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Q. I'm a few years out of college and have had a fairly successful career in newspapers, earning $35,000 to $40,000 a year and covering a very prominent beat for a mid-sized paper. However, if journalism is for me in the long run, I'd like to take things to the next level -- as in aiming for Pulitzers at a major newspaper. That kind of career.

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Here's the thing -- I was also recently accepted to a top-10 law school. I was wondering how that might reflect on me should I eventually decide that journalism is where I want to be. Could that sort of educational background give me a boost in the eyes of newspaper and magazine recruiters/hiring managers? The state of the industry, of course, makes me wary about where this is all headed, and I also like the idea of having a professional degree in another field for security reasons.

What are your thoughts, money and debt issues aside? I can think that part through later. Good move?

Facing a Dilemma

A. Many people find themselves drawn to both journalism and law. There are a lot of similarities between the two fields.

Joe Grimm

While a law degree can give you a new direction, I am unconvinced that it would boost your journalism career. The law school grads I know who are successful journalists never really stopped their journalism careers. Most worked and attended law school at the same time. That is tough to do and is an example of how good they are at juggling.

As you consider your options, don't compare your position today with where you figure you would be after three years of law school. Compare where you'd be after three years of law school with where you think you'd be after three more years of journalism.

Although you say money is no object, you need to think about how eager you will be to return to journalism and its wages if your other option is earning the kind of paycheck that graduates from top law schools can command.

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Coming Thursday: This new graduate is looking at a first job offer, but feels the pay is low. He wonders how to negotiate higher pay and a better vacation deal.

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