Second thoughts about studying law? (1 Viewer)

[timeslowsdown]

I'm very passionate about environmental law. I plan to do science (advanced)/law with a major in climate science. I am very interested in the science + impacts surrounding climate change, but want to actively make a difference on a political scale. I'm unsure if I want to do law because I hear many subjects are very dry and boring. What should I do? Do I need a law degree?

 

[shinebright]

It depends on the university- which university? You should only do law if you are very passionate about it. I know a lot of people who dropped out because the subjects were as you say "dry and boring" and so wasted one entire year. You should not feel the need to "use" your ATAR, as many people enter law this way but drop out because they become uninterested. If you are interested in climate change, why not just study Science? Remember that combined law degrees are heavily law based, the combination of Commerce or Science is just used so that Law students have more career options, so it would be advised that people with a passion for law study this degree. It sounds as though you are more interested in science though, which will probably not be explored in depth in a law degree. Also consider that there are not many career options for environmental lawyers, it's moreso LAWYERS who choose to enter that field. I think you should just choose Science.

 

[Bec Johnston]

Hi

I am kinda looking at the same path as you, I am doing Commerce/Science and then (hopefully) Master of Environmental law. I thought this was a way to make my education less boring and more focused through removing the irrelevant law courses, which I was not interested in. It may completely backfire on me though

I am not actually sure if you need a law degree. Working in environmental law is completely different than being an environmental lawyer. I think having a broad degree helps, since environmental issues are so complex.

 

[izzy88]

There's no harm in starting a combined law degree and dropping the law bit if you find it too dry. If you drop law after first semester or first year you are only down 3 or so subjects. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do law, but decided that I would give it a go - and I really enjoyed it in the end.

I think it's very difficult for anyone to really know what law will be like until you've given it a go. Also, the lesson I learnt was that keeping options open never really hurts (especially at this stage of your life) and the ideas you have in high school may very well change once you get to Uni. What I thought I would be when I left high school is nothing like what I will end up doing.

Don't keep at the law if you are sure you don't want to do it, or hate it, but I personally dont see the harm in starting it first sem and then dropping it if you don't like it. In terms of environmental law, is there any person you know inthe field that you could do some research on to see what their educational background is like? That might help to see if law is the way to go as well.

 

[Chazure]

just keep in mind that 90% of the courses you will do in the law degree will have nothing to do with that specific interest.

and it sounds like environmental law seems like a later year elective so you won't even get "to the good bit" for a while.

but who knows? you might enjoy the whole field of law as a whole, won't really know until you try l guess.

just keep in mind, giving it a "try" costs time and money.

 

[shinebright]

I would also recommend doing law at UNSW, since their lectures are smaller and take a more modern approach so may be less boring

 

[-may-cat-]

I would also recommend doing law at UNSW, since their lectures are smaller and take a more modern approach so may be less boring

As someone who has not even completed their HSC, how could you possibly know this?

 

[timeslowsdown]

I would also recommend doing law at UNSW, since their lectures are smaller and take a more modern approach so may be less boring

Thanks for the advice Yes I'm planning to do law at UNSW. I think I'll give it a try.

 

[timeslowsdown]

As someone who has not even completed their HSC, how could you possibly know this?

I think it is true; I've heard from people doing law at UNSW say that the small classes allow for interactivity. But I won't choose law just for that reason.

 

[Barbara Gordon]

I'm very passionate about environmental law. I plan to do science (advanced)/law with a major in climate science. I am very interested in the science + impacts surrounding climate change, but want to actively make a difference on a political scale. I'm unsure if I want to do law because I hear many subjects are very dry and boring. What should I do? Do I need a law degree?

There's no harm in trying it for a semester. Just because some people find it dry and boring doesn't mean you will as well. I'm halfway through a degree I want to change now and I really regret not playing around with my units earlier and getting a feel for what I want.

 

[-may-cat-]

My post was more in reference to the 'more modern approach' comment. I dunno, there just seems to be an influx of people offering advice recently who are yet to even begin their tertiary studies, i just don't get how they can so confidently assert these sorts of things, having no personal experience of them themselves.

Anyway, i wish you luck with your future studies

 

[Verify]

This is completely unrelated but just wanted to say congratulations on your crazy ATAR

 

[timeslowsdown]

There's no harm in starting a combined law degree and dropping the law bit if you find it too dry. If you drop law after first semester or first year you are only down 3 or so subjects. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do law, but decided that I would give it a go - and I really enjoyed it in the end.

I think it's very difficult for anyone to really know what law will be like until you've given it a go. Also, the lesson I learnt was that keeping options open never really hurts (especially at this stage of your life) and the ideas you have in high school may very well change once you get to Uni. What I thought I would be when I left high school is nothing like what I will end up doing.

Don't keep at the law if you are sure you don't want to do it, or hate it, but I personally dont see the harm in starting it first sem and then dropping it if you don't like it. In terms of environmental law, is there any person you know inthe field that you could do some research on to see what their educational background is like? That might help to see if law is the way to go as well.

Thanks so much for the advice! I am interested in law to some degree; in the form of gay + human rights (as well as environmental law). But I'm not certain. Yes I agree, there's no harm trying.

Yes I happened to talk to a senior lecturer at UNSW who specialised in environmental law in the form of research as well as being a solicitor at a firm in their Planning, Environment and Local Government section and their Energy and Resources section. http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/profile/cameron-holley - He started off with science (environment)/law at Griffith Uni.

 

[timeslowsdown]

My post was more in reference to the 'more modern approach' comment. I dunno, there just seems to be an influx of people offering advice recently who are yet to even begin their tertiary studies, i just don't get how they can so confidently assert these sorts of things, having no personal experience of them themselves.

Anyway, i wish you luck with your future studies

Thanks and yes I agree with you

 

[timeslowsdown]

Hi

I am kinda looking at the same path as you, I am doing Commerce/Science and then (hopefully) Master of Environmental law. I thought this was a way to make my education less boring and more focused through removing the irrelevant law courses, which I was not interested in. It may completely backfire on me though

I am not actually sure if you need a law degree. Working in environmental law is completely different than being an environmental lawyer. I think having a broad degree helps, since environmental issues are so complex.

Thanks for the insight - a person at USYD said I could go that way too, but I think I'll just try undergraduate law and see how it goes. From what I've heard, I think I can drop down to advanced science pretty easily and then do a masters.

 

[timeslowsdown]

Hi

I am kinda looking at the same path as you, I am doing Commerce/Science and then (hopefully) Master of Environmental law. I thought this was a way to make my education less boring and more focused through removing the irrelevant law courses, which I was not interested in. It may completely backfire on me though

I am not actually sure if you need a law degree. Working in environmental law is completely different than being an environmental lawyer. I think having a broad degree helps, since environmental issues are so complex.

Also just out of curiosity, what are you planning to major in science?

 

[Bec Johnston]

Also just out of curiosity, what are you planning to major in science?

I'm going to major in ecology, as it quite closely mirrors the environmental science degree which I was interested in. You?

 

[SylviaB]

ONLY if you can do it at a top university like unsw, melb, syd, or anu

 

[shinebright]

I've talked to a lot of university friends and family friends who have said the same thing, when asked what differentiates the two universities in terms of their law degree. With Sydney University being the oldest, it is naturally more traditional as opposed to UNSW, so some people find it more boring

 

[shinebright]

What's your first preference?