{"id":33363,"date":"2016-06-08T23:44:25","date_gmt":"2016-06-09T06:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=33363"},"modified":"2016-07-27T15:35:53","modified_gmt":"2016-07-27T22:35:53","slug":"emorys-juris-master-program-law-for-non-lawyers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/emorys-juris-master-program-law-for-non-lawyers\/","title":{"rendered":"Emory\u2019s Juris Master Program: Law for Non-Lawyers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/admissions_straight_talk\/p\/www.accepted.com\/hubfs\/IV_with_Dr_Lynn_Labuda.mp3\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-39857 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Dr.-Lynn-Labuda.jpg\" alt=\"Listen to the show!\" width=\"284\" height=\"284\" \/><\/a>A one-year law school for non-lawyers: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/admissions_straight_talk\/p\/www.accepted.com\/hubfs\/IV_with_Dr_Lynn_Labuda.mp3\" target=\"_blank\">join us for a conversation<\/a> about Emory\u2019s Juris Master.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meet Dr. Lynn Labuda, the director of Emory\u2019s Juris Master program. After years of working in business, she earned her EMBA from Emory\u2019s Goizueta School of Business in 2007, and her PhD in Education in 2015. She\u2019s led the Juris Master program since 2012. Welcome!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the Juris Master program?<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [1:30]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a 30-credit program for people who don\u2019t want to be practicing lawyers, but who want to understand the law as it relates to what they do. About 80% of the students are working professionals and are enrolled part time, taking 2-2.5 years to complete the program. The remaining students are full-time\u2014recent graduates (from college or grad school) who want to use the program to supplement their educational background as they launch their careers. Taking courses full time, it\u2019s a 1-year program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, some of the full-time students are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/medical\">pre-med students<\/a> taking the course during a gap year before med school.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How the program came into being<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [5:15]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emory\u2019s law school wanted to reach a broader audience -- not only people who planned to practice law, but also people who wanted to learn about the law, particularly in their own professional fields. (For example, physicians who want to move into healthcare administration and want a deep understanding of health law.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Curriculum overview<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [7:22]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incoming students take two required courses:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>1.<\/strong> Introduction to the American Legal System (which gives them an introduction to contracts, torts, criminal law, property law, etc)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>2.<\/strong> Analysis, Research, and Communication for Non-Lawyers (which trains them in foundational skills for law school)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then they can select among many concentrations (for example: employment, health, IP, etc), and tailor their courses to their interests. They can also customize their concentration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Most classes are taken alongside Emory\u2019s JD students. The mandatory first year courses are JM specific.<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[9:19]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a benefit to the whole law school program: since so many of the JM students are mid-career professionals from diverse backgrounds, their experience adds to the JD classes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The size of the program<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [10:50]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At any given time, there are about 70-80 students in the program (full and part-time combined). They\u2019ve graduated about 80 so far.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The application process<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [11:12]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a straightforward online application. They want to know about your educational and professional background; they require letters of rec; undergrad and graduate transcripts; and a <a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/from-example-to-exemplary-guide#form\">personal statement<\/a>. The personal statement is very important for showing your motivation for pursuing the degree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What is Emory looking for in a successful applicant?<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [12:20]<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Someone who is a good fit and will benefit from the program. They want people whose goals align with what the program is doing. It\u2019s not for people who want to be professional lawyers \u2013 it\u2019s important to understand what the program is and what it\u2019s not. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They want students who can handle the academic rigor of the program \u2013 it\u2019s a law school program that requires strong critical thinking skills. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And they\u2019re looking for <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/2015\/03\/06\/4-ways-show-youll-contribute-future\/\">students who will make a contribution<\/a> to the Emory community.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What role does work experience play?<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [15:10]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re not looking for a certain level of experience. Some candidates are mid-career, and others are recent grads who are looking to build on their academic foundation. Diverse student perspectives are valuable too. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Given that they accept test scores from multiple exams (GRE, GMAT, MCAT, etc), is there a certain score range they\u2019re looking for?<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [16:45]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They consider applications holistically. If you have a master\u2019s degree, you don\u2019t need standardized test scores. If you only have an undergrad degree, you need to submit scores.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, the qualitative verbal reasoning side of the exam is important to show your aptitude for the law school environment. (The quantitative score is less important.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How are grads using the degree?