Edward Shields, J.D./M.S. ’19
"What makes UBalt different is that, as a student, you actually learn from other students almost as much as you learn from your professors. UBalt stresses the idea that working together, respecting others and helping others is vital to being a productive member in our society."
Edward Shields, J.D./M.S. '19, knew he wanted to go to law school, but figuring out where to get his degree was a question—until he talked to his aunt.
A University of Baltimore alumna, she raved about her alma mater’s atmosphere and culture. She told him about the friends she would meet there that she was still friends with years later.
“I wanted that same experience,” he says.
Shields knew UBalt was the right choice early into his academic career. He wasn’t sure as a whole how law school would be, but found the students supported each other rather than compete against each other.
“What makes UBalt different is that, as a student, you actually learn from other students almost as much as you learn from your professors,” he says. "UB stresses the idea that working together, respecting others and helping others is vital to being a productive member in our society. It’s a culture that you don’t truly understand or appreciate until you enroll here."
Shields took advantage of UBalt’s dual enrollment options and was able to earn both his J.D. and an M.S. in Criminal Justice at the same time.
He was able to build his network well before his graduation day. A criminal law professor connected him with a friend’s criminal defense firm that needed a law clerk. He got that job and it was through his work there that he was able to land the clerkship position he would hold after graduation, for a circuit court judge in Baltimore County, Maryland.
"My career has been—it's taken off like a rocket just because of how much those other people care," he says.
In the future, he’s considering ways he can blend his degrees, such as an investigator for the government or practicing criminal defense law.
Our Graduate Programs
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Regional In-State Tuition
Students in Maryland, D.C., Delaware and many counties in Virginia and Pennsylvania pay in-state tuition.
Scholarships
If you're an incoming graduate student, we'll automatically consider you for merit scholarships. For more information, speak with a graduate admission counselor.
Graduate Assistantships
A graduate assistantship can help fund all or part of your tuition, and you'll gain academic, professional or research experience while working on campus and making progress toward your graduate degree or certificate.