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CAREERS TO CHOOSE FROM?

Hi, I have a bunch of questions regarding law and career. I want to study law but I am pretty unsure what degrees/Jobs are the top paying.
I am pretty interested in those jobs that are shown in the criminal documentaries/investigations. I have truth interests in Forensic science, Criminal Justice, International relations, criminology, political science, legal studies/justice, public relations. I have an interest in being a lawyer, judge/attorney or doing it later in life. I want to be an actress but I also want to be a lawyer, I want to do it as a later career in life.
I want to do this but also have another degree like IT/Computer science, Liberal arts, real estate. So my questions are as follows: Do I necessarily need to study real estate or can I just do a course and become a real estate agent? (I want to do real estate as a side hustle)
Can I be enrolled in two universities (Online and physical)? Can I study two different majors at the same time? Eg IT and Criminology. (dual degree/Double major).
What are the top law majors/degrees and Jobs?
What internships can I do around Arlington Texas that can secure me a good job or give me experience?
Does Howard University allow double majors or degrees? What top universities allow double majors/degrees? (Do they allow customization?)
What extra curricular can I do that’ll give me experience?
What subjects/courses can I take in high school for exposure?

+25 Karma if successful
From: You
To: Friend
Subject: Career question for you

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Terri’s Answer

It's great to see you have so many interests! This might make picking a career a bit tricky, but it also opens up a world of possibilities for you. Remember, if you decide to venture into the legal field, your diverse interests could guide your future practice. For instance, your interest in IT or computer science could lead you toward intellectual property or cyberlaw. If real estate piques your interest, you could consider becoming a real estate lawyer.

The best part is, there's no rush to make these decisions. As you begin your college journey, take the time to explore what truly captivates you. Enroll in a mix of courses to get a taste of different fields and discuss potential career paths with your professors. Internships can also be a valuable tool in helping you pinpoint your passions.

While you're figuring things out, regular check-ins with your academic advisor can be really beneficial. They can help ensure the classes you select also help you make progress toward a diploma, saving you from spending extra time and money on your education. Colleges are generally well-prepared to help students who are still deciding on their career path or major.

And if you do decide that law school is your calling, don't worry about your undergraduate major. Law schools welcome students from all academic backgrounds!
Thank you comment icon Terri, thank you! Mariam
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Michelle’s Answer

Hello, Mariam !

It's wonderful that you are interested in careers in Law, Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, International Relations, Political Science, Criminology, Judicial, Acting, IT and Computer Science and Real Estate. Liberal Arts is not a career. My advice is to choose one. It is awesome to be interested in various subjects, but recognize that you have not realistically chosen one to focus on to become a professional at. An overloaded interest bank of subjects will maintain your uncertainty and a career should never be chosen from TV shows or movies because their purpose is for entertainment. You didn't mention your age, but there is always plenty of time to choose what you want to be prepared and qualified for after your academic studies and obtaining your degree. Many people may not agree with this, but you will be able to do your best with one major and a minor in college.

Becoming a lawyer requires going to Law School, four years undergraduate plus three years of law school - seven years total. Being a lawyer requires a lot of training and experience and you may not be ready to put your Law Degree to rest while you pursue a different career only to see that later on in years you qualify less for good lawyer positions. Lawyers graduate and are active as attorneys right out of Law School after passing the Bar Exam.

Double majoring seems to be "a thing" these days, but I caution in favor of choosing one major with a minor and staying away from double majoring. You may have to go longer than 4 years just to get a Bachelors Degree plus the exhaustive overload of taking many courses a semester may lead to not being able to complete all the class requirements affecting grades. I honestly would advise not double majoring. A study for a career should not be rushed, bombarded, overloaded or crammed. If you insist on double majoring, check with Howard University as to what the university will expect of you regarding academic achievement as well as tuition fees since you have mentioned Howard University specifically. Again, I advise highly giving it time to choose one major and a minor.

For real estate and for all the other interests you've mentioned, I would recommend in person, on site education. To be the best you can be, meeting professional contacts, having support and resources at hand and full participation and interaction, I advise doing it in person on a campus.

As for what career you will do immediately and which one you will do later on, you almost cannot decide that now since you haven't pinpointed one career. What happens is as you live life, things unfold that will show you how to manage your interests and which ones can be soon after graduation or for later on in years. Sometimes we cannot plan these things as so much changes and our interests and life changes, so you can let things flow in a natural pattern and focus on the here and now. Prepare yourself for a first career. You will discover which sidelines you can or cannot do while working one major career. You will also find out what you should specialize in with Law once you start your education and discover for yourself which area of law you like best.

