Alternative Careers in Economics: Law

My name is Michelle Gienger, class of 2007.  At the beginning of my junior year at Humboldt State I had no clue as to what I wanted to do with a degree in Economics.  The first assumption from those around me is that I would get a Master's or Ph.D. in Economics.  Makes sense, right?

I thought so too, but then I took a business law class, Legal Environment of Business, and became interested in becoming a lawyer.  From there I researched the career path, took an internship with the Public Defender's Office, and applied to various law schools. 

So, here I am a year later getting ready to graduate and move to San Francisco to spend three years at law school.

Economics greatly helped me in preparing for law school, particularly the dreaded Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).  Economists are trained to think critically and consider various answers to one question, which is a vital quality for a lawyer.  If you're considering a similar path the following are several pieces of advice that I had to learn on my own.

Be well rounded

Every law school I have talked to said they prefer their students to have a wide variety of interests and undergraduate activities.  There are no prescribed sets of courses that are required for law school, so you're able to take whatever you would like.  I double-majored in History and Economics, which I have always been interested in, but I also branched out to other areas that attracted me  I took classes in art, music, leadership, and women's studies.  Since the profession is so broad, ranging from criminal law to intellectual property and environmental law, any undergraduate major can find a niche.

Study for the LSAT early

To study for this enormously important test I spent every Saturday for six months engrossed in a test prep book.  I scored well on the test, but I think I could have done better had I been better prepared.  If I could go back I would probably have enrolled in a preparation course.  There are multiple ones available and they may be very helpful.  I cannot endorse any particular one because I didn't utilize any, but law schools or the Law School Admissions Council have approved ones.

Experience

Interning or working in the field looks fantastic on an application or resume.  It could also be the deciding factor in your admission to a law school.  I interned at a branch of the Humboldt County Public Defender office during my senior year and it really made a difference in how I view the profession and law school itself.  I got great advice from the attorneys and worked in a real setting.  It made the career real for me, not just a far off idealistic job.  The Career Center has listings for jobs and internships for all fields and advice about jobs and graduate school.

Research potential law schools

I was constricted to applying to schools in the San Francisco Bay Area because my fiance had a job in the area, but there are hundreds to choose from in the nation.  The Law School Admissions Council has a list of all American Bar Association-approved schools and information on admissions.

Apply early and revise your applications multiple times!

The biggest mistake I made in this process was that I did not edit my personal statement more than once.  A month after I sent my applications in I realized I made two typos in the letter.  Luckily, I was accepted to two schools, but I was afraid that those mistakes would cost me.  Applying early is very important too.  Most law schools admit on a rolling basis and the earlier you apply, the better you appear. Skip to Navigation