01/21/2025
From challenging assumptions to inspiring minds, teachers shape the future. In the field of law, the best teachers create lasting impressions that students carry with them throughout their careers. Teaching legal studies is about more than explaining complex legal concepts and ensuring academic rigor. It's about mentoring future legal professionals and inspiring students to pursue excellence. This guide explores the educational requirements, career paths, and practical steps needed to launch a fulfilling career in teaching legal studies.
Is Legal Studies Teaching Right for You?
Becoming a successful law school professor often requires a unique blend of legal knowledge, experience, and passion for helping students reach their potential. In addition to classroom responsibilities, law professors advise students, conduct academic research, serve on committees, and demonstrate authority in their field through speaking engagements and community service roles.
Excelling in the field of academia starts with a dedication to scholarship and ideas. Legal studies teachers often enjoy the challenge of intellectual pursuits and research opportunities, the flexibility to pursue specialized interests from constitutional law to international law, and the satisfaction of helping students excel in their legal studies courses. A teaching position may also provide a platform for contributing to legal publications and conference presentations. Earning potential in this field varies by location, employer, and market conditions, with potential growth and advancement opportunities depending on your unique circumstances.
Essential Academic Credentials
A career in teaching law begins with strong academic foundations. Most law schools require faculty members to hold both a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from accredited institutions. While the path to becoming a legal studies teacher can vary, most law teachers have an exceptional academic record, substantial writing experience, and practical experience in a law practice or clerkship. Political science, history, and legal studies are common undergraduate majors that may open doors for a career as a law professor.
Beyond the JD, many schools increasingly look for an advanced law degree and interdisciplinary education, with some positions requiring a Master's or PhD in law or a related field. If you are interested in teaching at the graduate level, experience in law review and participation in academic writing programs may provide a competitive edge. Programs offering teaching fellowships or research assistantships sometimes serve as stepping stones toward full-time positions.
Bachelor's Degree: The Foundation for a Career Teaching Law
A relevant degree such as a bachelor's in legal studies often provides foundational understanding of the legal system and lays the groundwork for entry into law school and a subsequent academic career. Common legal studies degree programs include political science and pre-law, although other fields that emphasize critical thinking and public speaking may also provide a good foundation. During undergraduate studies, students interested in a teaching career should maintain high academic standards and pursue research opportunities that demonstrate scholarly potential.
Juris Doctorate (JD) Degree: The Next Step On the Path
Once you have completed your bachelor's degree, the next crucial step you will need to take is earning a JD degree from an accredited law school. During law school, aspiring legal educators should focus on both practical experience and academic excellence. Participating in law reviews, serving as teaching assistants, and engaging in legal writing clinics can help build essential skills. When hiring, a law school may look favorably upon candidates who demonstrate a balance of legal experience and scholarly achievement. Maintaining strong relationships with professors during this time may also provide valuable mentorship and future references for teaching positions.
Advanced Degrees and Specializations
While a JD may provide important educational credentials for teaching law, additional specializations may help enhance career prospects. Qualifications for a job as a legal studies teacher may vary based on many factors, including the specific institution you are applying with, you specialty area, competition in the market, geographic location, and others. Many successful law teachers pursue an additional professional degree, advanced certifications, or master's degrees in areas such as international law, employment law, or medical malpractice. These specialized credentials help demonstrate expertise in specific legal domains, which may create opportunities to teach advanced courses while conducting scholarly work in a chosen field.
The pursuit of specialized knowledge through academic research and practice often helps create well-rounded educators who can serve their students effectively. For those interested in corporate law or constitutional law, additional certifications may provide advantages in the job market, particularly when competing for positions at top-tier universities.
If you're looking to continue your education with an advanced degree, take the next step and check out "What Can You Do with a Masters in Legal Studies?".
