She also writes pop culture stories for TheThings, where she contributes several articles a week to the website. After that accident, the guitarist spent many years mastering the guitar before launching a lucrative music career. Like her late father, she hopes to practice law someday. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. Your email address will not be published. She had to work extremely hard and wait a long time to be admitted to law school. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. This reality star, who thrives on being misunderstood, managed to do so while having four children, keeping a filming schedule, and managing several businesses, including one that sells shapewear and another that sells cosmetics. The Scotsman earned a position at a prestigious legal firm in Edinburgh after receiving high honors in 1992, where he remained until deciding to pursue his Hollywood goals. Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images. Charles Perrault. From there he went on to lead the Indian National Congress, and, ultimately, gain Indias independence from Britain. Prior to joining PEOPLE, Diane worked at Bustle, VH1 and Complex. The Most Important Leaders In World History, Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With, Famous Role Models We'd Like to Meet In Person. We dont usually think of Gandhi as a member of a privileged elite, but he came from a prominent family and his father was chief minister of a large city. But like Julio Iglesias, Andrea Bocelli did not allow his physical disability to prevent him from succeeding in his career. At the age of 16, Nelson Mandela intended to become a privy councillor for the Thembu royal house. He is also a former lawyer. in 1981 and practiced for about a decade. When they ran into each other years later, the successful actor introduced the professor to his friends as "the only teacher to ever buy me a beer.". Wilson earned a B.A. Ozzie Nelson. He pursued his degree because he promised his parents he would follow his passion for education. "I had to learn about. Jerry Springer is known mostly for his career in broadcast journalism and fiery TV show. RELATED:Every Disney Princess & What Their College Major Would Be. By then, her mind was set on pursuing law, but after suffering from a bout of malaria on a trip to Africa, she hallucinated that she won an Oscar and knew from then on that acting was it for her, according to USA Today. Instead, he decided that he wanted to go to law school. Bueller?" Cindy Crawford - the model and actress once studied chemical engineering. The casts of Law & Order and The Good Wife!the practice of law has also lured more than one creative into its time-honored thrall. To help himself get through college, he would sing at nightclubs and bars just to make some extra money. She later switched sections to become one of the features and entertainment editors. When he got his big break in the music industry in the early 1990s, Bocelli left the law and never looked back. Rebel Wilson, Gerard Butler and more. RELATED:10 Celebs You Never Knew Went To College. He got off and I couldnt believe it, the Angie Tribeca star explained in February 2014. Will Shortz. Ben Stein. Before becoming King Leonidas of Sparta, Butler was the president of the law society at the University of Glasgow and graduated with honors in 1992. He may have put his degree on the shelf for many years but the king of talk shows has finally found a reason to dust off his old law school books: Springer will star in his own court show called Judge Jerry starting fall 2019, according to Deadline. In the 1990s, he was a famous child actor most remembered for playing the Kid in the "Dick Tracy" film adaptation, "What About Bob," and Jack Banning in "Hook.". Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Powered by WordPress VIP, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). Between September 30, 1991, and July 26, 2018, he served as the host of the tabloid talk show Jerry Springer. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! As a result, after graduating with his law degree, he decided that he wanted to follow his new dreams to become an actor, and didn't pursue a legal career. Nevertheless, his legal training appears to have influenced other choices. This list of famous people who went to law school is loosely ranked by fame and popularity. San Francisco 49er Steve Young managed to check both of those things off of his bucket list in 1994. The Secret Policemans Balls impact has been far-reaching; not only did it increase the popularity of benefit shows as a means of raising money, but also encouraged many popular entertainers to become dedicated supporters of Amnesty International. has a degree in fine art, film, and video from Central Saint Martins . 27. Studied Law at: Northwestern Universitys School of Law. Fry also met his future comedy collaborator Hugh Laurie at Cambridge and starred alongside him in the Footlights. 4. And Matisses story, cheeringly, is not an example of someone who was desperate to become an artist but initially chose Law in order to be able to afford food; instead, he discovered a kind of paradise in his own words when his mother brought him art supplies while he was recovering from appendicitis, only after he had completed his Law degree. Cleese's film credits include the Monty Python films, Clockwise and Rat Race. Being a community organiser is about politics at its most fundamental grassroots level: engaging people about what could be improved in their community and getting it changed, which can involve mobilising people who previously didnt believe change to be achievable. The former president's years at Harvard Law School were the first steps to preparing him for a much bigger role later in life. Ad Choices, 47 Best Mothers Day Gifts to Give Mom This Year, Where to Watch the 2023 Met Gala Livestream, Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 Met Gala. Seven dating tips for university students, 12 Reasons why you'll never forget your university roommates. in psychology from Mount Holyoke, Elizabeth went to Boston University for her LLB. From there, his political career went from strength to strength. Tony La Russa. 