After studying at Williams College (1910–1914) and graduating with a B.A., Lawson became a successful writer, gaining production of early plays such as "Standards" (1916) and "Servant-Master-Lover" (1916). While he was at Williams, his brother Wendell studied music and art in Germany. Lawson was attracted to works by Karl Kautsky because of his sense of alienation. He contributed to "The Williams College Monthly". He also served as an editor of the senior-class book and a member of the varsity debating team. He was known to other students as a good-natured iconoclast and a frequent speaker at undergraduate meetings. After graduating, he worked as an editor at Reuters from 1914-1915.