Hello,

I'm a lawyer who is thinking about combining my law degree with a psy d degree. Any other lawyers doing the same thing out there? Any advice as to what I could do with this combination?

Also, I am considering either Adler, Argosy or the Chicago School of Prof. Psych? What experiences do you have with these? Any recommendations? What should I be looking for? :idea:

Thanks,
Marlene

It, of course, depends on what you want to do, and why it is that you want to combine the degrees. Many people suggest forensic psychology, where you might provide psychological services to a prison or juvenile delinquent population, or provide trial lawyers with advice on juries, and probably many other applications (usually in the criminal law realm, such as death penalty work). There is also the public policy world, where the combined degrees can be very useful, depending on what social issues you may want to influence. Public policy applications are likely going to be more available in a PhD program, though you might be able to combine a PsyD and a MPP or MPH - it will depend on what is available at the particular schools or cities where you apply. If you have any particular interest in public interest law, for example, like domestic violence, child advocacy, prisoners' rights, etc., these areas lend themselves to interdisciplinary approaches.

Also, it is perfectly fine simply to decide to change directions and not twist and turn yourself inside out trying to find some way to make the two disciplines work together. Even though some people may think it is a waste of a law degree to switch fields, it is legitimate to say that you really want to be a psychologist and then simply refer to your background in law as providing you with good organizational skills, discipline of being in the workplace, intellectual stimulation and challenge, analytical thinking and logical applications, etc. Instead of trying to find a pathway to combine them, first think about WHY you want to take this unusual step, and you may find your answer there, and it may not include continuing to use the law in any significant way. You'll always be a lawyer, of course, but that doesn't mean your career has to involve the law directly. But only you can answer what you want in that regard.

I don't think being a lawyer will hurt you at all in the process, but you just need to have a good "story" about why you're changing fields or trying to integrate another discipline into your career. There is no set strategy for doing this. Another idea is to hunt around for programs that have "law and psychology" or "forensic psychology" or "public policy and psychology" programs to at least give you an idea of the breadth of work being done in these areas and see what interests you. Good luck! :luck:

I am an attorney who, after practicing for a decade, has decided to pursue a PhD in clincal psych (or perhaps a PsyD). I will be applying this fall so I will be available to commiserate!

I think the advice above is excellent. I have no interest in trying to force my law background into my future studies; I am excited to pursue something new. The only advice I will give is (i) do not listen to all of the people who will try to convince you your decision makes no financial sense (we would not be considering a change if the law was fulfilling, regardless of how much money we were paid) and (ii) do not assume the only option for you is forensic psychology. Your education taught you how to think analytically; that will prove to be an asset in many facets of psychology (whether practice or research).

Good luck.

I am an attorney who, after practicing for a decade, has decided to pursue a PhD in clincal psych (or perhaps a PsyD). I will be applying this fall so I will be available to commiserate!

I think the advice above is excellent. I have no interest in trying to force my law background into my future studies; I am excited to pursue something new. The only advice I will give is (i) do not listen to all of the people who will try to convince you your decision makes no financial sense (we would not be considering a change if the law was fulfilling, regardless of how much money we were paid) and (ii) do not assume the only option for you is forensic psychology. Your education taught you how to think analytically; that will prove to be an asset in many facets of psychology (whether practice or research).

Good luck.

Why the career change?

I always worked in large corporate law firms. The money was amazing; the hours were terrible. The deciding factor was a continung feeling of fungibility -all of the deals that I closed would have been done with or without me. Had it not been me, some other attorney would have simply pushed the papers around. At the end of the day, the shareholders each got a few bucks. That is not the message I want on my gravestone.

People frequently ask why I do not simply practice in a different area of the law (public interest, for example). It is very hard to change directions once you have committed - employers are very skeptical that someone who once made money from the law might actually have had a change of heart. Also, with limited funding, they are right to hire first those who have always shown a commitment to public interest law.

At any rate, after three years of school and a decade of practice, I feel like I am ready for a new challenge. So far this path feels more fulfilling to me than any of my legal jobs (including some public interest internships that I undertook).

I always worked in large corporate law firms. The money was amazing; the hours were terrible. The deciding factor was a continung feeling of fungibility -all of the deals that I closed would have been done with or without me. Had it not been me, some other attorney would have simply pushed the papers around. At the end of the day, the shareholders each got a few bucks. That is not the message I want on my gravestone.

People frequently ask why I do not simply practice in a different area of the law (public interest, for example). It is very hard to change directions once you have committed - employers are very skeptical that someone who once made money from the law might actually have had a change of heart. Also, with limited funding, they are right to hire first those who have always shown a commitment to public interest law.

At any rate, after three years of school and a decade of practice, I feel like I am ready for a new challenge. So far this path feels more fulfilling to me than any of my legal jobs (including some public interest internships that I undertook).

Had a bit of a similar experience. Worked as a paralegal for years at a huge corporate law firm then went in-house to a corporation. Got laid-off there, loved the severance-financed vacation while temping doing a bank merger. Came time to look for a job and I just couldn't do it. Couldn't see myself toiling away in mounds of paper 'til I retired. Decided to go back to my college major, get a social service job, and pursue a Master's in Psychology.

Wanted to do it in the worst way, but had serious second thoughts about the massive pay cut. I was REALLY questioning my sanity as summer wound down and I was due to start my new job on 9/24/01. Then the planes hit and I watched that paper rain down. Paper from the very type of offices that I had spent 12 years working in. Paper, some of which I had probably worked with that summer during the bank merger. I decided right then and there that they could bomb my office, but no way was a rain of paper going to be my epitaph. I have never looked back.

There are 2 or 3 ex lawyers in my medical school. One of them plans to persue psychiatry for similar reasons.

I am also looking into second career (from business). May be we could start a thread for career changers, like the one they have in med forum section.

I am still struggling how to gather those requirements… was wondering what others did? Volunteering experience is easy to find but very time consuming. Hotline’s 5 hours a week + monthly night shift is a killer… Any advice on less time consuming options?

But research experience seems to be the most challenging.

For now, I decided to apply to masters programs to get course prerequisites and work in research. How to combine that with full time job is another question. But than, I might be wasting a lot of time to complete MA, which is not required by most PhD/PsyD programs…

How did you go about volunteering, research experience and course prereqs when coming from another field?

Thanks and good luck to those applying

A new thread sounds like a good idea...

I am working my way through the prerequisite courses now and it is tough; I was not a psych major so I have some ground to cover...plus trying to get research experience...plus trying to get clinical experience...plus taking the GRE...plus the psych GRE...then the applications...well, you all know the feeling...however, doing this while working always leaves me always feeling overwhelmed...

As to your question about the MA...a professor at NYU told me that the vast majority of MA students there do not finish the program (which is fine with them) - they get what they need and try to transfer as much as possible to a PhD program (with no guarantee that it will all transfer) - he said it is not a good idea to actually finish (it is too expensive and the MA will not do much for you in the long run) - perhaps that might be a good option for you

Good luck