17. Later, Rebel decided to combine the two, and by her second year of law school, she had already appeared on television. 10. She worked her way through school as a Pentagon secretary and a cruise ship performer. On a break from acting, she earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics (summa cum. Rene Zellweger America's Sweetheart, Renee Zellweger, studied English at the University of Texas at Austin. Cohen decided to stop acting and pursue a J.D. In 1915, he moved back to India, having learned the skills that would serve him well as a political leader there. He gained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Studied Law at: Yale Law School, graduating in June 1970. Before appearing in "Win Ben Stein's Money" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," he taught at Yale Law School and served as a trial attorney for the Federal Trade Commission. He was a student at Cambridge School of Law where he pursued a law degree. 6. There he spent 21 years, first working in law, then moving into politics as he became increasingly aware of the injustices in South African society. Clinton earned her law degree from Yale University in 1973 and married her fellow classmate who ended up becoming the 42nd president of the U.S. Bill Clinton. Brian May is an absolute legend who was constantly seeking to one-up his peers in Queen by writing bigger and better songs. "I was offered partnership at Jones Day, one of the best law firms in the world. Despite appearing in "Family Ties" and "Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School," the young actor struggled to obtain consistent work. In Obamas case, that was about using the power of the law to help people access their civil rights; in Clintons case, that was about child advocacy, particularly relating to education provision for children with disabilities. Heres something most of us will never do: win a Super Bowl and complete a law degree in the same year. After graduating with a law degree in 1963, Cleese's comedy career took off and he decided to follow his heart, which turned out to be a great decision. Studied Law at: Complutense University in Madrid. She received her bachelor's degree in Journalism from Rutgers University and her master's degree from Columbia Journalism School. I best remember Korsmo as Siggy Marvin in What About Bob?, but you might remember him as The Kid in Dick Tracy or Peter Pans son Jack in Hook. Studied Law at: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. After graduating from university Fry went on to become of the most famous English . The legal experts at BPP University Law School compiled a list of celebrities with law degrees that might surprise you. Kim Kardashian has revealed that she has begun a four-year apprenticeship with a US law firm, aiming to becoming a lawyer in 2022. He studied at Northwestern University, and went on to work on Robert Kennedys presidential campaign and became the mayor of Cincinnati in 1977. The beloved Monty Python actor attended law school at Downing College of Cambridge University, where he met his future comedy writing partner Graham Chapman. Studied: Political Science at Wellesley College, then Law at Yale Law School. Kim isn't the only celebrity to do the same. After getting his BA, Mandela realised that becoming a privy councillor was not right for him, and then instead he wanted to become involved in politics via Law. Mandela became the only native African student at the University of Witwatersrand, where he joined the African National Congress. Award-winning author, Hilary Mantel, was a student of law at Sheffield in the 1970s. Butler studied law at the University of Glasgow and served as the law society's president before landing the role of King Leonidas of Sparta in the movie 300. Mostly to make his lawyer father happy, the French artist went to Paris to study law in 1887. From 1987 to 1998, he presented on Geraldo's tabloid talk show. Yara Shahidi began studying interdisciplinary sociology and African American studies at, Eva Longoria earned her master's degree in Chicano studies from, Dominique Charriau / WireImage / Via Getty, John Legend earned his bachelors degree in English with an emphasis on African American literature from the, Lionel Richie earned an economics degree from, Lupita Nyongo earned her bachelor's in film and African studies from, Cole Sprouse earned a degree in archeology from, Mayim Bialik earned her doctorate in neuroscience from, Taraji P. Henson earned a drama degree from, 2 Chainz earned a bachelor's in psychology from, Spike Lee graduated with a bachelor's in mass communications from, Bridgit Mendler is pursuing her PhD from the, Jamie Foxx earned a degree in classical music and composition from, And Shaquille O'Neal earned a doctorate in education from, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She had appeared on Australian television by about year two, despite a law degree taking five years to complete. The Middlesex guitarist penned some of the band's most successful hits, including "We Will Rock You," "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "The Show Must Go On.". Actress and comedian, Rebel Wilson, studied law at the University of New