J.D. Dual Degree Programs
Combine your passion with the power of a legal education to make a difference in your field.
What Is a J.D. Dual Degree?
A J.D. dual degree combines a Juris Doctor with another graduate degree. At the University of Mississippi School of Law, concurrent degree options let you pursue legal education alongside advanced study in business, accountancy, taxation, higher education, or air and space law.
If your career interests cross disciplines, a second degree can help you understand the organizations you hope to serve and the issues you want to address. You might want to advise businesses, pursue a career in university administration, or focus on the legal questions shaping aviation and commercial space activity.
Your degree plan will depend on the pairing you choose. Speak with the University of Mississippi School of Law and the participating program about admission requirements, approved coursework, and the time needed to complete both credentials.
What Graduate Degree Can You Combine With Your Dual J.D.?
The University of Mississippi School of Law offers five concurrent degree pairings that connect legal study with specialized interests. Open each option to explore how it could complement your career goals.
Connect legal study with a deeper understanding of how businesses operate. The J.D./MBA may be a useful pairing if you are interested in corporate practice or want to bring legal knowledge to business leadership. Studying management alongside law can help you consider a business decision from both organizational and legal perspectives.
Build accounting knowledge alongside your legal training through the J.D./M.Accy. This pairing may appeal to students interested in financial reporting and the legal issues surrounding business operations. A stronger understanding of accounting can help you interpret financial information when advising clients or evaluating a dispute.
Bring legal analysis and advanced taxation study together through the J.D./M.Tax. If you are interested in tax practice, this pairing offers a way to examine tax questions through both legal and accounting perspectives.
Potential areas of interest include tax planning, business transactions, and tax disputes.
Study the relationship between law and the institutions that serve college students.
The J.D./M.A. in Higher Education may suit students interested in university administration or education policy. Knowledge of how colleges operate can complement legal training for work involving institutional governance and compliance.
Focus your legal education on issues in aviation and space through the concurrent J.D./LL.M. in Air and Space Law. An LL.M. is an advanced law degree. This pairing offers specialized study for students interested in the legal frameworks governing aerospace activities, with support from the Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law.
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What Career Paths Could You Explore With a J.D. Dual Degree?
Your degree pairing can help you explore work at the intersection of law and another field. The examples below illustrate possible directions; they are not reported placement results for these programs.
Dual Degrees | Potential Career Pathways |
J.D./MBA | Corporate legal practice, business leadership, corporate compliance |
J.D./M.Accy. | Legal work involving financial reporting or accounting issues |
J.D./M.Tax. | Tax law, tax planning, tax disputes |
J.D./M.A. in Higher Education | Higher education administration, institutional policy, compliance |
J.D./LL.M. in Air and Space Law | Aviation and space law practice, aerospace regulatory compliance, and air and space policy |
Career Services at the University of Mississippi School of Law helps students explore practice areas and develop an individualized career plan. Support includes a review of application materials and interview preparation as you connect your education with employment opportunities.
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How Long Does a J.D. Dual Degree Take and What Does It Cost?
The J.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Law requires around 90 credit hours and is normally completed in three years. A concurrent degree adds another program’s requirements, so your total timeline will depend on your selected pairing and course sequence.
Approved credit sharing can reduce the coursework needed compared with earning two degrees separately.
Before planning your schedule, confirm which courses can count toward both degrees and when they are offered. Prerequisite courses and summer enrollment may also affect your plan.
Ask how scholarships and financial aid apply to concurrent enrollment. Students in the concurrent J.D./M.Accy. and J.D./M.Tax. programs are not eligible for Patterson School of Accountancy graduate assistantships, fellowships, or scholarships. Confirm other available funding with the appropriate offices.
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Is a J.D. Dual Degree Worth It?
A J.D. dual degree can be worthwhile when the additional study supports work you want to pursue. Its value depends on how you will use that knowledge and whether the added commitment fits your circumstances.
Start with your career interests. If you want to work on tax matters, advanced taxation study may offer a clear connection. If you are still exploring practice areas, consider how a J.D. concentration or experiential learning could help you develop your interests before committing to another degree.
How Does the Accelerated Law 3+3 Pathway Work?
Still planning your undergraduate education? Eligible students in the Accelerated Law 3+3 pathway can earn a bachelor’s degree and a J.D. in six years rather than the usual seven.
This undergraduate pathway differs from the graduate concurrent programs above. Eligibility depends on your undergraduate program and applicable admission requirements, so discuss your plans with an adviser early.
FAQs
A dual degree leads to two separate credentials. A J.D. concentration provides focused study within your law degree. The University of Mississippi School of Law offers concentrations as well as concurrent degree options, giving you different ways to develop an area of interest.
The best pairing depends on your career goals and academic background. Business study may complement an interest in corporate work, while taxation may suit an interest in tax practice. Compare each program’s curriculum with the knowledge you want to develop.
Completion time varies by pairing and course plan. The standalone J.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Law normally takes three years. Ask both participating programs for a current concurrent degree sequence and expected graduation timeline.
It can when approved coursework counts toward both degrees and reduces the time needed compared with separate study. The amount saved depends on credit-sharing rules, tuition arrangements, and your schedule.
To pursue a concurrent degree, review the J.D. application process and contact the participating graduate program. Confirm the admission process for both credentials, including prerequisites, application deadlines, and the timing for requesting concurrent enrollment. Do not assume admission to one program grants admission to the other.
The J.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Law is based in Oxford, Mississippi. An online option for a participating graduate degree does not make the concurrent pathway fully online. Confirm the format and attendance expectations for your selected pairing.