MBA/JD Combined Degree
Strengthen your position in the field of law with a solid foundation in management and an understanding of the world of business. The MBA/JD combined program was developed by two of the University of Alberta’s most prestigious faculties, the Alberta School of Business and the Faculty of Law, for individuals seeking a career defined by the tradition of law and the application of management practices.
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The Program
Program Outline
Admissions
MBA/JD Joint Program Application Process
MBA Program Application Process
JD Application Process
Faculty
Historically, the disciplines of business and law have been closely associated in both the public and private sector. In our global economy, businesses now deal with more complex issues concerning government regulations and international trade policies. With the growth in the size of law firms, lawyers are faced with new administrative challenges of managing a professional service firm. Our MBA/JD joint program delivers the skills to improve the effectiveness of managers, policy makers, and legal advisers by providing students with strong management skills and an in-depth specialization in law.
The Alberta School of Business in partnership with the Faculty of Law offers the joint MBA/JD that can be completed full-time in four years, one year less than taking each degree separately. This unique program allows individuals with an undergraduate degree in any area, the opportunity to combine management courses with studies in law.
The Faculty of Law is renowned across Canada for its continued commitment to high academic achievement and assisting individuals with building rewarding careers. Created in 1912, the Faculty of Law is the oldest law school in Western Canada. The Faculty has grown into a dynamic and innovative institution.
For over eight decades, the Faculty of Law has helped launch the careers of many who have had a profound influence on their fellow citizens, our society and our country. Three graduates have gone on to the Supreme Court of Canada, one has been Premier and many others have been appointed to the judiciary and to Cabinet, and some have been named to the Order of Canada. Their outstanding careers and accomplishments in public and private life speak eloquently for the worth of the Faculty’s legal education and the value of the degrees.
Students in the MBA/JD program have the option to complete a four-month summer work internship as part of their MBA course requirements. Among the companies and government departments that students have worked for over the past years are Alberta Innovation and Science, Research Services Office, Alberta Energy Utility Board and Bennett Jones.
Graduates of this intensive program are well prepared for demanding and worthwhile careers in both the legal and business professions particularly in areas where the two disciplines coincide. In the past, graduates have accepted positions in government service and politics, taxation, finance and accounting, labour-management relations, environmental control, urban development, general management, and corporate general counsel.
The program structure and the focus of studies during the four years vary depending on when a student is admitted into the joint program. Typically two years are spent in law, one year in the MBA program and a joint year combining courses from both areas. Students currently enrolled in the law program may apply to the MBA and combined program after completing their first or second year of studies. MBA students completing their first year may also apply for admission.
Courses in the MBA will cover the fundamentals of accounting, economics, finance, marketing, strategy and organizational behaviour. Students can select MBA electives to complement their studies in law.
2009-10 MBA / JD Combined Degree Outline
Admission into the combined MBA/LLB program is competitive. Only a limited number of applicants are selected for entry into the program each year. A Selection Committee composed of representatives of the Faculty of Law and the Alberta School of Business will determine admission into the combined program.
The MBA/JD is an intensive program. Therefore, particular attention in the selection process will be given to an applicant’s past academic achievement; test scores on the GMAT and LSAT examinations; on the maturity and interest of the applicant, and a rationale of how such a combined program will enhance the applicant’s career and professional skills.
The application procedure involves:
- Application and admission to the MBA Program
- Application and admission to the Faculty of Law
- Application and admission to the combined MBA/JD program
Besides new entrants, students in the first year of the regular MBA Program or the first or second year of the Faculty of Law are eligible to apply for the combined program.
Students are asked to indicate their interest in the MBA/JD program during the application process and on their statement of intent. Once a student has been separately admitted into both the MBA Program and the JD Program, the student is asked to notify the MBA Office of their desire for the MBA/JD Program and their successful admission into the Faculty of Law.
The application to the MBA Program is outlined in the Admissions section of our website. In your Statement of Intent explain how the MBA/JD will allow you to fulfill your career goals.
Admission to the Faculty of Law is limited to 175 students each year. Admission in the regular category is based primarily on a candidate’s pre-law academic record and LSAT score. However, as the number of applicants who meet the minimum requirements for admission far exceeds the number of spots available, it should be understood that eligibility does not guarantee admission.
Applicants must submit a University of Alberta Application Form and submit the corresponding fee on or before the 1st day of November of the year prior to admission. All applicants must meet this deadline. Forms are available at the Office of the Registrar or the Faculty of Law.
In addition to the application form, students must submit the following documents to complete an application and must be postmarked by February 1st.
Transcripts: Two official transcripts of all post-secondary education are required. These transcripts must be complete and indicate any degree(s) received. If the applicant is enrolled in post-secondary studies at the time of application, the transcripts must show any completed first term work.
A Law School Supplemental Form: The Law School Supplemental Form will be sent to all Applicants upon receipt of their application. It must be completed and returned to the Faculty of Law Admissions office in time to meet the February 1 documentation deadline.
LSAT: All students applying to the Faculty of Law must have written the Law School Admission Test within a 5-year period preceding September 1 of the year in which they seek admission. LSAT information is available from the Faculty of Law Admissions Office, the Office of the Registrar at the University of Alberta, and here.
Send all Law School supporting materials to:
The Faculty of Law
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB Canada
T6G 2H5
More detailed information about the JD Admission process is available through the Faculty of Law website
For more information about the JD program at the Faculty of Law, please contact:
Kim Wilson [kjwilson@law.ualberta.ca]
Admissions Coordinator
Faculty of Law