South Wales. One of the most beautiful voices in the world is credited to the well-known Italian opera singer. Female Celebrities with Degrees - Please Help! From Mayim Bialik to Gerard Butler, here are nine brainy celebrities who earned advanced degrees in college. Charles Randolph Korsmo is a lawyer and actor from the United States. The Parks and Recreation alum attended Harvard University with the intention of becoming a lawyer but later admitted to The Independent that she had a change of heart after watching the infamous O.J. When he came back to Saint-Quentin, he got a job as a clerk in a law office - and promptly came down with appendicitis. Image credits: courtroom;john cleese; matisse; harvard law school; obama family; book covers ;gandhi; mandela; castro; blair, Your email address will not be published. Julio Iglesias. Castro was admitted to the bar in 1950 after studying at the University of Havana. Currently, he is a law professor at Cleveland's Case Western Reserve University. He went on to open the only African-run law firm in the country, though their business struggled through conflict with the authorities. at Yale, Saviano got his J.D. Studied: Law at University College, London. Danielle also wrote features based on interviews she conducted with artists, as well as reviews on a variety of music genres. Francis Scott Key. 11 April 2019. He's now a professor in NYU's graduate film program. It snowballed from there. But it took me so long to get into law school, you have to study really hard, so I thought I may as well finish it even though I was already kind of famous." They were able to take a law degree (Orme was the first woman in England and Wales to be awarded one, in 1888), but were barred from officially practising until the 1919 Sex Disqualification . The Secret Policeman's Ball had a significant and long-lasting impact on fundraising benefit performances and inspired many well-known performers to become ardent supporters of Amnesty International. Before John's rather successful career happened, he had plans to become a lawyer. His first attempt to gain a degree, at the University of Fort Hare, ended in failure when he was suspended for organising a boycott against the quality of food. The former Fox News personality scored her degree from the Albany School of Law in 1995 after completing undergrad at Syracuse University. As if hit movies, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the presidency were not enough to show how accomplished these stars are, these celebs also graduated from law school. While he was studying at the University of Pisa, Bocellis parents wanted him to pursue the field of law. Nothing better exemplifies this than this list of well-known figures who attended college to study law. An American actor, director, producer, screenwriter, musician, composer, conductor, and bandleader, Oswald George Nelson created and starred in the radio and television series "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" with his wife Harriet and their two kids, David and Ricky Nelson. Studied: Law at Downing College, University of Cambridge. Before Gemma really decided to pursue acting as a career, she decided to study law at Oxford University. Had the famous crooner not been in a car accident, he might never have pursued a singing career. Jerry Springer. In 1963 he first attended Complutense University in Madrid. But, it does come in handy with learning linesand reading my own contract.. Knowing the law, according to her, was very beneficial for memorizing. Believing that having a lawyer for a son would make his parents proud, Cosell enrolled in the NYU School of Law and started practicing in Manhattan after WWII. Since the age of 12, Andrea Bocelli has been blind after he suffered a brain hemorrhage due to a soccer accident. Well, he got involved in local politics and became a small-scale celebrity, which earned him a radio show in the 80s. Andrea Bocelli. He studied at the University of Pisa Law School and spent one year working as a court-appointed lawyer. GOP Senate Candidate Denies Making False Claim About Graduating College, Who Will Biden Nominate for the Supreme Court? It was then that he figured out being a lawyer may not have been his calling - he was too shy to speak loudly in court. Rivera studied at the Brooklyn School of Law and graduated at the top of his class in 1969. In 1969, Rivera graduated from Brooklyn Law School with a law degree. During his early law career, he worked with a firm that represented the NBA. Nina and Tim Zagat. Last year, she successfully campaigned to have Alice Marie Johnson released from jail, and this has prompted her to kickstart a new career. But I was happy to study [law] and I was a good student, I finished my studies. History graduates in the cabinet include: Gordon Brown, Alan Milburn, John Prescott and David Blunkett.. He graduated from Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2000 with a law degree, after which he was admitted to the New York bar. She was classmates with actor Meryl Streep and playwright Christopher Durang. After bouncing from baseball team to baseball team - mostly in the minors - Tony La Russa figured hed probably better have a backup plan and graduated from the Florida State University College of Law in 1978. 