In Part 1 of this interview, we asked some of our business-focused MSL students and alumni why they opted for the MSL degree. In Part 2 of this interview, we’ll dive into their biggest takeaways from the MSL program:

What skills or knowledge did the MSL provide that you were missing?

• “I was able to develop my knowledge in the areas of contracts, business formation, and IP management. In addition, the MSL equipped me with analytical thinking skills that helped me to better understand issues from a legal perspective.” – Joe Lee (MSL ’21)
• “The MSL essentially provides the “why” to the “this is how you do this” in areas where business, science, and law collide. My coursework in the MSL provided the theory behind the contract terms I had included for years and the legal foundation for practices my office engages in daily.” – Katie Butcher (MSL ’22)
• “While I don’t work in a legal field, I do work in a government adjacent field. The MSL program helped me to better understand the complexities of how our business interacts with government agencies, and the nuances of employment relationships within the company. In addition, I’ve found that the legal frameworks have provided me with a new approach to decision-making. Before, my quantitative background led to a “head down and build” mindset in order to come to a solution, but the MSL made me realize it’s not always so black and white, and I’ve now adopted more of a “collaborate and design” approach.” – Ejede Okogbo (MSL ’16)
• “During my time in the program, I focused on core courses and electives closely related to some of the business challenges I was dealing with at work, including employment law, venture capital, contracts, and antitrust law.” – Tony Gaston (MSL ’17)
• “I’ve been able to draw from my MSL education to more confidently make business decisions that relate to the law. I did not have any law classes in my MBA – for example, nothing on how to read a contract or the UCC. Am I able to take partial delivery or refuse the entire shipment? What does the contract say about indemnification, and what about reps and warranties? I feel like the condensed MSL program gave me the equivalent of years of practical experience. Similarly, the MSL offered a focus on entrepreneurship that was missing from my MBA – the MSL equipped me to better understand business formation, monetizing intellectual property, and tax implications of business decisions. The MSL helped me unlock the MBA, so that I could more strategically utilize the content I learned there. The MBA combined with the MSL is more potent than any MBA on its own.”  – Adam Gobbo (MSL ’22)

How has the MSL helped you in your career?

• “The MSL has opened me up to a wider variety of opportunities within my chosen career path. I have been able to tackle more challenging projects and take on new assignments such as overseeing larger, more impactful contract negotiations and now, managing license strategy for the whole department. The MSL has led to at least one promotion to date. More importantly, I feel I’m contributing at a higher level on my team and can be a better resource to my department.” – Katie Butcher (MSL ’22)
• “The knowledge around legal doctrine and legal research in the U.S. has made me better equipped to read legal documents, negotiate better terms, and engage with our lawyers in more depth.” – Amir Kabir (MSL ’22)
• “The degree has helped me make better decisions and protect myself and my organization from potential liability. It was not my objective to become an attorney, but the legal training I received in the MSL program has provided me with the tools to identify situations where I need to seek advice from our legal partners and has allowed me to have more meaningful discussions with them about our options.” – Tony Gaston (MSL ‘ 17)
• “Within a year of graduating from the MSL Program, I was given the opportunity to lead a newly created business development team that would frequently work on both business- and technology-related contracts and IP agreements. In addition to my relevant work experience, I was a better candidate to lead this team because of my combined training in engineering, business, and law. – Joe Lee (MSL ‘ 21)

Have an MBA or a background in business? Consider supplementing your business expertise with Northwestern University’s Master of Science in Law (MSL) degree to become a more well-rounded professional.