’s Answer
Hi Zoe,
Thank you for raising question here.
I am afraid "No", a law degree is not necessary for the path you’ve described, especially if you are planning to earn an M.A. in Public Policy, although it can be a strong asset. Law school is a massive investment which including time, money, opportunity cost, it's worth it if you can justify the cost for these specific benefits, especially since M.A in Public Policy can provide a strong foundation for entry-level policy work.
If you still have any doubt, you might ask yourself some questions which will be helpful to decide whether it's the right choice before committing to law school:
---Can I afford it? 3 years in law school in very expensive. Will the salary boost form a law degree justify the student load debt, especially for non-legal roles?
---Do I need the JD for my target roles? You can research job postings for legislative counsel, policy advisors or committee staff, do they explicitly require a JD or just "strong legal skill"?
---Is there a way to get the skills without the degree? If the answer is yes, law school may not be the most efficient path
Again, law degree can help in specific niches, but it’s optional, not a game‑changer. For sure, if you are passionate about the legal side of policy and can afford the investment, and you want to keep your career options open such as legal roles, law school can accelerate your progress to senior legislative role. However if you'd like to start your career faster and focus on building direct policy experience first, also avoid debt, B.A.+M.A. in Public Policy will be more than enough to get you in the door.
Thank you and good luck.
Thank you for raising question here.
I am afraid "No", a law degree is not necessary for the path you’ve described, especially if you are planning to earn an M.A. in Public Policy, although it can be a strong asset. Law school is a massive investment which including time, money, opportunity cost, it's worth it if you can justify the cost for these specific benefits, especially since M.A in Public Policy can provide a strong foundation for entry-level policy work.
If you still have any doubt, you might ask yourself some questions which will be helpful to decide whether it's the right choice before committing to law school:
---Can I afford it? 3 years in law school in very expensive. Will the salary boost form a law degree justify the student load debt, especially for non-legal roles?
---Do I need the JD for my target roles? You can research job postings for legislative counsel, policy advisors or committee staff, do they explicitly require a JD or just "strong legal skill"?
---Is there a way to get the skills without the degree? If the answer is yes, law school may not be the most efficient path
Again, law degree can help in specific niches, but it’s optional, not a game‑changer. For sure, if you are passionate about the legal side of policy and can afford the investment, and you want to keep your career options open such as legal roles, law school can accelerate your progress to senior legislative role. However if you'd like to start your career faster and focus on building direct policy experience first, also avoid debt, B.A.+M.A. in Public Policy will be more than enough to get you in the door.
Thank you and good luck.