05.22.2020
Law, Business, Tech Students
Congratulations to the Master of Science in Law Online (MSL-O) Class of 2020! Nine ambitious individuals — all of whom tackled the program in two years as opposed to the allotted four — received their degrees on May 15, becoming the inaugural graduates of Northwestern Law’s online offering of the degree program. Each of the graduates completed the program while working full-time, an accomplishment that would be impressive regardless, but is truly remarkable during a global pandemic.
The MSL-O program, which launched in 2018, was created to help STEM professionals around the world advance their careers by deepening their understanding of law and business. The part-time program launched with 27 students and is growing quickly — another 65 students have since joined. We asked the nine members of the Class of 2020 about their time in the program, the challenges they faced, and their advice for future students.
Senior Consultant, Vizient
Clinical Research Associate, Alberta Health Services
Campaign Managing Consultant, The Steier Group
Clinical Project Manager & Research Supervisor, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Ex Medical Director, Tolstoy Foundation Rehabilitation Center
Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Hazel Technologies, Inc.
Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Trader, ExxonMobil
Marketing & Business Development Manager, Pierce Bainbridge
Some of the questions have been edited for brevity and clarity.
How did the MSL program expand your professional knowledge?
Northwestern’s MSL program has opened up a new world to me. No matter which industry you are in, the law plays a large role in why things are the way they are, and this program helped me realize that.
The program was vast and yet tailored to all us science and math kids that were never really taught how to apply our skills into the real world of business and regulation—that is what this program gave me and many of my classmates.
I’m happy to have had the opportunity to work with many of the talented professors and fellow students in the program; it exposed me to a breadth of new ideas and modes of academic analysis.
What is something you’ve learned from this experience that you expect to use in your career?
There is no “I” in team, and none in “MSL” either; there is a collaborative piece [of this program] that allows you to be successful in everything you do. There are people who have the experience to help or guide you—you just have to know which question(s) to ask, but also how to cultivate varying experiences to achieve a collective goal.
The healthcare field is heavily regulated and the program provided an understanding of how to comply.
As someone that has been in the regulatory space my entire career, I approach contracts, negotiations and legal matters with a greater understanding of producing win-win results.
What’s the best advice you received from a professor in the program?
Matthew Rubin
Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Utilize your academic and professional background that reside outside of law to your benefit. Approaching law and legal studies from the STEM perspective opens up a new avenue of analyzing issues and identifying areas where the law may be used to effectively advance business opportunities, professional development, or address pressing issues.
The best advice was more through their actions; through their dedication to the program and students’ learning and by being so readily available.
The best advice I received from a professor in the MSL program was from Lynn Cohn in Negotiations: “Sometimes if the deal isn’t working out, the best option is to walk away.”
What’s your best memory of your time in the program?
My favorite memory from the MSL program was the boat tour of Chicago and the Wrigley rooftops experience during Power Week. It’s important to do things like that outside of the classroom so you can develop a more personal connection with your cohort.
Matthew Rubin
Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Without a doubt, the best memory that I have of the program (beyond graduation) was having the opportunity to meet all of my peers during the Power Week. Up to that point, we had only met online and via Sync Sessions. Bringing the MSL-O students together in Chicago was a great opportunity to build camaraderie and also cover several pressing topics that are most effectively conveyed in a face-to-face manner.
The [Power Week] excursions (THE CRUISE, the baseball game, everything!) were an absolute joy. It was also so incredibly fun to be able to meet everyone in person.
What was the most challenging part of the program?
The most challenging part of the program might be time management. As a professional taking class with people from all around the world, you have to be really good at your time-management skills.
Maintaining balance and remembering that I chose to do this for me and that I deserve to take time out of my regular life to focus on the education. It is difficult not to let “real life” get in the way but I have learned so many more time-management skills and allowed myself to focus on “me” in the meantime.
You really have to convince yourself (for years!) to really commit to yourself. This is an investment in yourself and you will get back however much you put in.
Any advice for future MSL students?
You must attend Power Week! The relationships you build will last a lifetime.
Prepare well, don’t miss synchronous sessions, and participate fully to learn and enjoy at the same time.
Matthew Rubin
Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Given I was working full time while pursuing my degree, it was critical that I recognized what was expected of me each week, proactively developing a plan to ensure all of my goals were met — personally, professionally, and academically.
Do something every day! Even if it’s only 10-20 minutes, it helps tremendously to keep this part of your brain active. And you have access to some of the greatest professors in the country. USE THEM. Ask them questions, meet outside of class and don’t be afraid to speak up in class!
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