Online vs. Traditional Legal Studies Programs
As the landscape of legal education continues to evolve, many universities have begun to offer increasingly diverse pathways toward teaching careers. Traditional law schools may provide the benefit of face-to-face networking, direct mentorship, and immersive learning experiences. However, many schools now offer hybrid or fully online programs that can help accommodate working professionals seeking to transition into teaching positions. These flexible options may allow aspiring educators to pursue their degrees while maintaining current practice commitments.
When evaluating academic advancement programs, prospective law professors should consider factors beyond just course delivery. For example, consider the program's research opportunities, law review participation, and practical experience components. While online programs can be more convenient in some ways, traditional settings may provide more immediate access to assistantships and faculty collaboration. The key is to determine which format best aligns with your individual career goals while meeting the rigorous academic standards required for legal studies teaching.
Developing Your Expertise
The path to becoming a successful legal studies teacher at a reputable law school usually means developing a strong research portfolio alongside teaching abilities. Most universities want to hire law professors who can contribute meaningfully to academic discourse through scholarly work and publications. This typically includes writing for prestigious law reviews, conducting original research, and presenting findings at professional conferences. The ability to pursue and publish academic articles and papers often distinguishes candidates in the competitive higher education market.
Research Requirements and Scholarly Contributions
Many law schools value faculty members who can advance legal scholarship while maintaining academic excellence. Research agendas might span various aspects of law, from analyzing Supreme Court decisions to exploring emerging trends in legal education. Successful candidates often demonstrate their potential by placing articles in scholarly publications even before applying for a teaching position, helping to establish themselves as thought leaders in specific legal domains.
Gaining Practical Experience
Law schools often seek educators who can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world practice. Aspiring law teachers often benefit from spending several years working in law firms, serving government agencies, or gaining experience through legal research positions before pursuing an academic career.
This hands-on experience may help professors illustrate complex legal concepts with real-world scenarios and cases. In many cases, the combination of practical expertise and academic accomplishment can help professors can effectively prepare students for their future careers. Additionally, maintaining professional connections through practice experience often provides valuable resources for student internships and job placement opportunities.
Specialization Options in Legal Studies Teaching
Legal specializations often make it possible for educators to focus on areas that match their professional experience and interests. The following specializations may be in high demand depending on your qualifications and the conditions of the job market:
- Real estate law
- Commercial law
- Medical malpractice
- Criminal law
- Property law
- Corporate law
- Tax law
Specialization helps law school faculty offer deeper insights into unique areas of the law, and demonstrated expertise in a particular area may provide opportunities for consulting positions. Schools may encourage professors to develop innovative courses that reflect their specialized knowledge.
Post-JD Fellowship Opportunities
Fellowship programs are usually available through prestigious law schools, providing aspiring law professors with mentored teaching experience and protected time for scholarly work. Fellows typically engage in legal research, develop course materials, and gain valuable classroom experience while building their academic portfolios.
Understanding the Academic Job Market
Today's academic job market can be highly competitive at top-tier law schools. Depending on where you apply and the specific market conditions in that area, strong academic credentials combined with practical experience and scholarly potential may help you position yourself favorably to employers. Most schools seek educators who can contribute to both classroom excellence and scholarly advancement.
Understanding market trends may help you find a position that aligns with your expertise as schools seek specialists in particular areas of law. The ability to secure research grants and maintain active participation in professional practice may also provide a competitive edge in the selection process.
Securing Your First Teaching Position
Law schools typically begin their faculty search process well in advance of start dates, often interviewing candidates a full year ahead of time. Prospective candidates should prepare application portfolios that showcase their legal writing abilities, scholarly interests, and educational philosophy. Many schools also value candidates who show potential for advising students and participating in law review oversight.
The interview process at most law schools involves multiple stages, from initial screening to campus visits where candidates deliver teaching demonstrations and meet with faculty members. Be prepared to discuss your research agenda, teaching methods, and how you plan to contribute to the academic community.
