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Certificates: Are They Worth It?

Lexi Herman

           It is no secret that the legal field is extremely competitive.  Those who recommend New York adopting the Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) note the lack of jobs as one of the reasons why the state should adopt the UBE.  Therefore, the question on every law student’s mind is “What can I do to set myself apart from the masses, to get the job over all the other applicants?”  Maybe the answer is as easy as receiving a certificate in a specific field of practice.

            Many law schools, including my own (New York Law School), are offering certificate programs where, when a student has completed a number of courses in a specified field, he or she can receive a certificate to show prospective employers that he or she “is an expert in their field and ready to work on Day 1”.  Some of the New York schools that have certificate programs include: New York University, Brooklyn Law, Syracuse University, and SUNY Buffalo (who actually calls it “curricular concentrations” but the program has the same requirements as certificate programs).  The programs offered vary from school to school.  If you are interested in receiving a certificate, I recommend checking the school’s website and meeting with an academic advisor. 

            Here are some pros and cons students may want to consider before deciding whether or not to pursue a post-graduate certificate:

Pros:

1. Stick Out From the Crowd

    

   Many of these programs require students to take an array of classes both in that field of practice and out.  Therefore, students have more experience within that particular field that could potentially make them a more attractive hire.

    

2. In-Depth Education

    

   These certificates gives students a more in-depth look at the given field.  For example, I want to go into Internet law and my certificate requires me to take far more than just Internet law classes.  I have to take intellectual property, privacy and visual persuasion (just to name a few). This way even if I work in Internet law for the rest of my life, I am aware of the laws governing patent law or advertisement.

Cons:

1. Takes Away from Other Studies

    

   All of these certificates require anywhere from 4-7 classes which means an entire semester or two of classes dedicated to a specific field.  This means students may not be able to take all of the classes that could be tested on the bar (like corporations, in my case).  There just isn’t enough time to do it all.

    

2. More of a Need for General Education?

    

   Many of those who work in academia or the legal field recommend receiving a general legal education that way students have the ability to work in just about any legal field.

            Before I posted this blog, I wanted to find out what practicing attorneys think about students receiving a post-graduate certificate in addition to a J.D.  I spoke with some attorneys at a mid-sized law firm in Manhattan and received roughly the same answer from everyone – they all think getting a certificate is a good idea especially if students know what field they want to go into.  In fact, all of them expressed regret that when they were in law school there were no such programs.  Finally, I spoke with a judge who said while pursuing a certificate may take away from students’ general legal education just slightly, overall she agreed that if students know what field they want to go into, their time would be better spent learning more about that field.

    Overall, if students know what field they want to practice, my opinion is that it is a good idea to look into getting a certificate.  I know that I don’t want to do tax law or securities and, for that reason, I think my time is better spent educating myself more in the field I want to practice.  I am interested in finding out what you think!  Leave your response in the comments section.