For Amos Wesley “Wes” Turner, Jr., pursuing a joint J.D./M.B.A. degree at the University of Miami School of Law was not just an academic choice—it was a natural evolution. A Nigerian-American whose family has always deeply emphasized education, Turner’s unique career path began long before he arrived at the School of Law. Having worked in the sports and entertainment industries since he was 15 years old, he noticed the constant intersection of corporate strategy and legal compliance.
"I quickly recognized how many business and legal situations showed up in my day-to-day life working in the industry," said Turner. "I pride myself on being versatile, a jack of all trades, so a J.D./M.B.A. came naturally to me.”
Expecting to graduate in May 2028, Turner is already putting his dual-discipline mindset to work in high-stakes environments.
Driving Innovation Through Law Without Walls
Miami Law’s Law Without Walls (LWOW) program unites legal and business professionals with students from law and business schools worldwide to develop innovative solutions at the intersection of law, business, and tech.
Turner brought his experience and energy to the global stage in Lisbon, Portugal during the 2026 LWOW Sprint, the final in-person gathering where teams compete and produce a Project of Worth. Encouraged to apply by Miami Law Professor Michele DeStefano, Turner and his team collaborated with attorneys from Microsoft and Perkins Coie.
The result? His team won the 2026 LWOW Sprint by designing "Microsoft Map," a tool helping field attorneys connect with headquarters and flag localized regulatory risks in real time.
"It was truly through alignment and honing my craft that the issues Microsoft was having fit perfectly with a few projects I am very knowledgeable about,” said Turner. “Law school gave me the access necessary to learn more about the projects on my own and to get into the right rooms with the right people, so I could give trustworthy advice to my team.”
Developing Legal Skills Through Internships
His interest in digital assets and crypto has been further developed through his current financial services internship with Digital Wealth Partners. In this role he assists with the development of financial products that allow clients to generate income while maintaining crypto holdings, middle- and back-office infrastructure, investor communications, fund reporting, and compliance tasks, while collaborating with registered investment advisors on client engagement and portfolio construction.
"I got into crypto some time ago and became obsessed with researching the projects of the future and seeing how they can improve businesses and my own life," said Turner.
In addition to his current internship, in the summer of 2025, Turner secured a highly competitive internship with the Dallas Cowboys Football Club and the Jones Family Entities. Reporting directly to senior legal leadership within a $13 billion enterprise, he supported everything from intellectual property and contract negotiations to media matters. The experience solidified his belief that business and law must work in tandem, rather than in opposition.
"Understanding that there is a balance between business and legal is key," said Turner, who received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee. Turner credits mentors at the Dallas Cowboys for sharing their perspectives during his time there. "That perspective is exactly what has allowed them to almost always be able to say ‘yes,’ and that is the whole purpose of the J.D./M.B.A. for me," he said.
Leadership at Miami Law and Beyond
At Miami Law, Turner’s leadership extends beyond the classroom. A Dean’s Merit Scholar, he served as president of the Black Law Student Association last year. An entrepreneur at heart who has already begun launching hospitality and entertainment businesses in Miami, Turner is clear about his future: he wants to become an executive for a team or a prominent sports agency.
When asked what advice he would give to students intimidated by the demanding J.D./M.B.A. workload, Turner keeps it real:
"Most business people hate lawyers and vice versa because they fail to understand the other side's priorities. I have seen this a million times since I entered the industry, and I wanted to be, and will be, the bridge. The J.D./M.B.A. helps me accomplish that so that we can all win quickly.”
"Everything in life is hard, so choose your hard. Life is full of opportunities on the other side of our most difficult decisions. If you want more out of life, you have to earn the capacity to do more. Simple as that.”
Read more about the School of Law’s joint degree programs.
Read about the School of Law’s business law area of study.
