Ally Swartzberg: JD/MBA at The University of Chicago ‘25

Allyson "Ally" Swartzberg is in her final year of a three-year JD/MBA at the University of Chicago Law School and The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Wake Forest University with a B.A in Politics and International Affairs, and Anthropology. As an undergrad, she received The C.H. Richards Award for Excellence in Politics & International Affairs. She was also Student Body President. Ally is currently the Editor in Chief of The University of Chicago Business Law Review, and part of the law school's Entertainment & Sports Law Society, Law & Business Society, and The Domestic & Sexual Violence Project. She finished a summer associateship at Proskauer Rose LLP this summer, where she will return after graduating and taking the New York Bar Exam in 2025. Also this summer, she hosted the inaugural Big North Takeover (BNT), a youth football and flag football clinic and panel, which she co-founded and which was possible due to the generous volunteer coaching of more than 25 professional and collegiate football athletes. Her personal mission is to continue mentoring and offering support to young people, particularly young athletes and aspiring lawyers and business leaders.

Allyson Swartzberg does not speak on behalf of any organization mentioned in this article. All opinions are her own.

What made you decide to become a lawyer?

I actually tried to rule it out at first. My mom's a retired attorney, though she wasn't practicing much during my childhood. My godfather and my uncle are also attorneys, so I was surrounded by lawyers. Pretty early on, both the lawyer and non-lawyer members of my family pointed out that I had some lawyer-like traits—like being really stubborn. I didn't want them to be right, but as I got into high school and college, I tried out a lot of different jobs. I did internships in business, politics, and academic research. I was looking for something else that I might like, but I found that, even in the more boring positions, I was happiest when the work had a legal aspect to it. My brain just seemed to think that way. Right before my senior year of college, I had a job offer lined up for a gap year. I was planning to go to grad school eventually, but I wanted a break to figure things out. I was looking at the job offer letter and realized that I didn't want to do that job—I wanted to be a lawyer. So, I called the employer, asked for an extension, and signed up for the LSAT that same day. I took it about a month and a half later, which was pretty stressful.

How was your study plan for the LSAT?

I signed up for the LSAT in August and took it in October. I wouldn't recommend that to anyone, though. It was super busy—senior year of college, a full course load, and I was also student body president. So, I was juggling a lot, and I had to squeeze in practice whenever I could. But I managed to take the LSAT in October, got my scores back by early November, and applied to law schools by the end of the year.

When I started preparing for the LSAT, I had a lot of advantages because of my work with Kaplan. Like I said, I'd been working with them for a while, so when it came time to study for the test, I didn't have to worry about the cost of prep programs, which can be really expensive. I used Kaplan's virtual live classes, which were really helpful because they were structured and interactive, with live seminars twice a week. It was a great way to stay disciplined and stay on track with my studying, especially with such a tight timeline.

It was a lot of cramming in a short amount of time, but I think having those resources and support made a huge difference. I would definitely recommend a solid prep program if you're on a tight timeline, and it's a relief when you don't have to stress about the cost.

As for applying to law schools, that was definitely a process. I knew I didn't want to go too far from the East Coast, mostly because I wanted to be able to drive home in case of emergencies. That was especially clear after my grandmother passed away during my senior year. I had been able to drive home from North Carolina in less than 10 hours, but flying from somewhere farther, like California, would have been much harder. I also knew I wanted to be in a major city again. I grew up near New York City, and I missed that energy and access to everything a big city offers. But, I didn't want to go back to New York for law school. I wanted a place that had a good balance of academic rigor and city life. So, I made a list of schools on the East Coast, plus Northwestern and Chicago. I looked at things such as the city itself, the career opportunities, and the strength of the law program.

I got into a few great schools but after getting into Vanderbilt with a scholarship, I started narrowing down my options. When I first heard back from Vanderbilt I was accepted with a significant scholarship, which helped me narrow down my options since I had not finished applying to all my schools yet. Over the following months, I got scholarships at schools like UVA and Duke, which was important to me because I am putting myself through law school. But, when I finally had my list, Chicago just made sense.

