4 ms·

You might say playing Minesweeper prepares you for law. Or vice versa. Or coding prepares you for law. It’s omnidirectional.

hutzlibu 5y ago
Sure, I did not study law, but I think I have a way easier time decoding laws and contracts, than my liberal arts peers.
- verst 5y ago
  Being mathematically inclined and having worked in software for a decade+ I'm also very good at understanding the complex laws and nuances for international travel in the age of COVID. I'm about to visit 3 countries and from my own research I feel like I'm the world's expert on the congressional bills and executive orders of these countries now (I'm only somewhat kidding) By the way, I'm a liberal arts graduate (but majoring in math, comp sci and minoring in music)
  - ethbr0 5y ago
    Modern software stacks are tall enough that the ability to find answers is a key skill. My favorite interview question is to take something the interviewee doesn't know, toss a laptop in front of them, and ask them to see if they can find an answer. You learn a lot about a person from the way they search.
  - throwaway675309 5y ago
    "I'm a liberal arts graduate (but majoring in math and comp sci and minoring in music)" ... if you're majoring in math... you're not a liberal arts grad. I personally minored in music composition (with a masters in CS) but I wouldn't describe myself as a liberal arts grad.
    - verst 5y ago
      I went to a liberal arts college - I don't think most people on HN are familiar with US liberal arts colleges. I have a B.A. degree because no B.Sc. was offered. Lots of requirements for courses outside one discipline or major field of studies - much more so than at non-liberal arts college. Generally liberal arts colleges only offer undergraduate degrees. They also generally do not have research faculty - teaching is the core emphasis. And the entire ethos of my school was about internationalism and utopian thinking, certainly not about doing real world practical things or even making money. So liberal arts graduate is still accurate for me.
imtringued 5y ago
I'm sure it does, but which subset and is it big enough to be relevant?

hutzlibu 5y ago

Sure, I did not study law, but I think I have a way easier time decoding laws and contracts, than my liberal arts peers.

verst 5y ago
Being mathematically inclined and having worked in software for a decade+ I'm also very good at understanding the complex laws and nuances for international travel in the age of COVID. I'm about to visit 3 countries and from my own research I feel like I'm the world's expert on the congressional bills and executive orders of these countries now (I'm only somewhat kidding) By the way, I'm a liberal arts graduate (but majoring in math, comp sci and minoring in music)
- ethbr0 5y ago
  Modern software stacks are tall enough that the ability to find answers is a key skill. My favorite interview question is to take something the interviewee doesn't know, toss a laptop in front of them, and ask them to see if they can find an answer. You learn a lot about a person from the way they search.
- throwaway675309 5y ago
  "I'm a liberal arts graduate (but majoring in math and comp sci and minoring in music)" ... if you're majoring in math... you're not a liberal arts grad. I personally minored in music composition (with a masters in CS) but I wouldn't describe myself as a liberal arts grad.
  - verst 5y ago
    I went to a liberal arts college - I don't think most people on HN are familiar with US liberal arts colleges. I have a B.A. degree because no B.Sc. was offered. Lots of requirements for courses outside one discipline or major field of studies - much more so than at non-liberal arts college. Generally liberal arts colleges only offer undergraduate degrees. They also generally do not have research faculty - teaching is the core emphasis. And the entire ethos of my school was about internationalism and utopian thinking, certainly not about doing real world practical things or even making money. So liberal arts graduate is still accurate for me.

imtringued 5y ago

I'm sure it does, but which subset and is it big enough to be relevant?