Hi - my D is an undeclared freshman who is very interested/involved in art & also likes law (thinking of being a lawyer down the road).
Trying to think of majors for her to consider exploring that would (ideally) provide a good chance for a job after the four year degree (know there’s no pre-requisite major for law school).
She’s not really interested in math or too much science. She works well with others and also independently. She loves art but is also interested in making money. 
Trying to figure what might be marketable options to suggest she explore (knowing the decision will be hers).
So far her college advisors have steered her to a number of higher level classes in both art and law - which is okay, but I was hoping she’d move out of the comfort zone into something else (data analytics? business? )
Very much appreciate any thoughts!
1 Like
Can’t really help with the classes/major question, but one idea post-graduation would be for her to be a paralegal for a few years to really see what being a lawyer is like.
2 Likes
She could major in political science with a teaching credential with an intent to teach at a school and minor in art. That way, if she had a teaching position at a high school, she could teach three classes in history, political science, or civics and have the option of teaching teaching AP art history.
No the money won’t be as good. But, becoming an attorney now, is very difficult for future job security because there are just too many attorneys. You have former law students suing their law schools because they can’t find employment.
At my sister’s firm, in California, they get hundreds of resumes just asking to clerk. The mandate, throughout her large corporate office is: if they are not directly “related” to the firm (current clerks) they can’t hire. Check out the bureau of labor statistics and look under lawyers. You’ll see that the competition will be fierce because of lack of jobs: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm
1 Like
Thanks for those thoughts. Appreciate it!
I am a lawyer and most of my lawyer friends are employed at jobs they enjoy - but I realize that’s anecdotal (plus pertains to those who’ve been in the field a while). I will definitely check out the labor stats.
I don’t know that I’d feel comfortable steering her to a paralegal route - I don’t know any paralegals who have switched to go to law school (although I know there are some who do, of course!). I feel like paralegal gives you the less-fun parts of the job (admin-heavy stuff).
I’ll ask her about teaching. She’s never expressed an interest and that seems to be one of those careers you should be passionate about. Maybe, though! Thanks again!
Being a paralegal definitely gives you a view of the less fun stuff – that was what I was intending. If, after seeing the grinding, unglamorous side of law she still wants to go to law school, she will go in with her eyes open, knowing she really wants to practice law.
I was a lawyer for a Biglaw firm in NYC. I hated pretty much every minute of ot, and I would say most associates there didn’t love it. But I did see paralegals go to law school after working for a few years.
2 Likes
Without knowing your daughter’s current school & the majors offered, it is difficult to formulate a reasonable response.
Many schools offer hybrid majors designed to enhance career prospects.
2 Likes
Thanks for the replies!
I know litigation in big firms is a tough grind. Maybe I’m naïve but i also see so many other interesting types of law work outside that model (policy, government, in-house counsel, public interest, small to mid-sized firms). I’d kind of hate to have her see the least fun part of it and get turned off. Although there is something to be said for knowing both pro/con - for sure!
Publisher - D is at a very large school with many major options. The more I’ve read through this “major” thread - the more I can see that there aren’t a ton of majors (except maybe engineering, teaching, nursing, or actuarial science) that tie directly to a specific career track after graduation.
Seems that in the liberal arts field, maybe it’s take classes in which you are interested in, stretch yourself into different areas as well, keep up your gpa as high as possible … and see how it goes?
1 Like
My knowledge is dated, for sure, but in my day at a T3 law school, only kids at the top of the class and with a trust fund, got coveted public interest jobs. Who else can survive on $50,000 or $75,000 in NYC, especially if they have any loans?
In house jobs are usually not your first job out of law school, usually you have to work a few years in a law firm first.
Will she take out loans? If so that’s another push towards prioritizing high paying jobs.
If her vision is to attend a local law school and practice in that state, then maybe, admittedly I don’t know much about that side of things.
But I worry that someone who doesn’t know ahead of time pretty clearly what they want to do with a law degree will regret it. I think it opens far fewer jobs than most people think. I know you are a practicing attorney so clearly you are more “boots on the ground” than I am, and I also would love to be wrong!
3 Likes
cinnamon1212 - thanks for the perspective! One thing is that I don’t think (could be wrong) that D wants to eventually live in NYC or LA or other high-cost-of-living area.
Agree that thinking through what a career might look like (nature of work, $, hours, etc.) is very helpful before the law school decision. I’m hoping D (who is now a college freshman) will take some internships that might provide insights. Maybe those would help her decide law school/no law school (at least right out of college).
Thanks again!
2 Likes
First off take her 2 majors and Google them together. You will find stuff there. But…
https://www.si.umich.edu/
Look through this and she can do a poly Sci minor or figure out how to incorporate this with law if you have to.
Many of the student’s are very artsy type. Look at the projected salaries also… She can use her talents (artsy) side daily. Again, the kids I might are very artsy funky type.
Don’t think you need a lot of math for this either.
1 Like
Interesting, Knowsstuff! I thought info systems or data analytics would be a really cool, forward-thinking type career, since everything these days is about using data, making sense of it, projecting based on it, etc.
I wonder what class one could take to get a ‘flavor’ of that type of work?
I did ask a Ph.D. in data analytics what she recommended for undergrad - she said psychology and econ!
2 Likes
Look at the media arts section if I remember what was listed there. Also. Might be more artsy for her.
There are many ways to incorporate “Art” per se in anything she does. These kids tend to be or have creative thinking minds. Businesses like that…
2 Likes
And the UX stuff… It’s very cool
2 Likes
Thanks, Knwsstuff! I know there are a lot of art-related type careers. I’m trying to figure out, though - if one does creative art - how rewarding would those related careers really be? Just thinking - is it better to pursue a challenging, potentially lucrative career in business (that’s not art-related) and do your creative work on the side? Compared to - doing business in an art-type field - where you aren’t actually the artist? Is that rewarding or just frustrating in that you’re on the sidelines doing administrative type stuff when you want to express your own creative artistry?
Ha, I know this is all very individual and subjective!! Just curious as my daughter looks ahead to possible careers…
1 Like