A summer internship at one of the world's largest law firms is the latest step in rising senior Matthew Crane's path to law school. The Muir Fellowship at DLA Piper in Washington, D.C., is just one in a string of opportunities Crane did not expect to encounter as a history major.  

"I came to college pretty pessimistic about the value of a history degree," Crane said. "I had heard all the jokes about history being one of the least advantageous majors. I was thoroughly surprised by how awesome the degree has been." 

The Muir Fellowship connected him with corporate attorneys and legal and political leaders, including Georgia’s former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss. The fellowship, funded by Atlanta businessman and Franklin history alumnus Jeff Muir (BA ‘71), supports history majors pursuing career-building internships. 

Crane's experience reflects Franklin's emphasis on experiential learning. During his undergraduate career, he has completed internships with Georgia Legal Services, Fulton County Superior Court, and the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock while taking on leadership roles across campus. Together, those experiences helped him explore different areas of law and illustrates how a liberal arts education prepares students for careers that require sound judgment, careful analysis, and effective communication. 

Crane’s path to the fellowship was shaped by earlier internships that clarified what he wanted from a legal career. 

As a first-year student, Crane interned with the Georgia Legal Services Program in Athens, assisting attorneys handling family law and other civil cases. 

"It was inspiring and thought-provoking," he said. "I realized it wasn't work I would have the emotional capacity to do every day, but it showed me how much of a difference lawyers can make in people's lives." 

The following year, he worked with the Conviction Integrity Unit at Fulton County Superior Court, where attorneys reviewed decades-old criminal convictions using new evidence and forensic technology. 

Seeing the justice system from that perspective strengthened his interest in criminal law and public service. 

"If you're in a position where you can administer justice and know you're helping keep people safe, that's incredibly rewarding," Crane said. "I also enjoy public speaking, so the idea of trying cases really appealed to me." 

Last spring, Crane studied away through UGA's Washington Semester Program, interning in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. Working on legislative and policy issues gave him an inside look at how government serves communities and reinforced his interest in law as a path to public service.

Crane says his history courses prepared him for each of those experiences. 

Rather than focusing on memorization, he learned to recognize patterns, evaluate evidence, and understand perspectives different from his own. 

"The thematic way history is taught—thinking about how societies change over time and making connections across different periods—has been invaluable," he said. "Those are skills that transfer directly into law." 

During his internship in Sen. Warnock's office, Crane struck up a conversation with a colleague from Lebanon. Because he had taken a history course on the country, he could ask informed questions about her home rather than relying on small talk. 

"History gives you enough understanding of places and cultures to connect with people in meaningful ways," he said. "I never expected that something I learned in class would help me build relationships in a professional setting." 

Outside the classroom, Crane continued building leadership experience. 

He serves as Franklin's representative in the Student Government Association Senate, where he works to strengthen connections among students across the college's many majors. Last semester, he organized a campus book drive with support from the Department of History that collected nearly 1,000 books for Books for Keeps, an Athens nonprofit that provides reading materials to local children. 

Crane also found an early home in Phi Kappa Literary Society, one of the nation's oldest collegiate debate organizations. Weekly debates sharpened the public speaking skills that eventually led him to serve as the society's president. 

"That's where I really learned to speak confidently and lead," he said. 

As he enters his senior year at UGA and thinks ahead to law school, Crane says Franklin has given him opportunities to test his interests before choosing a career. 

"I love Franklin because it's provided so many opportunities to figure out what I want to do," he said. "Every internship, every class, and every leadership experience built on the one before it. That's been the most valuable part of my college experience." 

Kevin Jones, professor and head of the Department of History, said Crane's success reflects the strengths that history students develop throughout their education. 

"Matt has always shown an extraordinary ability to think, write, and speak critically and analytically about how we apply the lessons of history to conflicts, past and present," Jones said. "I knew he would thrive in his internship with DLA Piper." 

Jones said Crane's experience demonstrates how history graduates carry those skills into the legal profession. 

"Many of our majors go on to law school after graduation," he said. "Matt is a great example of how our students put history to use in charting fulfilling careers and lives."