Separate degrees in law and accounting can take up to 5 years to complete if taken individually. A dual-degree program takes less time because of the courses required to complete the program. For example, the University of Virginia has a dual-degree program in law and accounting that takes seven semesters to complete instead of the required eight semesters if the degrees are taken separately. Northeastern University, conversely, has a dual-degree program that is completed in 45 months instead of the required 48 months if students take each degree separately. Universities determine the length of the dual-degree program for law and accounting.
A university that has a dual-degree program for law and accounting requires the student to attend both the law school and the business school simultaneously. The University of Virginia has the law student begin attending the McIntire School of Commerce after the first year of law school so the student can achieve a dual degree in both law and accounting. St. Johns University has a similar requirement, where first-year law students only attend the law school and begin the degree in accounting in their second and third year of law school at the Tobin College of Business. Most universities or colleges offering dual-degree programs require students to attend both the law school and the school of business.
Each school requires a certain amount of credits for students to be eligible to graduate with a dual degree in law and accounting. Indiana University, for example, requires the student seeking a dual degree in law and accounting to complete 77 credits at the law school and 54 credits at the business school. The University of Virginia requires 86 credits from the law school while only requiring 30 credits from the school of commerce. The credit requirements depend on the college or university; most schools require that the majority of the credits come from the law school.
Upon completion of a dual-degree program in law and accounting at a college or university, the graduate receives two different degrees. Each university is different, but a graduate receives either a Master of Science degree or a Master of Business Administration for completing the required courses in accounting. The law school graduate achieves a Juris Doctorate degree in law and is eligible to take the state bar examination. A combination of these degrees opens many doors for the graduate.