AJ Beck (BHA 2019)

Anna-Jamieson Beck, or AJ Beck, graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2019 with a BHA in Politics and Public Policy and Drama and a minor in Professional Writing. After graduation she went on to earn her J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023, and she is currently working in commercial litigation at McGuireWoods in Charlotte, North Carolina.

From Dramaturgy to Law

AJ had a fairly non-traditional pathway to the law. Coming into CMU, AJ considered studying Professional and Creative Writing, before pursuing a BHA in Drama — with a focus in dramaturgy — and Professional Writing. At the start of her undergraduate education, she hadn’t considered a career in the law much beyond hypothetical conversations with her family. However, that changed when she took Law, Performance, and Identity withm Associate Professor of English, Douglas Coulson.

After taking more English courses and completing a summer internship at a law firm in her hometown, she realized she could see herself thriving in the day-to-day work as an attorney, and so she began to pivot towards law school.

The research dramaturgs do can be pretty broad, but it can also be very niche. You have to have a pretty good eye for details, which is helpful for law school.

In 2018, AJ participated in the Washington Semester Program, where she worked as a development intern for Ford’s Theater in the nation’s capital. AJ credits the Washington Semester Program as an important inflection point between her work in drama and her work in law, and it still holds a special place in her heart for showing her she could pursue a career in law while maintaining her passion for theater. In fact, AJ highlighted the ways her unique pathway helped her really succeed in law school:

“Dramaturgy in general — and the BXA program — was really helpful. It gave me some key skills that were useful for law school, like writing, teamwork and research…[The] research dramaturgs do…it can be pretty broad, but it can also be very niche. You have to have a pretty good eye for details, which is helpful for law school.”

Taking Time to Hone Success

In true CMU fashion, once she realized she had a future in the law, AJ put her heart into getting there. By the end of her senior year, she switched to a concentration in Politics and Public Policy with a minor in Professional Writing. She planned on going straight to law school, but as her senior year progressed, she realized it would be unfeasible for her to juggle coursework for the Washington Semester, LSAT preparation and law school applications. She reached out to Jay Devine, CMU’s Pre-Law Society advisor, for advice on managing the law school application process. And after meeting with Devine, AJ realized she didn’t need to rush her applications just because she was graduating in the spring.

Instead of rushing through applications, AJ spent a year working for another small law firm in Columbia, South Carolina. This experience provided her with access to mentors who showed her every aspect of a lawyer’s day-to-day practice — ranging from working with clients, to building one’s brand as a lawyer and even some advice on how to manage the business of a law firm. Working at this firm, AJ realized the importance of finding a workplace environment that you enjoy and exploring all of your options. After working at two small-to-medium-sized firms, AJ aimed at building more experience working in the judiciary and at a larger law firm to learn what the entire range of law careers might look like.

Career Creativity

Along with the size of the firm, AJ also considered the location of her future firm, something she finds is important for students to think creatively about. Many students may have the common misconception that if they want to work in “big law,” at a large, prestigious law firm, they need to work in New York City or Los Angeles.

“I would encourage students to think outside the box location-wise," AJ said. "I’m in big law and I’m in Charlotte, North Carolina. Raleigh has a great legal market. Texas has legal markets going on…When you talk to lawyers who are practicing, ask: ‘What do you like about being a lawyer in New York? What do you like about being a lawyer in D.C.?’ Practicing law can be very different depending on your location and your firm.”

There’s a level of trust that comes with having clerked.  You’ve done a lot of research. You probably know what you’re doing.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina, AJ took the unexpected turn to clerk for Chief Justice Kate M. Fox on the Wyoming Supreme Court. She first met Chief Justice Fox through her personal network and immediately saw a chance to learn from someone whose career she admired.

Though moving to Wyoming wasn’t part of AJ’s original plan when she started law school, she embraced the opportunity to move across the country and explore somewhere new. In her time clerking, she developed advanced legal research and writing skills, worked closely with the Justice on complicated appellate issues and gained a new mentor who helped shape her career.

The clerkship helped her to transition smoothly into big law, as clerking at the appellate level gave her immediate credibility in a new working environment. Teams at large firms may trust associate attorneys who have clerked to take on substantial research and writing assignments early in their careers.

“There’s a level of trust that comes with having clerked," AJ explained. "Whatever you draft will be of very high quality. You’ve done a lot of research. You probably know what you’re doing.”

Lasting Advice

One of the greatest challenges AJ faced in law school was finding a healthy work-life balance. While this won’t be a new concept to CMU students, AJ emphasized just how unique the demands of law school are. From day one, courses demand you give 110% effort just to stay on track. Law school involves more reading and writing than any undergraduate student has faced before, so many students struggle to find their footing at first.

To help her find a healthier balance, AJ took it upon herself to learn about stress management from a mental health coach at Chapel Hill’s Law School, something she recommends every student try when they find themselves lost in coursework.

“[O]ne of the most important things we talked about was the idea that the things you'd like to do, you need to think of them as work too," AJ said. "Us CMU students, we know how to grind and how to do our work…[But] what you need to do for yourself you need to think of as work [too]. And you need to be successful in that as well.”

AJ Beck’s career shows there is no single pathway to find a successful career in the law and that students should consider finding their own path. AJ’s path started at CMU studying writing and dramaturgy and found its way to Ford’s Theater in D.C., two law firms in Columbia, South Carolina, the Supreme Court of Wyoming, and finally Charlotte, North Carolina. AJ never conformed to a “traditional” pathway to a law career. Her story should serve as an inspiration for students, especially those unsure if it’s “too late” to change track towards the law. AJ’s journey shows the importance of pursuing your passions, thoughtful career planning, and a commitment to interdisciplinary study.