Commerce or Law

[sb3700]

Hey

I was planning to do an engineering double degree next year at Monash (I already have an engineering excellence scholarship offer as well). However, I'm trying to decide between commerce and law.

I was tilting towards commerce as supposedly, that merges nicely with engineering (management and all); whereas for me to use a law degree, I would basically have to become a solicitor. However, I am currently more interested in the engineering side (I am a very science/maths person).

But looking at the subjects, commerce seems kinda boring (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2009handbooks/courses/0548.html).

Any input?

[JL_91]

If I were you, I would definitely opt for law. Yes, it is probably more interesting than commerce, but also, with a law degree, there is SO much more that you can do compared to what you could do with a commerce degree. In fact, you could probably enter the same job market as commerce students, if you really wanted to in the future. I think it's well worth the "extra" effort to gain such a valued degree, instead of a commerce one.

[brendan]

Hey

I was planning to do an engineering double degree next year at Monash (I already have an engineering excellence scholarship offer as well). However, I'm trying to decide between commerce and law.

I was tilting towards commerce as supposedly, that merges nicely with engineering (management and all); whereas for me to use a law degree, I would basically have to become a solicitor. However, I am currently more interested in the engineering side (I am a very science/maths person).

But looking at the subjects, commerce seems kinda boring (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2009handbooks/courses/0548.html).

Any input?

i think you will find law much more boring. and if you are a science/maths person com/eng is the way to go.

[sb3700]

with a law degree, there is SO much more that you can do compared to what you could do with a commerce degree

From random Google searching (http://www.abanet.org/lsd/stulawyer/dec02/jobs.html first line), about 11% of law graduates end up in a legal profession. I know all about transferability of skills and stuff like that but what actual opportunities do you mean JL that properly use the law degree? (not meant to be rude, just want to find some info :-])

[xox.happy1.xox]

If I were you, I would definitely opt for law. Yes, it is probably more interesting than commerce, but also, with a law degree, there is SO much more that you can do compared to what you could do with a commerce degree. In fact, you could probably enter the same job market as commerce students, if you really wanted to in the future. I think it's well worth the "extra" effort to gain such a valued degree, instead of a commerce one.

+1 (Law FTW!)

[Tea4theTillerman]

From random Google searching (http://www.abanet.org/lsd/stulawyer/dec02/jobs.html first line), about 11% of law graduates end up in a legal profession. I know all about transferability of skills and stuff like that but what actual opportunities do you mean JL that properly use the law degree? (not meant to be rude, just want to find some info :-])

Uhh, I think you misunderstood the quote there. From the first page of the link you posted:

Each year, approximately 11 percent of law graduates enter the work force in so-called nontraditional positions—those that do not directly involve the practice of law. Law students can, indeed, avail themselves to career options in business, publishing, real estate, the arts, education, social services, and countless other areas.

So 11% of people DON'T end up working in law in their first year. Degrees are possibly the most important in law when compared to other fields such as finance, accounting or information technology, where it is possible to work your way through an organisation without a uni degree.

[sb3700]

Uhh, I think you misunderstood the quote there. From the first page of the link you posted:

Each year, approximately 11 percent of law graduates enter the work force in so-called nontraditional positions—those that do not directly involve the practice of law. Law students can, indeed, avail themselves to career options in business, publishing, real estate, the arts, education, social services, and countless other areas.

So 11% of people DON'T end up working in law in their first year.

Yeah, sorry that's what I meant. It suggests that most graduates end up in the legal profession, so I will be unlikely to use my law degree unless I become some kind of lawyer.

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Also, looking at the options for majoring, what exactly is the difference between finance and economics (the ones that sound most interesting to me)?

Majors are listed here http://monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/courses/0548.html.