For high school students choosing the humanities track, the Department of Law and the Department of Economics are two of the most popular choices. Both belong to the social sciences, yet they differ significantly in what you study and your post-graduation career opportunities. This article compares the subjects, thinking styles, and employment advantages of each department to help you decide which path is right for you.
1. Differences in Academic Scope and Approach
Law and Economics analyze society from very different perspectives.
Studying Law: Developing and Interpreting Rules
In the Faculty of Law, you study the rules (laws) that maintain social order. The curriculum centers on basic laws such as the Constitution, Civil Law, and Penal Code. You will research the historical background of these laws and how they are interpreted and applied in court cases.
- Thinking Style: Logical thinking and a legal mind. You align legal texts with facts to deduce logical, consistent solutions.
- Key Courses: Constitutional Law, General Provisions of Civil Law, Penal Code, International Law, Administrative Law.
- Assignment Types: Extensive reading of precedents and essay-style exams that demand solutions to complex legal disputes.
Studying Economics: Allocation of Resources and Market Analysis
In the Faculty of Economics, you study how scarce resources—such as money, goods, services, and labor—are allocated and circulated in society. Students analyze market mechanisms, government policies, and corporate decisions using mathematical models.
- Thinking Style: Quantitative and statistical thinking. You analyze data and use mathematical equations and models to explain social phenomena.
- Key Courses: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics, Public Finance, Monetary Economics.
- Assignment Types: Mathematical problem-solving, graph analysis, and data processing using Excel or programming languages (such as R or Python).
2. Career Paths: Civil Service vs. Private Sector
Both departments offer distinct advantages in the job market. While the common perception is “Law for public service, Economics for the private sector,” let’s look at the reality.
| Comparison | Faculty of Law | Faculty of Economics |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Career Paths | Public service, Legal professions, Infrastructure, Manufacturing | Finance/Securities, Trading companies, Consulting, Manufacturing |
| Civil Service Exam Alignment | Extremely High (Constitution, Civil Law, Administrative Law) | High (Economic Principles, Public Finance, Statistics) |
| Private Sector Advantages | High logical thinking skills and understanding of compliance | Quantitative analysis and understanding of market dynamics |
| Professional Qualifications | Bar exam, Judicial scrivener, Administrative scrivener | CPA, Tax accountant, Chartered Member of the Securities Analysts Association |
Suitability for the Civil Service
Civil service recruitment exams (both national and local) feature “law” and “economics” divisions. However, even general administrative exams weigh Constitutional Law, Civil Law, and Administrative Law heavily. Law students who learn these subjects in their regular classes have a significant advantage and can save hours of self-study.
Suitability for the Private Sector
Economics courses relate directly to business operations, making economics graduates highly sought after in the private sector. In finance, securities, and insurance, quantitative and statistical skills are directly valued. The analytical skills built during your studies will also serve you well in management planning and marketing roles.
3. Which Department is Right for You? A Decision Checklist
Use the checklist below to see which department aligns better with your skills and goals.
You should choose Law if you:
- Enjoy reading long documents and building meticulous logical arguments.
- Are interested in topics like justice, fairness, and human rights.
- Target a career in public service or professional legal fields (e.g., attorney, prosecutor).
- Have a strong aversion to math and graph-based analysis.
You should choose Economics if you:
- Are curious about money, stock market movements, and how global business works.
- Are comfortable with mathematics (especially probability and calculus) and data analysis.
- Hope to work for trading firms, financial institutions, or global consulting agencies.
- Value practical efficiency and outcomes over abstract rules.
4. Conclusion: Choose Based on Your Preferred Approach
Both the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Economics teach valuable skills that are highly respected in the professional world. Rather than choosing based solely on employment rates, think about which approach excites you more: using words and logic to structure societal rules (Law) or using numbers and models to analyze human behavior and market trends (Economics).
To make an informed choice, review university syllabi and reading lists to get a feel for what the classes are actually like.