Law + Finance

<p>Hi guys.</p>

<p>Im still in my junior year in high school in HK, and still im not 100% sure what i want to do when i grow up. Im very good at math, but im also good at speaking/english/debating etc. Ive always been shifting between being an actuary and being a lawyer...</p>

<p>but now its nearly time to decide, i wanna ask y'all a question:
Is it smart to take an undergrad in actuarial science (or something along those lines) in like UK or US, and then go for a JD at law school? </p>

<p>What kind of law would i be expecting to do if i did this?
Is there much employment opportunities?
Will i be at a disadvantage to those with undergrad law degrees from other countries? (as in LLB)</p>

<p>THanks</p>

<p>Nathan</p>

<p>if you are thinking of US jd programs, your major shouldn’t affect your admissions or job prospects all that much, for better or for worse. there are a couple exceptions to this rule (engineering is a bonus for patent, accounting is a bonus for tax) but it looks like that will not apply. </p>

<p>one thing to keep in mind is that admissions is highly based on GPA. If you struggle w/ actuarial science at all and want to go to law school, you may want to choose a less demanding major. of course if you are excelling in your studies, keep it going. </p>

<p>the one advantage of an actuarial major though could be that if all else fails or you hate law, you can switch careers easier and become an actuary just by passing the first couple tests.</p>

<p>All,</p>

<p>BostonEng has indicated the following:</p>

<p>“accounting is a bonus for tax”</p>

<p>What would be the best career opportunities for a law student who had a UG degree in finance to pursue so that the finance background could be viewed as a bonus? </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>I think science/engineering is REQUIRED for patent prosecution.</p>

<p>And accounting is useful in many areas, not just tax. Bankruptcy, corporate, securities, anywhere you might have to interpret and/or read a financial statement. Maybe even white collar criminal defense. Do you really want to have to go to the accountant to ask them what a balance sheet entry means every time you have to look at a balance sheet?</p>

<p>Here’s the thing. Lawyers are experts in the law as it relates to their clients. They’re not expected to know every corner of their clients’ business. But your finance background might be useful when you’re dealing with financial services clients. I’m not exactly sure how a finance background would help in practicing law.</p>