December 2004

One of the reasons that Nathan Alexander chose the University of Miami for law school was because he was looking for universities that offered a joint JD/MBA. Nathan waited until the end of his second year of law school to apply to the MBA program, allowing him to use his second year to take mostly business-related classes in the upper-level law curriculum in order to decide if the joint degree was the right decision. "The faculty and staff at UM Law have been some of the most supportive and understanding people that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Additionally, the city that surrounds UM is vibrant, exciting, and constantly growing. I have met the most fascinating, cultured, and worldly people that I have ever known during my time here. With that in mind, my decision to finish school at the age of twenty-five instead of twenty-four wasn't too difficult."

In the joint JD/MBA program, six hours of law school credit count towards the business degree and vice versa, saving a total of twelve credits between the two degrees. The first year of the two-year MBA program is a prescribed, lock-step program that works on a quarter system calendar. The fall semester is equal to two quarters at the School of Business. Nathan received straight As in his first quarter business classes and is now completing his second quarter. He is also doing a clinical placement with the School of Law's Children and Youth Law Clinic this semester. Nathan had to take Litigation Skills I as a prerequisite for the clinical placement. "Litigation Skills was a stimulating and practical course because it exposed us to critiques from seasoned professionals from the surrounding legal community, which enabled us to sharpen our courtroom skills."

Nathan is on track to graduate in May 2006. Although he has elected to complete the JD/MBA in four years, it can be completed in three and a half if a student takes summer classes at the law school. While there are no MBA classes offered over the summer, Nathan is planning to take two courses through a summer study abroad program in Russia. Nathan is fluent in Russian, and the country holds a personal significance to him. Nathan was born in New York, ten days after his parents emigrated to the United States from Russia. "Watching my parents struggle instilled in me a desire to succeed, and to help others succeed. I quickly realized that a very good way to accomplish this was to know and understand the law. I worked full time all the way through college, doing everything from waiting tables to interning at several not-for-profit organizations." Nathan graduated from Hunter College with a dual degree in political science and economics in 2002.

When not in class or studying, Nathan spends much of his time exploring the University of Miami campus and taking advantage of all the amenities and learning experiences it has to offer. "Sometimes people forget that we are all members of a university community. This campus offers a great deal of learning experiences and recreational opportunities." From catching a show at the Gussman Concert Hall, to taking a dance class at the Wellness Center, to attending a concert or debate at the Convocation Center, this campus has it all."

Nathan sees himself working for a firm after he graduates, hopefully in transactional work and perhaps eventually opening his own practice one day. "If I can find a position that grants me the opportunity to use all of my skills and exposes me to fascinating people and experiences like what I've enjoyed here at UM, I think I will be quite content."