26. She has also written for websites such as TheTravel, contributing travel and vacation articles, and TheRichest, where she wrote celebrity and entertainment content until it stopped publishing in the Fall of 2018. Speak to our expert advisors to find out more here, or enrol online now. After graduating, he took a year off before training for two years at a top law firm in Edinburgh. He was a keen writer from an early age, but wasnt much of a student. Reporting on what you care about. Get the insights and skills you . Obamas experience of working as a community organiser, then a law professor and civil rights attorney, seems like the perfect apprenticeship for politics. As his involvement in resistance to apartheid increased, he was arrested several times, and ultimately he was imprisoned for life for conspiracy to overthrow the state. I think I would have been quite good at law, but I think I would have found it ultimately very empty, Cleese told Yahoo! Tim suggested surveying a larger population of people on their foodie opinions instead of relying on the biases of one reviewer, and the Zagat Survey was born. What we might not realize about the celebrities we think we know is many of them are smarter than they seem. Mayim Bialik Getty Images The Big Bang Theory star not only portrays a science. He was a rebellious teenager, abandoning his studies at Bhavnagar College in Bombay in favour of studying in London, in spite of warnings that he would lose status by studying in England. As the first black law partnership in South Africa, the office Mandela and his partner Oliver Tambo shared in Johannesburg is now being made into a museum. He sought selection as a Prospective Party Candidate several times, losing in the safe Conservative seat of Beaconsfield, and then being selected for, and winning, the safe Labour seat of Sedgefield. Iglesias started attending school in the 1960s but did not graduate until 2001 when he received his degree. in theatre and performance studies and a Bachelor of Laws. The fascinating man was involved in a car accident whilst studying the subject in Spain, which left him paralysed for three years. Feeling sad about not being able to pursue his love of acting, Butler went back to work, only to get fired, according to The Times. Between 1956 and 1959 his forces gathered strength and launched a campaign of guerilla warfare, and from 1956 until 2008, Castro governed Cuba as a one-party Communist state until ill health forced him to abdicate in favour of his brother Ral Castro, who remains in power today while Fidel Castro continues to exercise influence from retirement. After giving law a chance, he chose to pursue music, which paid off in massive way. Watch Kim Kardashian West on Her Growing Family, Law School, and Her Hidden Hills Home: By signing up you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Several famous actors, musicians, and athletes have attended law school. What does it mean to dream about college? Long before imparting his own bloody justice in films like 300 and Law Abiding Citizen, the Scottish-born actor earned a place at the University of Glasgow School of Law, later taking a position as a trainee lawyer in Edinburgh. He now works as an entertainment lawyer. Her critically acclaimed novel, Wolf Hall, won the Man Booker Prize in 2009. Joan Rivers Perhaps the most infamous staple of the Red Carpet, Joan Rivers once (long, long ago) studied English at Barnard. Both a Bachelor of Laws and a degree in theater and performing studies. 2023 Cond Nast. Geraldo Rivera. After getting his B.S. Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Kimberly Noel Kardashian is an American socialite, media personality, and businesswoman. His ultimate career as an artist lasted more than fifty years until his death in 1954. He became leader of the Labour Party in 1994, and won a landslide victory to become Prime Minister in 1997, giving Labour their largest ever parliamentary majority. M.I.A. 5. Danica McKellar Even when she was Winnie Cooper on "The Wonder Years," Danica McKellar knew she loved math. With a law degree from Oxford University, the actress rejected a training contract from Slaughter and May in aims of pursuing her (clearly successful) acting career. Fidel Castro. That didn't stop him from going on to achieve some amazing things during his lifetime. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. On the whole, it is quite a different part of the brain: Law is very analytical, and acting is more instinctive and emotionally driven, she told Modern Luxury Magazine earlier this year. Barbara Walters Cohen earned a J.D. Law was his second choice of career; he initially tried to become a rock music promoter, and after abandoning this to go to university, joined a band there. While reflecting on Bombshell, a film adaptation of her broadcast news experience, Kelly remembered the hard work she did to get to her position at the network. See Which Stars Have Gotten Engaged in 2023, Taylor Swift Sings About 'Falling Back in Love' on New Duet After Split, Meghan King Wears 'Fk You' Sweatshirt to Kids School, Jim Edmonds Reacts, remembered the hard work she did to get to her position. Like Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro became involved in politics while studying Law but it took him in a somewhat different direction. Danielle co-founded her own online music magazine called White Noise Zine, where she was the editor-in-chief, and managed a small group of writers. Just seven years after he graduated in Law, in 1896, two of his paintings in an exhibition of five were bought by the state. Scroll down to see which celebrities have pursued and obtained law degrees! 2. Diane J. Cho was the Features Editor of PEOPLE Digital from 2019 to 2022. 6 Brian May. Despite eschewing the bar, Shortz believes his schooling was helpful. She is a hard worker who is extremely passionate about her writing, and couldn't dream of doing anything else. While he was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, she became the first female chair of the Legal Services Corporation in 1978. By 1949, he had discovered Marxism, and begun to believe that Cubas problems could only be solved through revolution. 