Ariel Winter, who has recently been officially emancipated from her estranged mother, Chrisoula Workman, just announced that she plans on becoming a lawyer.

The "Modern Family" star, who will be in her last year of high school next year, shared that she is currently looking at different law schools in California and plans to check out colleges in the East Coast as well. 

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As for her acting career, Winter said that although she would love to continue acting, she finds it extremely important to have something else that will back her up, if in case acting eventually does not work out. 

"You have to have something else you can do. I have always been interested in law," she said and added that she will definitely be studying something that she loves to do "and also go to school for."

Just last week, Winter took to Twitter to announce that she's been officially emancipated.

The 17-year old star had been living under the care of her sister Shanelle Gray, who, in 2012, filed temporary guardianship for her due to the alleged physical and emotional abuse caused by their mother. The following year, Winter's brother, Jimmy Workman slammed the allegations as false and filed for Winter to be removed from Gray's care and to grant him custody instead.

However, in May of 2014, Gray was given permanent guardianship and Winter was removed from her mother permanently. 

Winter took to Twitter to express her gratitude to those who have provided her with guidance during her ordeal and specifically thanked her sister and father "for their special support regarding this matter."

The teenager also made sure to thank her friends and fans for encouraging her and happily shared her excitement over her plans to embark on new adventures.

Tagsariel winter, Ariel Winter Emancipated, Law Schools, Law Colleges, Modern Family, Ariel Winter Emancipation