<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [18:30]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One recent grad, who created a course of study focused on compliance and business law, is now the managing director of Deutsche Bank in London. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The knowledge you gain in the program is immediately applicable in your career.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another student did the JM in Health Law between med school and residency, and it was an important distinguishing point in her residency applications and interviews. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The media and marketing specialization<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [22:15]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A student came in as a marketing manager, took classes focused around contracts, media, sports &amp; entertainment law, and is now a PR manager at a major corporation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Are MBAs choosing this program (over a joint MBA-JD)?<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [23:50]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They see more students right out of undergrad, pairing the JM with an undergrad business degree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Are there other JM programs?<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [25:00]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are about a half dozen in the country, but most are much more specific in what they offer. Emory offers the broadest range of concentrations and courses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Premeds doing the JM during a gap year before med school<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [27:50]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have two students who just graduated from the program who will begin med school in August. The JM can be a great differentiator for people <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/medical\">applying to med school<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Advice for applicants still in college<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [29:15]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understand where you want to be in your career, and how\/whether the JM can help you. It provides a really solid foundation in the law, which can be a benefit in a lot of fields. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking ahead<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [30:45]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2017, they\u2019re looking at launching a low-residency or online option \u2013 possibly focused around the healthcare law or business compliance concentrations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/admissions_straight_talk\/p\/www.accepted.com\/hubfs\/IV_with_Dr_Lynn_Labuda.mp3\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-29592 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ListenToTheShow.png\" alt=\"Click here to listen to the show!\" width=\"340\" height=\"66\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2022\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/law.emory.edu\/admission\/juris-master\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Juris Master Degree Program for Non-Lawyers<br \/>\n<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/law\">Law School Admissions 101<\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/2013\/04\/05\/upenn-jdmba-interview-with-craig-carter\/\">UPenn JD\/MBA Interview with Craig Carter<br \/>\n<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/2014\/05\/16\/johnson-student-interview-with-david-schuette\/\">Meet David, Cornell Johnson MBA Student Headed to Bain<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Related Shows:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/2013\/11\/07\/business-law-and-beyond-an-interview-with-john-engleman\/\">Business, Law and Beyond: An Interview with John Engelman<br \/>\n<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/2015\/11\/04\/law-school-applicants-things-to-think-about-when-you-apply-episode-127\/\">Law School Applicants: Things to Think About When You Apply<br \/>\n<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/2015\/11\/11\/lsat-debt-and-bar-passage-with-law-school-transparency-episode-128\/\">LSAT, Debt, and Bar Passage with Law School Transparency<br \/>\n<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/2014\/10\/02\/at-the-nexus-of-business-law-penn-whartons-jdmba\/\">At the Nexus of Business &amp; Law: Penn\/Wharton\u2019s JD\/MBA<br \/>\n<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/2016\/04\/13\/uva-ms-global-commerce-3-continents-2-masters-1-amazing-year-episode-149\/\">UVA MS in Global Commerce: 3 Continents, 2 Masters, 1 Amazing Year<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Subscribe:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/il\/podcast\/admissions-straight-talk\/id499238715?mt=2&amp;ls=1&amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Get-it-on-itunes.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"123\" height=\"46\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cloudfront.assets.stitcher.com\/promo.assets\/stitcher-banner-88x31.jpg\" alt=\"Listen to Stitcher\" \/><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/subscribeonandroid.com\/blog.accepted.com\/feed\/podcast\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blubrry.com\/soa\/BadgeLarge.png\" alt=\"Subscribe on Android\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/info.accepted.com\/leadership-in-admissions?utm_campaign=gmatclub&amp;utm_medium=leadershipreport&amp;utm_source=blogcta\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.hubspot.net\/hubfs\/58291\/Leadership_in_Admissions_CTA.jpg\" alt=\"Download Leadership in Admissions today!\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/2016\/06\/08\/emorys-juris-masters-program-law-non-lawyers\/\">This article<\/a> <em>originally appeared on\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/\">blog.accepted.com<\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/p>\n<p>Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help\u00a0<em>you\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/hubs.ly\/H01gxJF0\">get accepted<\/a>!emory<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A one-year law school for non-lawyers: join us for a conversation about Emory\u2019s Juris Master. Meet Dr. Lynn Labuda, the director of Emory\u2019s Juris Master program. After years of working&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,1,939,775,243],"tags":[111],"class_list":["post-33363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-uncategorized","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-blog","tag-emory","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33363"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33367,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33363\/revisions\/33367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}