The absolutely abysmal job market for history PhDs has got me thinking. I'm still in undergrad, and I have done a large number of internships for my other major (political science). If I do pursue a PhD in history, I know that it's essentially a total crapshoot. I could very well end up never getting a tenure-track position.

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While I remain undecided on whether or I'm willing to take that gamble, I am considering the prospect of my fall-back: law school. If I made it out of that, history could be something I pursue on the side. I know this is anathema to many in academia, but my biggest frustration about academic history is that so few people actually read it. While there is great merit to academia, writing high-quality history books (or podcasts, even) that are aimed at a more broad audience has its merits, too.

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Is this a total cop out? Or a necessary turn given the prospects of today's marketplace?