Disclose: If Armin Had Said Yes to Law School Forever – A World Without Trance Legends

Most people know Armin van Buuren as one of the greatest trance DJs and producers alive. He’s a global icon, with millions of listeners, sold‑out shows, and a major influence on electronic music. But what many might not know is that for some time, Armin van Buuren nearly took a very different path—one that didn’t involve DJ booths or festival lights at all. He studied law at Leiden University, and for a while, that could have been his life.

This is more than just a fun “what if.” It’s a story about balancing passion and safety, risk and stability, and making decisions that define your future. It’s also deeply inspiring for young people who are torn between pursuing their dreams or choosing a more conventional, secure career.

From Leiden to Law School: Armin van Buuren’s Early Life

Born on 25 December 1976 in Leiden, The Netherlands, Armin van Buuren grew up in a music‑loving environment. He started making mixtapes as a teenager and was deeply drawn to electronic music. At 14 years old, influenced by pioneers like Ben Liebrand and Jean‑Michel Jarre, he was already exploring sound, computers, and production.

After high school, in 1995, Armin went to Leiden University to study Law. He chose law partly as a backup—a kind of safety net—in case music didn’t turn out to be a career. The music industry has always been unpredictable; success can come, but so can long periods of uncertainty. For someone with ambition but also with roots of prudence, law seemed like a smart choice.

The Decision Point: Passion vs. Security

During his time as a law student, Armin did not abandon music. He DJed regularly at small clubs, worked weekend gigs, produced mixes, and gradually started gaining recognition. His early tracks, like “Blue Fear”, began attracting attention.

But as music opportunities expanded, there came a choice: to continue down the safer, more structured path of a legal profession, or to follow the heart and risk the music route. Armin chose music.

It wasn’t a simple decision. Armin has shared that he once put his law degree on hold when his DJ career began to rise. Then in 2003, after juggling law school and growing success in music, he completed his law degree. So he honored that childhood “backup plan”—but he never lost sight of the passion for creating, performing, and sharing music.

What Would Have Been: Life as a Lawyer

Imagining Armin van Buuren as a lawyer is fascinating. If he had stuck strictly to law:

• He may have specialized in something like copyright law, a field he has expressed interest in. This would mean drafting contracts, safeguarding IP rights, and possibly working in areas overlapping with music law.

• His life would have been far more structured: fixed hours, court dates, client meetings, case research.

• The creative burst of festival performances, global tours, radio shows like A State of Trance, and the emotional connection with millions of fans would likely not exist.

Yet, it’s possible that some of the skills he has now—discipline, analytical thinking, attention to detail—that he strengthened during law study helped in his music career, especially when dealing with contracts, producing, managing a label (Armada Music), or negotiating the industry.

Why Armin’s “Lawyer Path” Is a Powerful Lesson for Young Creatives

1. Backup Plans Are Valuable, Not Defeat

Choosing to study law wasn’t a sign of lacking faith in music for Armin; it was a safety net. For many young people, fear of risk can paralyze them. Armin’s example shows that it’s okay to have something stable in hand while pursuing passion. The backup may never be your main path, but it can bolster confidence.

2. Fulfilling Obligations Builds Character

Armin completed his law degree in 2003, despite having to stretch his final year because of music commitments. That dedication reinforced perseverance, time management, and humility—qualities that serve any artist or professional well.

3. Passion Often Outweighs Safety in the Long Run

While law could have provided security, creativity and fulfillment may have been compromised. Armin proved that following what truly moves you—art, music, expression—can lead to achievements that a safe path may not unlock. He did not abandon law out of rejection of duty; he stepped toward what felt indispensable.

4. Balance Matters

Armin’s life shows the importance of balancing risk and security. He honored his law degree, kept commitments, but also gave himself the freedom to create, experiment, and grow as a musician. Today, his role is not just as DJ, but as label owner, radio host, producer—roles that benefit from both structure and creativity.

The Long‑Term Impact: DJ, Law Graduate, Mentor

Because Armin decided to pursue music—and also honor his law education—he carries with him a unique blend of credentials. The law degree becomes part of his story, not a regret or missed opportunity, but a foundation.

He built Armada Music, A State of Trance (ASOT), and has created mentoring roles, opportunities for others, and influence in the business side of music—all areas where understanding law, contracts, rights is crucial.

Additionally, having completed his law studies gives him security, mental peace; knowing he has that degree behind him likely eased some pressure when taking risks in his career.

Many young DJs today see in Armin an example: that you can follow your passion, but also prepare for uncertainty. That you may need to work hard academically or in “safe” fields early on to allow freedom later.

What Those Torn Between Passion and Safety Can Learn

If you are someone trying to decide between following a safe, stable path (like law, medicine, engineering) or risking everything for your art, Armin’s story offers guidance:

• It’s okay to begin with a backup plan. Having something reliable doesn’t mean you lack ambition.

• Commit fully when you choose to shift to your passion; temporary sacrifices (of free time, comfort, certainty) are part of the journey.

• Use your academic or conventional training to strengthen your craft. Skills learned in university or formal education (critical thinking, discipline, resilience) can strengthen your creative work.

• Stay true to what moves you. If music or art pulls at your heart, you may regret not giving it a sincere shot.

• Be patient. Success seldom comes overnight; it comes from consistency, iteration, learning from mistakes.

Armin’s Message: Beyond the DJ Booth

What makes Armin van Buuren’s story so inspiring isn’t just that he became a famous DJ, but that he made conscious choices: to respect education, to honor his family’s expectations, to not rush for fame at the cost of underlying stability.

He has been quoted saying that studying law was a way to have an option should music not work out. That sense of responsibility, of thinking ahead, of preserving options, is something many artists neglect under pressure.

Also, his commitment to music never wavered. Even when studying law, he was experimenting, producing, DJing. Passion didn’t wait; it grew alongside academic discipline. That dual path is rare, and that is what gives his journey so much power.

Conclusion: Could He Have Been “The Lawyer Armin van Buuren”?

In truth, yes. Armin van Buuren could have been practicing law, drafting contracts, going to court, specializing perhaps in entertainment or copyright law. But had he done so, the world would have lost his music: the tracks, the live performances, the community, the mentorship, the genre‑building.

His decision to follow his heart, reluctantly at first, but with commitment and responsibility, is what makes him not just a star, but a guide.

For anyone asking “What if”: the answer is, you can choose both security and passion. Armin’s path shows the possibility of doing what you love, while still honoring safety, education, and long‑term well‑being.

For the young, this is a call: dare to dream, prepare wisely, and choose courage over fear when it counts.