The University of Chicago has a top-tier law school, in an amazing city, with opportunities to take business classes at the nearby business school—which, at the time, wasn't something I was planning on doing, but I knew it was a huge plus. It also didn't hurt that the career prospects coming out of UChicago are incredible, and that weighed heavily in my decision. It's a school that really opens doors, so even though there were other schools I could have gone to with bigger scholarships, the long-term benefits made it an easy decision. Plus, I was excited about being in a city that had everything I wanted—great professional opportunities, sports, culture, and more.

So, when it came down to it, UChicago was the best fit for me, and the decision was really clear. And then, of course, it worked out that I'd end up going to business school there too, which was a nice bonus.

Why did you decide to pursue a JD/MBA?

When I got to law school, I realized that, compared to other law students, I had more of a business-oriented personality. At the University of Chicago, there's a joint JD/MBA program, and for the three-year version, you don't need to apply to the business school until your first quarter of your first year in law school. You find out if you were accepted during your second quarter and then you are required to either accept the dual program or continue with your initial degree. I really liked this system, since I was able to apply within my first few months of law school and still graduate on time with both degrees. I wasn't entirely sure what career path I wanted, but I knew I liked the intersection of law and business. I'd been involved in business and law-related clubs in school, and I spoke with a professor who said, "If you want to do any of the things you're considering, an MBA won't hurt." Plus, the application fee was waived if you were already a student. So, I thought, "Why not? It'll only take a few hours to write a personal statement, and I don't have to take another standardized test." I reached out to my recommenders, who'd already written recommendations for me, and asked them to tweak them. I applied by the end of December during my 1L year and found out I was accepted in March. I started my first business school class that spring.

How did your undergrad experience with political science and anthropology help prepare you for law school?

The beauty of political science and anthropology is that they both help you develop a way of thinking that's super applicable to law. Political science, especially when you focus on international development and geopolitics, is all about understanding the structure of systems, the flow of power, and how legal frameworks are intertwined with societal structures. In law school, especially when studying constitutional law or international law, these concepts will feel familiar, which makes it easier to grasp and analyze how laws impact people, institutions, and nations.

Both fields encouraged critical thinking, problem-solving, and looking at situations from multiple perspectives—skills that are absolutely necessary for law school. Whether I'm drafting a contract, analyzing a case, or solving a legal issue, I'm constantly balancing logical analysis with an understanding of human dynamics.

I loved my political science and anthropology majors, and they allowed me to be genuinely engaged in my academic work, which is so important for doing well. If you major in something you find boring or that doesn't ignite your curiosity, it's much harder to stay motivated and do well. And honestly, law schools don't care what you majored in, they care that you performed well in whatever field you chose. Law schools are looking for students who have intellectual curiosity, are driven, and can think critically—regardless of their major.

When I applied to law school, I didn't worry about whether anthropology or political science was the "right" major. I just knew I was passionate about both subjects, and that enthusiasm helped me perform at my best. Law schools value that passion and intellectual engagement more than you might think. And even though some of the subjects don't directly relate to the practice of law, you'd be surprised by how often you can draw on those lessons later in law school. The analytical thinking you develop in a political science class, or the cultural insights you gain in anthropology, can serve you in unexpected ways as a lawyer.

Other than your academics, what else helped prepare you for law school?

I think the best thing I did outside of classes was developing relationships with my professors. You'd be surprised how many opportunities come from these relationships, whether it's for research opportunities, recommendations, or just general guidance. I also loved participating in campus organizations. I was involved in various clubs and societies, which not only helped me develop leadership skills but also gave me a chance to network and work collaboratively—skills you'll use every day in law school and legal practice.

I also did some hands-on work that complemented my academic interests. For example, I was involved in some real-world research and internships that gave me a taste of what it's like to work with people in more practical settings. That experience was invaluable because law school is all about applying what you learn in real-world contexts, so having that direct exposure to professional work gave me a clearer sense of how my education would translate to a career later on.

Now that you're in law school, how have you found the adjustment to the workload and the expectations of being a JD/MBA student?

It's definitely challenging, but also really rewarding. The workload is intense, as you probably know, and it's a huge time management game. The biggest adjustment for me, especially balancing both law and business school, was figuring out how to manage my schedule and priorities. Law school is a marathon, not a sprint, and the MBA adds another layer of complexity because you're balancing classes, group projects, and business concepts at the same time.

