Quality Education MBA

Intellectual and Monetary Success

"The good news for students is that there is a quality business program that can meet the needs of almost anyone in the world." That is according to Dan LeClair who, as the chief knowledge officer of the leading accreditor of business schools, should know. According to LeClair, "the most important development in business education has been the incredible diversity that has emerged from an unprecedented expansion in global demand."

Prospective business students have a wide array of program options. To earn an MBA, for example, students can choose from programs that are full-time, part-time, geared toward executives, completely or partially online, and more. There are MBAs for those with management experience or without and there are alternatives that combine business with study for other professional degrees, such as law and medicine. Prospective students can choose among many concentrations as part of their MBA or select from a growing number of more specialized master's programs. MBA programs are available in almost every country in the world with costs ranging from less than 10,000 USD to more than 100,000 USD. The MBA has become the most recognized degree in the world.

Invest in Your Career: Earning an MBA can pay off handsomely according to a series of studies by the Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC). Recruiters say that 2007 MBA graduates can expect to earn a base salary of 85,000 USD, which exceeds other graduate program salaries by almost 20% and undergraduate salaries by nearly 100%. Among schools accredited by AACSB International, GMAC studies have shown the annual return on investment across all programs to be nearly 20% and, for part-time programs, which are generally less costly, the annual return on investment is a handsome 68%.

Evaluate Your Needs and Interests: The needs, interests, and demands of future business students vary considerably depending on culture, educational background, family circumstances, location, financial capability, and aspirations. When faced with such a wide range of choices, future business students should begin by carefully evaluating their objectives, as well as constraints. For example, it might make more sense for some students to pursue an MBA on a part-time basis, rather than quit their jobs to relocate to a residential program at a top-ranked school. For others who are interested in making a career transition and don't mind relocating to study, it might make more sense to pursue an MBA as a full-time student.

It's Not Just About You: Despite the individual payoff from a business education, prospective students should be advised that it is not just about salaries and career advancement. The real value of an MBA comes from the business leadership, knowledge, skills, and values it seeks to develop in its graduates. And by developing management talent and improving management practices, MBA education provides value to organizations. Indeed, companies that take intellectual capital development seriously continue to find ample returns from their direct investment in business schools through recruitment and tuition support.

Quality Matters: It matters to Intel, FedEx, Lockheed Martin and Telephone Data Systems, which are just a few of the global companies that have become more conscious of the tuition reimbursement they are paying for and what they are getting in the quality of graduates in return. It matters to employees, too, because as The Chronicle of Higher Education reported and Intel discovered, employees with MBAs from AACSB-accredited schools were more likely to get promoted within the company.

According to a recent report by AACSB International, "Over the course of the last hundred years, business has been a driving force in shaping society and the catalyst behind extraordinary economic growth and opportunity. Business has spurred job creation, generated wealth, and improved the economic prospects for growing and increasingly diverse populations." LeClair adds that great management talent and practices have been integral to the success of nations in a global economy and quality schools of business have played no small part. They have educated generations of leaders capable of profound global achievements. Business students of today are taking heed—they seek nothing less than to change the world.

Editorial provided by AACSB International. AACSB International is a professional development association and accrediting body for business schools.

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Advanced Law Degrees:

What is a J.S.D., S.J.D. or D.C.L.?

You have received your Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree and want to pursue further academic study in the field of law. What is the next step? For students planning a career in academic or other work that emphasizes legal scholarship, the logical step may be to apply to a doctoral program.

Research and academic-based doctorate level degrees generally fall into four categories: (1) Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.S.D); (2) Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.); (3) Doctor of Comparative Law (D.C.L.); and (4) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). According to the American Bar Association, approximately 20 American law schools offer doctoral degrees in law. Most of these programs are very small and exclusive, limiting enrollment to usually no more than one or two "extraordinary" or "exceptional" candidates per year.

The application and degree requirements for these doctoral programs, however, can vary widely.

At the outset, most, if not all doctoral programs, require prior completion of an LL.M. program, or its equivalent (a Juris Master, Master of Comparative Law,or Master of Jurisprudence). Some law schools, however, limit their doctoral admissions to only those applicants who have enrolled in, or completed, their school's own LL.M. program. In other words, if you complete your masters at Law School X, you may not be eligible for admission to Law School Y for your doctorate. Applicants who are considering a doctorate are well advised to factor this potential limitation into their decision-making process when applying to masters programs.

A number of doctoral programs require each applicant to obtain the approval of a faculty member that he/she is willing to serve as the applicant's faculty advisor and dissertation committee chairperson before the applicant applies to the program. Thus, it is imperative that any potential doctoral candidate evaluate doctoral programs carefully, weighing specific area of academic interest against faculty specializations at each school. As an initial step, an applicant interested in researching and writing a dissertation should consider schools where there is a faculty member that has the same or similar interest or specialization. After narrowing down a list of potential schools, the applicant must engage in a certain amount of "self-marketing" to search for a faculty member at each school willing to support his or her doctoral application and candidacy.

Once accepted, some doctoral programs require the candidate to pursue additional course work, whereas others do not. The University of Pittsburgh School of Law J.S.D. program, for example, is a research degree and there is no formal requirement for candidates to pursue additional course work. Other schools, such as the University of Virginia and Georgetown University, require candidates to complete a certain number of credit hours in courses or seminars.

