MS in Engineering or Law School?
MS in Engineering or Law School?
(OP)
I am finishing up a BS in Aerospace Engineering from a U.S. university and trying to decide whether to go for an MS in AE or go to Law School. My questions are below.
Which degree (MSAE or JD) yields a higher salary?
What is the better career path - engineering or law?
In general, which is more enjoyable?
I always hear about the huge amount of work lawyers have to do - is this the same for engineers?
Which profession has more stability?
I have decent marks so I probably can get into some highly ranked schools for either Engineering or Law, if that makes any difference. I know that there is probably cuts in defense spending around the corner, which will hurt the value of my BSAE degree, but I am also a U.S. citizen and I received decent grades from a pretty good college, and I have had internships in the field. I enjoy engineering (relatively speaking, of course) and do not know much about law.
Thank you!
Which degree (MSAE or JD) yields a higher salary?
What is the better career path - engineering or law?
In general, which is more enjoyable?
I always hear about the huge amount of work lawyers have to do - is this the same for engineers?
Which profession has more stability?
I have decent marks so I probably can get into some highly ranked schools for either Engineering or Law, if that makes any difference. I know that there is probably cuts in defense spending around the corner, which will hurt the value of my BSAE degree, but I am also a U.S. citizen and I received decent grades from a pretty good college, and I have had internships in the field. I enjoy engineering (relatively speaking, of course) and do not know much about law.
Thank you!





RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
It depends.
It depends.
It depends.
Sometimes.
It depends.
Seriously...there are a few Engineers and a few Lawyers who make a very high salary. The rest of us Engineers and a great number of Lawyers make an average salary, but either would be good enough for a good living. It really, really...really depends on what you want to do. An engineering job that is enjoyable for me may drive you to drink heavily and end up on COPS getting tasered. Conversely, a lawyer job you enjoy may drive me mad. They are really two very different fields and with the exception of patent law or maybe some jobs working for a large multinational technology company, a BS in Engineering and JD would not be extremely marketable, IMHO. I have also heard that if you are not in the top percentage of your law school class, you're pretty much left on your own to find a job in law or start your own law firm.
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
It depends; which one are you good at? If you have such disparate choices, do you even care about either one? How do you expect to make this "higher salary" if you have no interest in the profession other than for its salary?
What is the better career path - engineering or law?
Again, it's only better if you have some modicum of interest and if you are "better" at it. What do you want to be when you grow up?
In general, which is more enjoyable?
Again, it's only more enjoyable if you have some modicum of interest and if you are "better" at it. Almost anything can be enjoyable if you enjoy it to begin with.
I always hear about the huge amount of work lawyers have to do - is this the same for engineers?
It's less of "work" if you enjoy it. You can put in 100 hr/wk and it can feel like years if you hate it, or it can feel like 20 hr/wk if you enjoy it.
Which profession has more stability?
It depends on what cycle of economy and what company you are when there's a recession.
TTFN

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RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
I think that success or failure in any career is more a function of personality. Make sure you are sociable and likable.
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
Are you inherently dishonest? Then be a lawyer.
Maui
www.EngineeringMetallurgy.com
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
Denver Post Article
Forbes Article
The Atlantic Article
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
The worst lawyers I know went from Engineering school to law school. They are amazingly arrogant, but not sure why.
In any case, I believe that any graduate school out of an Engineering undergraduate program is simply stupid. Not slightly stupid. Seriously stupid. You need to pay your dues as a new Engineer before you are any value to anyone. I would say 5 years minimum before you even think about additional schooling (I waited 12 years, but I'm a slow learner). With 5 years experience and a MS or JD, you are generally useful walking in the door. Without that experience you are simply a "new hire" which by definition is a liability.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
Richard
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
did he say why is that?
also interesting, here in europe you can start with a law degree straight from high school (it's an ordinary 4-5yr bachelor/master degree). and medicine is somewhat similar (6yr i think + specialisation).
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?
Even the president of the US bar association says as much: law graduates should not expect to find jobs. I wish I could find the interview. It's out there somewhere.
RE: MS in Engineering or Law School?