How do i balance acting and law school?

Iona,

Your question is pulling me in half a dozen different directions!

First, if you are not "passionate" about law, it will be extremely difficult to even complete law school. And if you do pass law school, unless things are different there than they are here, it will be difficult to land a job. Here, law schools are graduating many more lawyers than the market can absorb. So, it is entirely possible that neither law nor acting will give you the lifestyle your parents want for you.

And, let's talk about parents! They want what they think is best for you. However, it is your life. If you make choices that go against what they want, they will probably cut off the financial support. But, and I say this because you are close to the age of adulthood. . . if you let your parents make your decisions, they will continue to do so throughout your life, AND, you will resent them for it. There comes a time when a youngster makes his own decisions, realizing the potential consequences. That is what makes you an adult.

Your situation reminds me of a customer I worked with, trying to help her find a job. She was about to pursue her a Master's degree in Business, so she could earn the 6-figure salary her father expected her to earn. She neither needed nor wanted a big paycheck. She wanted a job "with purpose." I found one managing a spay/neuter program.

I agree with the advice above as far as acting goes - use it as a hobby. Also, for what it's worth, there is an element of acting in the law, especially in courtroom theatrics and also when negotiating with the other party. There are many, many specialties in law. For example, you could be the contracting agent for actors, or handle all the legal stuff in the making of a movie, etc. . . Instead of looking at them as two different careers, why not try to find the overlap?

I really wish you the best!
Kim

Hi Iona,

Sadly, I can't really give you advice about the actual decision--it's far to delicate of a decision. It is important to do something you love, but it is also important to choose a career that can support you. As much as I love acting, it generally doesn't pay very well unless you're one of the few elite actors who make it big. The decision to pursue law or acting really depends on what you want your life to look like. I can, however, give you my experiences and hope that helps you.

I myself am a computer programmer who pursues acting as a hobby. For me, it is nice because programming can pay the bills while acting fills the heart. I've been a part of a local theater ministry for several years while also working a full time job. Although it does work quite well, I do not have the time to significantly invest in acting while working full time. I cannot audition for many shows because they just wouldn't fit with my job. Likewise I often have to use one of my vacation days during the tech week of a show so I have the time and energy to make it through that week. I also do not spend as much time by myself practicing as I'd like to really perfect a character. That said, I am proud of my work as an actor and it is quality work--professional quality work according to a number of audiences (not that I illusion myself with thoughts of Broadway or anything).

Now, my job as a computer programmer is quite flexible. I'm not sure if all law professions are as time consuming as I think, but my impression is that you might find it significantly harder to pursue hobbies in law than I do in computer science. Someone else who knows law better will have to speak to that.

If you do decide to pursue theater as a hobby, I'd recommend finding a fairly small theater and trying to attach yourself as a regular actor. Small companies are often short on actors and the family environment that the smallness creates can make it an excellent place to relax and leave your stresses behind. Furthermore, odds are you won't have the time to do too much theater jumping and auditioning if you're trying to act as just a hobby.

My main piece of advice to you is to not let your love of acting die. Even if you decide to pursue law and you go to school for years and never act once during that time. No matter how long it's been, don't tell yourself that you haven't acted in years and are unable to pick it up again. My theater company has worked with adults who have never thought they could act and have gotten them to produce professional quality theater.

As a general piece of advice, I would recommend that you finish law school so you have a foundation to start a career. Maybe you can act in community groups so you could have a career and not completely give up acting?

I say let fate decide: why don't you apply to an acting school too? See what life throws at you.

It will be far easier to find success and stability as an attorney than as an actor, so if you're looking for a stable career, acting ain't it.

Then again, you can try to act for a while and then go to law school if it isn't working out. Or go to law school and act when you can, and if you need to quit law school because the opportunities are just too tempting, quit law school.

I guess what I'm saying is, this one decision won't determine your entire life. You can change your mind, you can adapt, you can go one way and then go another. Most people do. Give yourself space to say "This is what I'm choosing to do now."

And then OWN that decision.

Hello Iona:

Important question: Why did you apply to law school? Just because you want to make a lot of money? or want to please your parents?

Going to law school is something that you should do ONLY if you want to be a lawyer. It's 3 years of school, very time consuming, and then you are really only suited to be a lawyer. You don't learn anything else. I doubt you'd have much time for acting during school, and then also maybe not after.

If you're not sure, I would say hold off. One idea is that you could try getting a job as a legal assistant or a paralegal in a law firm. The work would be like 40 hours per week. Then you can see if you like the law, and you can try to act in the evenings/weekends.

Being a lawyer is often very different from what people think it will be, so I think getting that kind of experience would be good. You could end up liking it, or who knows maybe you like being a legal assistant. Or you can decide that you hate it all and decide to find another career path.

But I wouldn't recommend law school straight from college without a better idea of what lawyers do.

You will need to focus on stress and time management. In order to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>

<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>

You received incredible advice here! Thus, I will concur.

• You can specialize in Entertainment Law.


• A degree in Law, Business, Teaching or something you "like" is a good thing.


• Actors and those of us with acting degrees can be quite ... in debt, and don't always prosper (unless we marry someone with a good job--like Lawyer or Doctor)


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  A 4-year or more degree, in most states, gives you opportunity to be a Substitute Teacher if you suddenly decide to pursue acting instead of law.

  
  


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  If you do things to make your parents, or anyone else, happy -- you will pay the price with depression, confusion and internal pain.

  
  


• I believe if you do what you love, and are happy your parents will feel good; and know they did a great job. Parents are only as happy as their saddest child.

And that means, with you and your siblings. I can guarantee if you or any one of you end up depressed, angry, unfulfilled it would hurt them much more than going to theatre school if you feel strongly you must try.

• Of course, they may be a bit agitated if they have to pay your rent until you are 50-years-old...nevertheless, they love you and would rather see you happy then on antidepressants and telling a therapist how much you hate your life.