Most, if not all, doctoral programs require candidates to write a dissertation of publishable quality, that makes a significant, original contribution of long-term value to legal literature. In most programs, candidates must conduct their research under the close supervision of a full-time faculty member, a "faculty advisor." Often, the candidate's faculty advisor serves as chair of the candidate's dissertation committee (a dissertation committee usually has between three and four members). Some doctoral programs require candidates to pass a formal "oral examination" administered by the dissertation committee on the student's completed dissertation. Other schools require candidates to publicly defend the dissertation proposal, as well as the dissertation itself.

Most programs require the candidate to complete their degree within 2-5 years, with the first year or two, depending on the particular school's requirements, being "in residence." Often, tuition for the year(s) "in residence" is charged based on the same rate as that which is charged for students enrolled in that school's LL.M. program. Tuition beyond the year(s) "in residence" at some schools is charged based on a "full time dissertation credit rate," which is substantially less.

Few schools provide financial aid for doctoral studies. As financial aid is generally limited, some schools permit doctoral candidates to work part-time or full-time on-campus or off-campus upon a showing of need. For doctoral applicants with financial concerns, the availability of financial aid, grants or the ability to work are considerations that must be taken into consideration before applying to specific doctoral programs.

Editorial provided by Caroline S. West, Center for International Legal Education, University of Pittsburgh School of Law

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Atlanta Felony DUI Attorney

Protecting Your Freedom & Future

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious criminal offense. When certain aggravating circumstances are involved, a DUI charge can be elevated to a felony crime. As a felony, these charges pose the most serious penalties, as well as mandatory terms of imprisonment.

You may face felony DUI charges for:

• A fourth DUI
• DUI causing injury
• DUI causing death
• Having a prior felony DUI

The Punishments for a Felony DUI Conviction

According to §40-6-391 of the 2010 Georgia Code, it is considered a felony offense to be convicted for a fourth DUI if you have three prior DUI convictions on your record within the past 10 years. Should this occur, the penalties that are associated with the offense will be elevated in severity. According to the law, a fourth DUI conviction carries with it penalties that include the following:

• Monetary fine between $1000 and $5000;
• Imprisonment between one and five years;
• Minimum of sixty days of community service;
• Mandatory completion of Risk Reduction Program;
• Probation period of five years less days of imprisonment; and
• Clinical evaluation and possible substance abuse treatment program

Felony DUI charges that involve accidents where a victim was injured or killed will also increase penalties. For example, homicide by vehicle is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. If you are being charged with a felony DUI, working with an experienced attorney should be your first priority. Contact our firm today and work with our Atlanta DUI attorneys!

Request Your Consultation Today—Call 404-800-1837

At The Law Offices of Howard J. Weintraub, P.C., our legal team understands that felony DUI charges can put our clients' freedoms and futures at stake. This is why we draw from more than 40 years of combined experience and fight tirelessly to have charges dismissed or reduced as much as possible. If you would like more information about your case and how our firm can help, we urge you to contact our Atlanta DUI lawyer as soon as possible. Schedule your consultation with our firm today and secure the aggressive legal representation you deserve

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DUI Accident Defense Lawyer in Atlanta

Facing Charges of DUI in Relation to Car Accidents

When a driver involved in an accident is suspected of DUI, the potential consequences of a conviction increase by a significant degree. Whereas some DUI convictions result in misdemeanor punishments, a DUI related to an accident may result in a felony DUI charge. If you are facing a charge of DUI in relation to a car accident, it is imperative that you retain a DUI attorney in Atlanta that has the skills and experience necessary to minimize the chances of a conviction and secure a positive outcome in your case. At The Law Offices of Howard J. Weintraub, P.C., we put our team's40+ years of collective experience to work for our clients.

Contact us today and find out how we may be able to help you obtain a solution!

The Penalties of an Accident Involving a DUI Charge

DUI-related accidents carry heavy penalties because there are often several offenses at play. A misdemeanor DUI conviction may result in fines up to $1,000, up to 12 months of jail time, license suspension, and other penalties. However, when an accident occurs in relation to a DUI charge, and if another person is injured or even killed, the penalties are far greater. In these cases, individuals may face a felony DUI conviction, the consequences of which could be devastating.

For example, the penalties of DUI manslaughter may include:

• Up to 20 years in prison
• Fines up to $1,000
• Suspension of driver's license
• Probation
• Increase of insurance rates

Challenge the DUI Evidence Against You

Field sobriety tests and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tests are not infallible evidence of intoxication. These tests can be highly subjective, and if improperly administered, the results may not register an accurate reading of a person's level of intoxication. Improper police procedure at any point during the arrest may also be grounds for throwing out unsubstantiated evidence.

Without a charge of DUI, an offense such as vehicular manslaughter may no longer be considered a felony offense. If you have been wrongfully charged with DUI in relation to a car accident, it is essential for you to consult an Atlanta DUI lawyer who is able to protect your rights in court, especially when the consequences of a criminal conviction can have serious effects on your future.

Trust a Firm with a Record of Success—Call 404-800-1837

If your accident involves a DUI charge, do not underestimate the damage that may be done to your career and your future. Not only will you face license suspension, jail time, and heavy fines, but you also face a mark on your criminal record. When the consequences of a DUI conviction are serious, you will want a serious legal team fighting in your corner. Atlanta DUI attorney Howard J. Weintraub puts his valuable experience and legal abilities to work for each of our clients' cases. When it comes to protecting your rights, consult an award-winning legal team with 40+ years of collective experience in DUI defense and criminal matters of all kinds.

Don't take a chance with your future—schedule a case evaluation with us today!

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