What do you think is the biggest benefit of having both a law degree and an MBA?

Having both degrees will definitely give me an edge in the business and legal world. The most obvious advantage is that it allows me to speak the language of both worlds fluently. In big law, especially when you're dealing with corporate clients, the legal issues are often intertwined with business decisions. Being able to understand the financial and strategic side of a business, and advise clients in a way that aligns with their business goals, makes you a much more valuable lawyer.

The MBA also helps in terms of networking. As I go through business school, I'm meeting business leaders, entrepreneurs, and people from industries like tech, finance, and sports. These relationships are incredibly valuable because they give me insight into the business side of things and can help me connect with potential clients in the future.

Beyond just the practical side, having both degrees allows me to think more holistically about problems. For example, if I'm advising a client on a deal, I can think about the business implications of the deal, not just the legal ones. And if I'm working on a legal issue, I understand the business context that's driving the legal strategy. So it's not just about being a good lawyer; it's about being a more well-rounded advisor.

How do you see your law and MBA combination shaping your career in transactional law, especially if you're aiming for something specific like the sports industry?

The sports industry is unique because it blends business, law, and a lot of complex regulatory environments. As I mentioned earlier, there are issues that you just don't see in other industries, like the way players are treated as both employees and assets, the collective bargaining agreements, and the regulatory landscape. My business background is going to be incredibly helpful because I understand how these aspects of business work and can anticipate challenges that might arise in a deal or negotiation. Moreover, sports leagues operate like a business but are often exempt from some of the typical business regulations, like antitrust laws, because they need to have a certain level of cooperation among competitors. Having that understanding of both the law and the business of sports will make me a more effective lawyer in that field, allowing me to provide better advice to sports teams, leagues, and athletes on their legal and business strategies. At the same time, the MBA will help me be an advisor who can communicate and collaborate effectively with business leaders, which will be essential as I move into corporate law. After a few years of legal experience, I'll be in a position to advise clients not only on what the law says but also on how to navigate the business side of things—whether that's structuring a deal, managing a team, or making strategic decisions. And in the long term, I could see myself moving into more of an executive role, possibly as a general counsel for a sports organization, where the combination of both degrees will be especially valuable.

Were you involved in any extracurriculars during your undergraduate?

Yes, I joined Delta Zeta as a freshman, and that was more of a social outlet. It didn't really take up a ton of my time until later in my college years, especially when I was balancing leadership roles in other programs. By the time I was student body president, I wasn't as involved with the sorority, but it was still a great way to stay connected with friends and keep some balance in my life. The friendships I made in Delta Zeta, especially living with some of my sorority sisters in my junior and senior years, were really meaningful, and even now, I have a close-knit group of friends who I met through the sorority.

But when it comes to balancing everything, honestly, the leadership positions in other programs took up most of my time, especially when I was president of the student body at Wake Forest. Those roles were like full-time jobs on top of being a student. The internships and part-time job I had during college were super helpful too—they gave me real-world exposure and helped me learn about the professional side of things, which I think made the transition to grad school and the working world a little smoother. But honestly, the student leadership roles were what I think most about when reflecting on my college experience.

What advice do you have for students interested in going to law school and/or business school?

As you go through the process of applying to law school, picking a school, and then diving into the work, the more you can stay true to what you care about, the more successful and fulfilled you'll be in the long run. And, like I said, it's not going to be easy—law school is hard, and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably not being honest. But as long as you know why you're there, that's what's going to keep you going. It's not just about what looks good on a resume, but about what you care about. When you're doing something for the right reasons, the impact can be so much bigger. You never know what opportunities will come your way when you're pursuing things with passion, and that's something I'm definitely taking with me into law school. I never thought I'd be co-directing a youth football program, but it was such a rewarding experience—and one that never would have happened if I wasn't working alongside people who were just as excited and motivated about the project as I was. It's easy to get caught up in the grind of school and forget about doing something that's personally fulfilling, so I definitely encourage anyone in law or business school to find that balance. You might not expect it, but that balance can end up being a huge part of your success—both professionally and personally.