Introduction

A combination of MBA and law is a unique asset for the corporate world and law firms. A graduate of a good law school adds the skills that are applicable in almost any walk of life. Skills such as good communication, problem-solving, risk identification, and dispute resolution are priceless in the world of business.

If LL.B. is so suited for the business world then why must a student consider the degree of MBA on top of it?

Why MBA LL.B.?

MBA bridges the gap by bringing management and law together. This gap can be felt even when you might be on the top of the food chain. An MBA degree after law puts you up at a platform where you’re not merely a business facilitator but a business decision-maker. 

Law graduates can accomplish the business side of things with an MBA degree. If a law graduate does an MBA, he will not only be managing things more efficiently but also will have a fair knowledge of certain intricate activities.

If you dig business management then there is a road ahead! There are three broad routes you could think of:

  1. Running for a business management job immediately after law school
  2. Making the shift from a legal job to a business management job
  3. Going for an MBA

There are pros and cons to each choice. Let me list them out for you.

Applying for a business management job straight after law school

This is an accepted route to take at the finer law schools in the developed countries. However, in countries such as ours, the process is not so straightforward. Corporations looking for managers in non-legal positions tend to steer clear of law schools on the mistaken basis that law schools can only produce lawyers.

They ignore the fact that first and foremost, law schools produce smart people! 

The fact that these smart people are equipped with legal skills and knowledge is an additional value-add. Also at fault are law schools and law students themselves - students are usually hesitant to confront a dominant interest in the business. 

‘What's wrong with me? I'm at law school! How can I think about business management?' - is probably an accurate guess at the pattern of thinking. The result of this type of thinking is that students or college recruitment committees end up applying only to 'law organizations', thereby ignoring other organizations that may have been interested, had they understood the profiles of students.

The answer lies in facing up to your interests and positioning yourself as a smart, dynamic, creative guy with the added benefit of legal skills and knowledge. Your resume must reflect this approach. Look around for the same kind of recruiters who visit the top B-schools, and show them how you can add value.

The shift - from a law job to a business management job

The second option is SHIFT. 

  • Typically, you are in a law firm or the legal department of a company when it hits you that you enjoy the 'business side' of business more than the 'law side' or that you want to be more 'involved' in the business. 
  • Making this shift is hugely challenging because firstly, it's likely that you will be perceived as being wired (oriented) to think like a lawyer, and not a business manager, and secondly, you will be leaving a position of tremendous security for a relatively alien situation.

You must think through this decision very carefully - follow your passion, but plan the departure carefully with a largish safety net or fallback option. Talk to loads of people before you do it while trusting your passion and instinct. Remember, only fools rush in. To sum up - to choose the right opportunity and take a sensible decision you must look at the following:

  • What part of the business do you like?
  • Is there any industry that you are particularly fond of?
  • How will you position yourself to the company - how will you convince them that you can add value?
  • Are you willing to take salary cuts?

It's advisable to then go through a recruitment firm or manager.

The MBA

You have the option to do an MBA immediately after law school or after putting in a few years of work-ex. The decision turns on how convinced you are. It's advisable to put in a couple of years of work to add value to your resume. You can then leverage your experience in the corporate world as an asset. 

  • A foreign MBA, especially a US MBA will require 3-4 years of work experience and you will have to give the GMAT. 
  • An Indian MBA can be taken without work-ex and you will have to give CAT and the other management entrance tests. 

The foreign MBAs are usually more flexible so you can even work around your discomfort in certain areas like Math. An Indian MBA, however, would put you to the test in those areas. Lawyers often find it challenging to come back to the quantitative approach, but challenging does not mean impossible.

 The law - MBA combination is excellent and recognized the world over as one of the best combinations for any form of business and management.

MBA after Law: Relevant sectors

Apart from Corporate World and Law firms there also exists other areas where Law graduates with an MBA Degree may thrive. Some of them are listed below –

  • Real Estate
  • Aviation
  • Healthcare
  • Finance
  • Retail and Supply Chain Management
  • Investment Banking
  • Marketing
  • International Business

MBA after law: Gateway to Entrepreneurship

An MBA after Law is the best way to step forward and start your law firm. It will complement the ambition. 

  • It is more valuable to start a law firm with the knowledge of business aspects. 
  • 5-6 years of experience with any corporate at a managerial level will provide you with insight on how to run the organization more independently in competitive scenarios. 
  • MBA will also help in building a fine business network which will be instrumental while running your organization.