I hope this is of help and I encourage you to keep asking questions about college and career ! Best wishes to you in all you do !
Thank you comment icon Hey, thank you for the response. I am 15 but i’m graduating early. I’m going into 11th grade next year. “and a career should never be chosen from TV shows or movies because their purpose is for entertainment.” Yes, thank you. It is from these shows I discovered my passion and after making research about it, it’s something i know deep down I really want to do. I have considered other careers but I just keep redirecting myself back to these. I was thinking of getting a liberal arts degree as I can get exposure to various career paths. Also during my research I came across something that said you can go to law school with any degree. You just need to pass the exam. I was thinking maybe I can get a bachelors for another degree and then get a l JD. But thank you for your advice!! Mariam
Thank you comment icon You are very welcome. I do stand by my advice and wish you all the best in your choices for your future ! Have a great day ! Michelle M.
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Michael’s Answer

Hi! Since the other answers so far are great, I will give you a mock roadmap for the next 5-10 years of what I think your education and career could look like given your interests. I realize this will be a lot of information and even more work, but use it to brainstorm!

High School:
- Continue working hard and get good grades
- Begin learning coding languages. Learn one at a time: Python for general use, data analytics, machine learning, back end development (and some front end); SQL for database querying/design (SQL is easy to learn and shouldn't take more than a week to set up a fake SQLite database); javascript, CSS, and HTML for web design; and then C or C++ for low level and OS development. Youtube, freecodecamp.org, girlswhocode.com will be your friends here (you can also google "best free python learning resources and get millions of results).
- Get familiar with IT administration and cybersecurity concepts: networking, learn PowerShell for Windows or Bash/Linux, cloud computing. Certainly get familiar with cybersecurity and info security concepts as well as the different things hackers do to achieve their goals: types of malware, SQL injection, social engineering, zero days. Unequivocally, www.hacksplaining.com is the best starting point but also check out https://hackernoon.com/top-resources-to-learn-ethical-hacking. If you arrive to college already with IT and coding skills, you will be miles ahead of your peers.
- Continue acting in your school as well as outside/independent theatres in your free time. Perhaps attempt making some short films with your friends and edit with iMovie.

Undergrad:
- Double major in computer science and criminology with a pre-law track (if possible but not needed). This will best set you up for a career in digital forensics; Howard University does have these two majors and allows for double majors (most schools do). Its location in DC is crucial as it's in proximity to the FBI which is a great career for someone interested in digital forensics. Additionally, the federal government often has recruiting campaigns at HBCUs which will be at the very least good for mentoring and networking.
- Continue practicing your technical skills but now get engaged: build apps/websites with your peers, attend hackathons or capture the flag contests, join/start technology oriented student groups, attend lectures, maybe even make a little money on a gig work website doing some sort of development!
- Get a job or internship with your school's IT helpdesk or with a local business. Having come into undergrad with the required tech skills, this should be easy. Possibly get your employer to pay for certificates such as with AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, or CompTIA.
- Get a summer internship with a local law firm or with lawyers at a local business. You should also look into tech companies, consulting firms, as well as any other large organization with a corporate structure.
- Get involved with the school's mock trial. In addition to this, perhaps see if there are any political science or criminology journals you can write/cowrite for. Publications always look great on your resume for grad school.
- In your free time, get involved with your school's performing arts programs. Join/start improv or sketch comedy groups at your school but also get involved with local groups theatres. Take acting/performing classes if possible. Act in film students' films (this one is big and could even get you IMDB credits if you're lucky). This may not be your thing, but dancing or standup comedy may be good also to get you out of your comfort zone and could help you think creatively on how you use your words or your body. Look at non-union acting roles and start auditioning- backstage.com is a great starting point.
-Keep your grades up and study very hard for the LSAT. With a computer science major, you are not a traditional law school candidate and thus can be more attractive than the usual political science or history major.

*At this point, you may have had a change of heart and law isn't for you. Or maybe you decided you want to get some work experience before going to law school (which is very very common). Nevertheless, people always change their major as there's a lot to learn about life and careers in college- don't be dismayed as you will find success doing anything you love as long as you put the work in.

Graduate School:
- Pick a law school that is closest to/in the state where you want to practice law or within the proximity of where you want to practice law. If tech law, the San Francisco Bay Area is going to be #1, but Washington, DC and New York will follow. Los Angeles would be the best place for entertainment law. DC and New York overall are great places to practice any kind of law but are highly competitive if you're interested in big law, so a top tier law school is your best bet, but you can find success without it. Generally, if you're in a top tier law school location doesn't matter as the brand recognition supersedes location.
- Pick a type of law. This generally comes in the form of clinics, electives, internships, and writing for journals. Law school is usually a general education of law whereas you work on your own to choose the type of law. Your tech skills could bring you to tech law. Tech + criminology could bring you to the Department of Justice or FBI or potentially the Department of Defense or intelligence agency. Or you can leave that behind and go to LA to practice entertainment law considering your interests in the industry; this will also give you a network of agents, managers, as well as entertainment professionals- living in LA will also give you proximity to auditions.
- Continue acting and auditioning in all of the aforementioned ways.

