BYU Law’s JD/MAcc: only three top-25 law schools offer this high-value joint degree

BYU Law’s JD/MAcc gives students the opportunity to concurrently earn a juris doctor and a master of accountancy degree. The first year focuses exclusively on MAcc courses, the second year focuses exclusively on law courses, and the third and fourth years include a combination of MAcc and law school courses. A maximum of 24 credits are waived through concurrent enrollment within these two programs. 

When Professor Gladriel Shobe— leading expert on the Up-C IPO structure and tax receivable agreements—joined the BYU Law faculty in 2016, she observed that “graduates of the JD/MAcc program were receiving multiple job offers, often with significant increases to starting salary.” Shobe quickly became the program’s ambassador, and started making presentations to undergraduate accounting students at the BYU Marriott School of Business. “My goal is to get the information out there so that students know the JD/MAcc is an option. The program sells itself.” 

Since 2016, the number of students enrolled in the joint degree program has increased steadily, with JD/MAcc students comprising approximately 10 percent of the current 1L and 2L classes at BYU Law. “There is synergy between the two degrees,” Shobe says. “We’re offering students a program that develops a combination of skills that employers actually need. These students are incredibly marketable. They are landing great jobs.”  

BYU Law, the University of Florida, and the University of Virginia are the only top-25 ranked law schools offering law and accounting joint degree programs.

 



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