Choosing a career post-grad can be one of the most daunting parts of college. Being pressed with questions about grad school, internships, and job applications as early as sophomore year, it only makes sense that students feel overwhelmed and directionless. Attending the School of Journalism and Strategic Media (SJSM), especially, opens the door to a wide variety of careers. Some choose to work in the agency world, in journalism, or even in marketing. However, a growing number of students are choosing the law school path.
I first discovered this SJSM to law school pipeline sophomore year, when I had class with a senior Advertising and PR student who informed me she was going to attend law school here at the U of A. The thought of going to law school had never occurred to me. I always thought you had to study political science or legal studies to go to law school. However, I quickly learned that any degree can get you to law school. In fact, the SJSM prepares students exceptionally well for this exact career path.
With coursework rich in technical writing and media literacy, and an emphasis on the importance of first amendment rights for journalists, belonging to this school is an incredible way to prepare for a law school and a legal career. My junior year, I was able to take Media Law, an incredible course that consisted of reading real cases that dealt with all things surrounding free speech. We read through the dense material of the cases, created briefs, and presented them to the class almost weekly. This class heavily mimicked the law school atmosphere, and I was instantly hooked. This class solidified my decision of wanting to be a lawyer, and I knew I was in the right place to get there.
Our head account executive here at Main Hill Media, Claire Yaney, also foresees a legal career in her future. She feels as though the SJSM gives students a vital stepping stone to their legal career.
Claire: “The SJSM has prized itself on honest research and narrative driven journalism and that research base has really directed me towards law in the same research, and ethically driven career. I think the program sets you up well for that field of work and that’s why we’re seeing so many ADPR/ SJSM students take that career path.”
Another member of student media, Ellie Bunnell, who serves as the Editor in Chief of the Razorback Yearbook, feels as though she is thoroughly prepared for law school as she wraps up her degree in Journalism.
Ellie: “I first decided I wanted to go to law school because of my Media Law class. The class introduced me to so many court cases that covered the First Amendment, libel, and copyright. It sparked my interest in law and encouraged me to consider a career as a lawyer. The following semester I noticed so many more journalism students who decided they also wanted to apply to law school. I believe the challenging job market and popular media law court cases have contributed to the increase in journalism students considering law school. I think majoring in journalism is a good stepping stone to law school because you learn so many foundational writing skills and gain excellent communication skills.”
The growing connection between the School of Journalism and Strategic Media and law school isn’t a coincidence, but a natural progression. Whether through coursework or through hands-on experiences in student media, SJSM students are developing the analytical mindset and communication skills that make them strong candidates for legal careers. As more journalism and strategic media students recognize the overlap between the pursuit of truth in media and the pursuit of justice in law, the SJSM to law school pipeline will only continue to grow.