11. Observing the heart-wrenching rape case of a young girl inspired him to write A Time to Kill. Obsessed with travel? After meeting writing partner Graham Chapman at school, Cleese went on to co-found a little comedy troupe called Monty Python. Cleese's choice of the university appears to have had a more significant impact on his career path (though he believes in another life, he might also become an excellent barrister). He achieved notoriety with the Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults. from the University of New South Wales before she became a famous movie starlet. John Cleese. In 2000, the Australian comedienne left the University of New South Wales with two degrees: a B.A. 10 Celebs Who Went To Ivy League Schools (& What They Majored In), Every Disney Princess & What Their College Major Would Be, The Best College Movies, From Sorority Boys To House Bunny, This Is How Much Money Matthew Perry Made From His Poorly-Received Memoir, Summer Swimwear Trends Are In And Emily Ratajkowski, The Kardashian Siblings, And Vanessa Hudgens Are All Over It, Fans Just Learned Something New About Danielle Bregoli's Time With Dr. Phil. But he didnt let this hold him back from achieving his full potential. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But when a friend found him a job as an articled clerk in a law firm, Mandela became connected to a hive of political activity by attending Communist talks and parties that he was invited to by his colleagues. He is now a prosperous entertainment attorney. But practicing law was not a good idea during the Great Depression, and Nelson decided to work in the entertainment industry. For instance, Cleese is a strong advocate for Amnesty International. How about you guys? Before earning the role of King Leonidas of Sparta, Butler was the president of the law society at the University of Glasgow. Prior to his legendary 27-season run as the host of The Jerry Springer Show, Springer earned a law degree from Northwestern University in 1968. The Goonies actor Jeff Cohen received his law degree from UCLA School of Law in 2000. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and now practices in New York. Rashida Jones had lofty ambitions of becoming a lawyer while she was a student at Harvard University, but admitted to The Independent several years later that she lost faith in the law during the infamous O.J. 25. 4 Carrie Underwood: Mass Communications Shutterstock/Tinseltown The country music star graduated magnum cum laude from Northeastern University, in 2016, with a bachelor's degree in mass communications. In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies. In 2000, Jeff graduated from the University of California Los Angeles. In 2000, she became the first female senator from New York. He started off as an attorney for Puerto Rican activists. 12. Likewise, LL Cool J received an honorary degree from Northeastern University in 2014. Before he was a singer and songwriter, Julio Iglesias had a brief stint in law. He taught himself guitar during the three-year recovery process and ended up discovering a natural talent for music. I decided Id rather ride the buses in the minor leagues than practice law for a living, he later said. 23. His thesis focused on "the value of humor in leadership.". Excluded are honorary degrees . Famous comedian and actor John Cleese is undoubtedly best remembered for his part as one of the members of the cult movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and his role as co-writer and star of the sitcom "Fawlty Towers." By 1952, he had moved away from his struggling career in Law and sought election to congress, but then a military dictator, Batista, seized power, and Castro lost faith in democracy altogether. The Isnt It Romantic actress reflected on her experience studying law while also being a working actor during a May 2019 appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden. He realized during his traineeship that he wasn't really happy and hated being a lawyer and still yearned to become an actor. The husband-and-wife team met when they were both attending Yale Law School. 8. Studied: Jurisprudence at St Johns College, University of Oxford, Tony Blair was British prime minister from 1997 to 2007. Rebel happens to be way more than just a funny and talented actress. "I had to learn about 2,000 cases by heart, so I am fairly good at learning scripts quickly," Chan told Modern Luxury. He has been a member of the California State Bar since 2003. "It is quite helpful with the memorization. In 2015, he launched the Jerry Springer Podcast. Lectures for ladies. From there on out he made the transition to journalism where he became a reporter and then a prominent figure on television. at Yale, Saviano got . In addition to that, she also studied to be an actor at the Australian Theatre for Young People. Kevin's sidekick Paul Pfeiffer in The Wonder Years. We know and love them for their talents and whatever might have made them famous. The author of Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow once admitted that he just barely squeaked by the bar exam. Image Sources: Mahatma Gandhi Nelson Mandela Barack Obama Michelle Obama Hillary Clinton Fidel Castro Rebel Wilson Andrea Bocelli Gerard Butler PREVIOUS ARTICLE Training Contracts: Advice for Aspiring Solicitors This group works to protect human rights, and in 1976, he co-founded the Secret Policeman's Ball, a series of benefit performances that raised money for their cause. Passionate about music, entertainment, and writing, Danielle has put her love for them together, and specializes in music and entertainment journalism.