Expert: Sally A. Kane - 11/10/2008

Question
Hi!
      I am currently a junior in High school in NY with a 94% avg. I am really
interested in both professions. I am particularly interested in law due to that i
can help change the world by then entering the political ladder. I have always
been good at social studies and history and find it very interesting.
       On the other hand i just stumbled upon maybe entering a career in
medicine. The field of plastic surgery and cardiovascular surgery has become
of interest to me. I keep hearing that being in medicine is much more secure
than being in law, especially salary wise. The only thing that turn me off is
that i keep getting high 80's in my honors chemistry class while other smart
students get 98's on a test for which the teacher is horrible at giving.
      Recently having watched the election and other political events over the
years i feel that maybe a career in politics is for me. Do you think that going
to law school and becoming a corporate or criminal law lawyer and then going
into politics is a good idea from going to Med school and entering the field of
surgery? Please help me as to not make a wrong decision when picking a
major in College!

                                                                                           Thanks!

Answer
Hi Nicolas,

I can’t tell you what career to choose but I can tell you to follow your heart and choose a career path that you are truly passionate about.  The most important thing you can do in choosing between two career paths is to educate yourself about each option.    To learn more about a career as a lawyer, you might start at http://legalcareers.about.com/

This article outlines 10 reasons to choose a career n the law: http://legalcareers.about.com/od/careerprofiles/tp/Legal-Profession-Rewards.htm

This article outlines some of the wrong reasons for becoming a lawyer.
http://legalcareers.about.com/od/practicetips/a/lawyermyths.htm

If you attend a good law school and perform well academically, you will find plenty of lucrative opportunities in the legal field.  The most important thing you can do at this point in your education is to earn good grades.  Top academic qualifications will open many doors for you in both the legal and medical fields.

Good luck!

Sally A. Kane, Esq.
About.com Guide to Legal Careers
http://legalcareers.about.com/