Transitioning to Academia: From Practice to Teaching
Transitioning from a practicing law career to a career as a legal studies teacher may represent an attractive shift for many attorneys. Previous practice experience often strengthens teaching credentials, and law schools may prefer 3-5 years of practical legal work for entry-level positions. Here are some additional considerations if you decide to pursue this path:
- Consider Adjunct Teaching Opportunities - Many attorneys begin their academic careers as an adjunct professor, teaching evening courses while maintaining their practice. This allows them to evaluate whether full-time teaching aligns with their goals.
- Build an Academic Network - Attend legal writing workshops, participate in law reviews, and engage in scholarly work to establish academic credentials.
- Consider a Fellowship - If you currently practice law, consider fellowship opportunities that may provide desirable scholarly credentials.
- Publish Scholarly Work - Law schools often look for candidates who demonstrate scholarly potential through publications.
- Network with Faculty Members - Professional organizations and networking events specific to legal education may provide opportunities to connect with faculty members and learn about available positions.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Career advancement for legal studies teachers often depends on balancing teaching excellence with continued scholarly contributions and service to the academic community.
Teaching Environments and Options
Law professors may choose to pursue different specialization tracks as they progress in their careers. Schools often value professors who can adapt to changing educational needs, whether teaching traditional courses or developing specialized programs in emerging areas of law. Focus areas may include:
- Teaching - Some professors may focus their energies primarily on the classroom, developing innovative course materials, and mentoring students.
- Research - Research is critical for every law professor, but some may place even greater emphasis on contributing to law reviews and pursuing publication
- Administration - Experienced faculty members may take on administrative roles, serving as department chairs or program directors.
Committee Work and Administrative Duties
Beyond classroom teaching, many law schools expect professors to participate in:
- Academic policy committees
- Faculty hiring committees
- Student organization advisory roles
- Law review oversight boards
- Professional development initiatives
Faculty members may serve on multiple committees, from curriculum development to student admissions. This service component of academic life often provides opportunities to influence university policies and programs while building valuable administrative experience.
As teachers gain experience, they may be asked to take on increased administrative duties. These responsibilities may lead to leadership positions such as department chairs or program directors.
Professional Development Resources
Professional development ensures ongoing relevance in the field of legal studies, which may improve your job prospects and career advancement opportunities. Networking opportunities, teaching workshops, and access to the latest developments in legal education may be available through local professional associations. Law schools may also provide funding for faculty members to attend conferences and pursue additional certifications in specialized areas of law.
Opportunities for professional development include:
- Academic teaching conferences and workshops
- Legal writing and research seminars
- Online professional development programs
- Mentorship opportunities with experienced law professors
- Grants for innovative teaching projects
- Professional networking events
The Supreme Court Historical Society and various law reviews also offer valuable resources about legal developments.
What Are My Next Steps?
When you are ready to pursue a career in legal studies teaching, creating a clear action plan can help you determine the right path forward. Here are some next steps that can move your closer to your goals:
- Evaluate your current credentials and identify any gaps in education or experience.
- Examine law schools offering advanced degrees or fellowship programs.
- Connect with current law professors to gain insights and mentorship.
- Begin developing a research agenda and scholarly writing portfolio.
- Consider opportunities for gaining teaching experience through legal assistants programs or adjunct positions.
- Join relevant professional organizations and attend legal education conferences.
- Start monitoring the job market for available positions.
- Prepare application materials, including teaching philosophy and personal statements.
Remember that most law schools begin the hiring process well in advance of start dates. Applicants interested in this career path should begin preparing at least a year before they plan to enter the teaching job market.
Starting Your Journey to Becoming a Legal Studies Teacher
Pursuing a career in legal studies teaching may create unique opportunities to shape the future of the legal profession by nurturing the next generation of practitioners, scholars, and leaders. While this career path requires significant dedication that may include earning advanced degrees, establishing research credentials, publishing scholarly work, and gaining practical experience, the rewards can be great.
If you are passionate about law and teaching, the academic environment may provide an intellectually stimulating space to grow, contribute, and make a lasting difference. Take the first step by exploring educational and professional development opportunities that align with your teaching aspirations.
