The MBA/JD Program – Integrating Business, Law and Public Policy
By Vincent Neil Ho, a graduate of the three-year MBA/JD program’s class of 2017.
So far, I can say for certain that the MBA/JD joint program has exceeded my expectations and has been nothing short of phenomenal.
On its face, holding advanced degrees in both business and law distinguishes you from the rest and equips you with marketable skills that employers value from various fields. Looking deeper, the MBA/JD program provides you with two complementary set of perspectives and training that are relevant in business, public policy and law practice. When confronted with a business challenge or complex problem, the joint program empowers students to think through its issues critically and methodologically, while remaining focused on and advancing the interests and business objectives of various stakeholders involved.
In addition to meeting classmates from both the MBA and JD cohorts, an invaluable aspect of the joint program is the network of highly receptive alumni through which your professional and career aspirations are developed. The program fosters mentorship between students and their upper year classmates, alumni and faculty. Personally, these interactions provided me with invaluable insight into the practice of law and other industries, as well as the unique career paths available.
Students also benefit from support that is unique to the program. The Hennick Centre for Business and Law and the JD/MBA Students’ Association feature numerous distinguished speakers, industry workshops, conferences, firm tours and social and networking events annually, which provide students with opportunities to continuously grow outside of the classroom.
At Osgoode Hall, I have been involved with numerous workshops and clinics and participated in the Corporate/Securities Law Moot team, competing against law schools across Canada. While at Schulich, I was a research assistant, editing an organizational behaviour textbook, and was involved in the Global Leadership Program (GLP) in partnership with Tel Aviv University, participating in a management consulting project with a client in Israel.
Whether your aspiration is to be a lawyer, executive, or entrepreneur, the MBA/JD program provides you with unlimited opportunities to succeed – empowering students to integrate problem-solving thinking into the complexities of the 21st century business environment.