I am going to leave out a formal career section as the options here are truly endless, so here will be some options to toy with. You could be a lawyer at a big law firm specializing in tech or entertainment law or perhaps general counsel at a tech company. You could be an FBI agent or an intelligence analyst. You could be a consultant at a large consulting firm. Or perhaps you start your own company. Or maybe you'll get your big break and become a famous actor.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much!! This really helped me. I appreciate your time and efforts. Mariam
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Laura’s Answer

Hello Mariam!

A couple of thoughts for you to add to the advice already given. I switched careers a few years after I graduated with my first degree. I will say, it is not the path I would have recommended to others or myself for that matter; however, it has ultimately been one of the better decisions I have made thus far. The point of this is, that you do not have to know exactly what you want to do, and even if you do, you may find a few years down the road that life happens and your career interests and needs change. Having the drive, perseverance, and a variety of interests will take you a long way regardless of which career path you choose.

When considering majors and degree options, I would recommend that you pick a major (or two) that have lots of career options attached to them. For example, a law degree you can specialize in any number of areas and work in a number of careers. Whereas if you chose a degree such as teaching, your options may be limited to different types of teaching or admin positions within schools. Having a degree with a wide variety of career options sets a base for change later on; or not if you find you love what you're doing!

Another action you can take now is simply to get experience. I would add that it does not necessarily have to be in the fields you have identified as areas of interest thus far. You are young, you have time to try a few internships and different jobs whether they be in these fields or not. Having a diverse set of job experiences will not only develop different skills but also allow you to gain experience and different perspectives on work and what career might be satisfying to you.

Finally, I will echo what others have expressed before, money is not everything in a career. It is important, but you need to consider what will allow you to live the life you want for yourself and also provide a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. Boatloads of money will only keep you in a job you dislike for so long. You need a balance of cash flow to live reasonably and enjoy your work.

I hope this helps and good luck! I am sure you will find your path and go far!!
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the advice, Laura. Mariam
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the help. S
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Caroline’s Answer

Hi Mariam.
Any job can be "top paying" depending on the employer (example: celebrities dog walkers may earn more than many lawyers!).
Since you have many interests, I would suggest for you to focus on internships and volunteering (especially for social justice) to learn what you like doing. There is a difference between enjoying learning about a topic and working in the related field. Learning is essential, but every job has its own practical tasks and requires interactions/dependencies on other people. These aspects of a job can only be experienced, and it is hard to assess whether you would enjoy them in advance.
Thank you comment icon Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action! Mariam
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Aubrey’s Answer

Hey there, I would first recommend not picking a career based only on being top paying. There's a famous saying find something you love and never work a day in your life. Seeing the two very different paths you have laid out I would highly recommend an internship or volunteering/ networking in the fields that interest you most. Talking to people in those fields and getting some hands on experience will help you navigate what you will like about each of these and what path better fits your life. I found my passion/ career through networking, I had no idea what I wanted to be in high school or in my early 20s, and never would have pictured myself as a Business Development Manager.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for advice. I have a question though. What did you study in University/College? Also my top choice is law, I have a passion for it but sometimes I doubt it. But thank you!! Mariam
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Divyank’s Answer

Top Paying Legal Jobs: Some of the highest paying legal careers include law firm partner, corporate lawyer, intellectual property lawyer, and trial lawyer. Judges and attorneys also tend to have high salaries but may require more years of experience.

Degrees for Legal Careers: If you're interested in becoming a lawyer, the typical path is to obtain a Bachelor's degree in any field, then go on to law school for a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Some common bachelor's degrees for aspiring lawyers include Political Science, English, History, and Philosophy, but you can choose any field of study.

Real Estate: To become a real estate agent, you typically do not need a degree. Most states require that you take a pre-licensing course, pass a licensing exam, and then work under a broker for a certain amount of time.

Dual Enrollment & Double Majors: Yes, it is possible to be enrolled in two different universities or study two different majors at the same time. However, the specifics will depend on the universities' policies. Dual degrees or double majors can be demanding but offer a broad skill set.

Top Law Majors/Degrees: Some top law degrees include Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), and Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD).

Internships in Arlington, Texas: For internships related to law, consider law firms, courts, or government offices in the area. For IT-related internships, tech companies or IT departments within non-tech companies could be options.

Howard University & Double Majors: Howard University does offer the opportunity for double majors. Many universities allow for double majors, but you will need to check with each specific institution.

Extracurriculars: Consider joining or starting a debate club, student government, or a pre-law society. Internships and part-time jobs in relevant fields can also provide practical experience.

High School Courses: To get exposure to law in high school, consider taking advanced social studies classes, participating in debate or mock trial, or taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Government or History.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much!! Mariam
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