5 answers
Rylee
Student
Sarasota, Florida
2
Questions
Updated
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What are some tips to make sure I stay motivated in pursuing law school when it seems so far away? #Fall25
I'm currently a college freshman with plans to pursue (most likely) copyright law so that I can work with the model/fashion industry.
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5 answers
DENNIS BREEN
Lawyer
224
Answers
Cary, North Carolina
Updated
DENNIS’s Answer
Rylee: Oddly enough things work out like they are suppose to work out. If you are meant to be in copyright law you'll know it by your senior year. In the mean time, enjoy college, learn all you can about as many things as you can. You may take a course in biology and find out you like that more than copyright law! Don't try to force yourself into a career just because you "most likely" want to pursue it. Live and learn. As each year passes you will get a feeling for what career is best for you. Remember - you are unique. You bring a lot to offer. Be yourself - try designing an outfit and getting a copyright. That will give you a hands on experience! Good luck!!
Thank you so much for the advice.
Rylee
very well-said! Thanks for continuing to be a part of the CV team!
Kim Igleheart
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
83
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi Rylee,
I agree with the other comments here, but I also think it's great you have a goal to work towards now even if it may not be what you end up doing. Just as an example, when I first started law school, I had a general sense of what I wanted to do (i.e., art law--or something in other areas of intellectual property like copyright). First year of law school was really tough for me, so having that goal was a good motivator because I knew I needed a good foundation in my first-year doctrinal classes like property law and contracts in order to get to electives like copyright law. I did pretty well in my first year of law school but--spoiler alert--I ended up doing something completely unrelated to intellectual property because I took a bunch of electives during my second year and became interested in something else.
With all that said, I would encourage you to take classes you are interested in now and continue to stay curious. You can volunteer at your local bar associations and get involved in law-related organizations at school. You can also reach out to attorneys practicing in copyright law and ask them about their professional journey--you might learn a thing or two that might inspire and motivate you while you finish your undergrad degree. Though it's way too early now, you can even start to flip through LSAT materials (do it casually though, no need to stress about it now) and do some research on which law school you might want to aim for.
I would also encourage you to consider classes and/or extracurricular activities that could facilitate your professional development in areas outside of law just to have something you can fall back on in case you change your mind about law school. One thing that comes to mind is to develop your business acumen, which is valuable in both legal and non-legal setting. I only say this because I know a few folks from law school who changed their mind about practicing law after law school and it would have been terrible if they did not already have marketable skills they could utilize outside of the legal field.
Lastly, enjoy your undergrad years. As you take more classes and gain more experience through internships and whatnot, you will get a better sense of whether this path is right for you. You may later find that the idea of being lawyer is more attractive than actually being one, and that's completely okay! There are many other very rewarding careers out there so you ought not to limit yourself to just one path this early on in your undergrad journey.
Best of luck to you Rylee!
I agree with the other comments here, but I also think it's great you have a goal to work towards now even if it may not be what you end up doing. Just as an example, when I first started law school, I had a general sense of what I wanted to do (i.e., art law--or something in other areas of intellectual property like copyright). First year of law school was really tough for me, so having that goal was a good motivator because I knew I needed a good foundation in my first-year doctrinal classes like property law and contracts in order to get to electives like copyright law. I did pretty well in my first year of law school but--spoiler alert--I ended up doing something completely unrelated to intellectual property because I took a bunch of electives during my second year and became interested in something else.
With all that said, I would encourage you to take classes you are interested in now and continue to stay curious. You can volunteer at your local bar associations and get involved in law-related organizations at school. You can also reach out to attorneys practicing in copyright law and ask them about their professional journey--you might learn a thing or two that might inspire and motivate you while you finish your undergrad degree. Though it's way too early now, you can even start to flip through LSAT materials (do it casually though, no need to stress about it now) and do some research on which law school you might want to aim for.
I would also encourage you to consider classes and/or extracurricular activities that could facilitate your professional development in areas outside of law just to have something you can fall back on in case you change your mind about law school. One thing that comes to mind is to develop your business acumen, which is valuable in both legal and non-legal setting. I only say this because I know a few folks from law school who changed their mind about practicing law after law school and it would have been terrible if they did not already have marketable skills they could utilize outside of the legal field.
Lastly, enjoy your undergrad years. As you take more classes and gain more experience through internships and whatnot, you will get a better sense of whether this path is right for you. You may later find that the idea of being lawyer is more attractive than actually being one, and that's completely okay! There are many other very rewarding careers out there so you ought not to limit yourself to just one path this early on in your undergrad journey.
Best of luck to you Rylee!
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Rylee
Baljit Gill
tutor
47
Answers
Milpitas, California
Updated
Baljit’s Answer
Hi Rylee,
I can relate to your interest! I've worked in both law and fashion. Law was tougher for me because of the complex language, while fashion felt easier since it's more about personal taste.
If you want to be a lawyer, you'll need a JD and to pass the bar exam. It requires years of hard work, but it's fulfilling because you'll understand your place as a lawyer.
For a career in fashion, a background in design or art school is helpful. It may take time, but it's rewarding as it lets you express your creativity.
To blend law and fashion, consider roles like an IP lawyer in fashion, a contract lawyer, or a fashion regulatory lawyer. These paths aren't typically taught in law school, so networking and recommendations are key.
Good luck!
I can relate to your interest! I've worked in both law and fashion. Law was tougher for me because of the complex language, while fashion felt easier since it's more about personal taste.
If you want to be a lawyer, you'll need a JD and to pass the bar exam. It requires years of hard work, but it's fulfilling because you'll understand your place as a lawyer.
For a career in fashion, a background in design or art school is helpful. It may take time, but it's rewarding as it lets you express your creativity.
To blend law and fashion, consider roles like an IP lawyer in fashion, a contract lawyer, or a fashion regulatory lawyer. These paths aren't typically taught in law school, so networking and recommendations are key.
Good luck!
Colberte B Proctor
Contract Manager
6
Answers
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Updated
Colberte B’s Answer
Hello,
Congrats on making a decision with such certainty and a positive attitude. I would say that first and foremost you already have the most important asset: a positive attitude. The legal industry is ever evolving and one thing that can help you stay motivated is to continue to feed your most basic, fundamental interests. If fashion is your underlying passion, do everything you can to keep yourself engaged, learn about your favorite brands, attend fashion centered events, build connections, and ingest as much of the culture that you can. That will keep your motivation alive with the very basic premise that you have a genuine interest in the art itself.
You may also start to think about interning and different paths for learning before you even get to law school. Whether that is working at a retail store so that you understand the industry from the consumer perspective, or a formal internship. Lastly, there are online communities for just about everything. You may be able to find a group or social circle with the same area of interest as you and they may have valuable insight or even just a like-minded spirit to help you stay motivated.
Good luck on your journey!
Take this time to truly enjoy your college years.
Research internships not just at law firms, but in the industry you want to support (fashion).
Connect with communities (online or local) that share your dynamic interests
Network!
Congrats on making a decision with such certainty and a positive attitude. I would say that first and foremost you already have the most important asset: a positive attitude. The legal industry is ever evolving and one thing that can help you stay motivated is to continue to feed your most basic, fundamental interests. If fashion is your underlying passion, do everything you can to keep yourself engaged, learn about your favorite brands, attend fashion centered events, build connections, and ingest as much of the culture that you can. That will keep your motivation alive with the very basic premise that you have a genuine interest in the art itself.
You may also start to think about interning and different paths for learning before you even get to law school. Whether that is working at a retail store so that you understand the industry from the consumer perspective, or a formal internship. Lastly, there are online communities for just about everything. You may be able to find a group or social circle with the same area of interest as you and they may have valuable insight or even just a like-minded spirit to help you stay motivated.
Good luck on your journey!
Colberte B recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for the advice, Colberte B.
Rylee
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1828
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Rylee,
Dennis is right! Keep your eyes and ears open - opportunity knocks in strange ways.
When I was in the police academy, one of the instructors tried to get me to pursue a civilian career in insurance fraud investigation. He was going to make the introduction. I should have been flattered. Instead, I thought he was in cahoots with my department and trying to get me out of law enforcement because I'm female (40 years ago!).
And, even if you've told the whole world you are going into copyright law, if you change your mind, you owe nobody an explanation. Don't feel trapped in this route just because you've always said that's what you are going to do. You may also have to take a roundabout way of getting there. For example, when you finish law school, you take whatever job you can find - it may not be the one you want. But you keep working towards your goal, keep taking training, keep going to meetups, etc.
Best of luck!
Kim
Dennis is right! Keep your eyes and ears open - opportunity knocks in strange ways.
When I was in the police academy, one of the instructors tried to get me to pursue a civilian career in insurance fraud investigation. He was going to make the introduction. I should have been flattered. Instead, I thought he was in cahoots with my department and trying to get me out of law enforcement because I'm female (40 years ago!).
And, even if you've told the whole world you are going into copyright law, if you change your mind, you owe nobody an explanation. Don't feel trapped in this route just because you've always said that's what you are going to do. You may also have to take a roundabout way of getting there. For example, when you finish law school, you take whatever job you can find - it may not be the one you want. But you keep working towards your goal, keep taking training, keep going to meetups, etc.
Best of luck!
Kim
Thank you, Kim!
Rylee