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What You Need to Know about Law Professorships

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published September 22, 2008

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

If you're an attorney or you're in law school, one career avenue you may have considered is becoming a law professor. After all, going into academic work is less fast-paced than trial attorney work (and many other specialties) and offers you the ability to teach the next generation of attorneys through your own knowledge and experience. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of information out there on law professor jobs, and some of what is out there may be contradictory. Here's some basic information, then, that will help you decide, based on job requirements and work environments, whether or not you want to become a law professor.
 
What You Need to Know about Law Professorships

Is the School Important?

General wisdom has it that if you're interested in becoming a law professor, the school you attend can be very important. After all, Yale Law School leads by a significant margin in the production of new teaching candidates, and after Yale come Harvard and Stanford. Schools definitely do pay attention to where you received your degree. However, that's not the only factor.

If you didn't attend a top school, you can't use your grades as an indicator of your intellectual prowess, but that doesn't mean that other methods can't be used. Twenty-five years ago, most law schools looked to standardized measures of academic achievement, including prestigious clerkships, membership on the school’s law review, and very high grades, but these have long since stopped being the only factors that are used in considering candidates.

That's because law schools realized that merely having good grades doesn't indicate whether or not a candidate will produce quality scholarship as a law professor. Practical legal experience is not necessarily an indicator of scholarly skill, either — in fact, some schools even look down on it, which can make coming in from private practice difficult. Many younger law professors lack significant practical experience entirely.

The most common credential preferred by law school hiring committees today is a graduate degree in a related field. These degrees can vary from political science and economics to psychology and English. The important thing is that candidates have one — about a quarter of entry-level law professor jobs in recent years have been filled by people with PhDs. A significant number of the remaining jobs were filled by those with master's degrees. While it's not necessary to have such a degree — only a little less than half of the professors hired have one — it can be helpful if you don't have more conventional measures by which to attest your skill.

Scholarship and Preparation

Since scholarship is the most important part of a law professor job, with teaching coming in second, it's important to be able to prove to a hiring committee that you have the skills for it. While still a student, take time to read as much of the scholarship coming from younger professors as possible — consider joining a reading group. In addition, it's important to write.

While publishable writing is a big component of your hireability as a law professor candidate, finished scholarship isn't as important as doing the writing in the first place. This is because law schools are aware that your publication status is mostly determined by law journals, which are run by students who may not be the best judges of scholarly work. Start by writing two- to three-page idea summaries, take advantage of summer writing fellowships, and write reaction papers to seminars to build your writing portfolio.

Writing and scholarship continue after you graduate, too. Think about setting two to four years aside afterward to prepare for being a professor. Read scholarly articles and write a few that can be presented at a job talk. Since most students haven't the time to do this during school, it's vital to take time after graduation to do so.

Perseverance Is Key

United States
Getting a law professor job isn't easy — it's a long hard road that takes a lot of work and commitment. In fact, your commitment to the process is one of the key pieces of becoming a law professor in the end. Almost every law professor candidate will encounter lots of uncertainty throughout the process. Persistence is important, no matter where you went to school. There's a good chance you won't make law review, place your article where you want it, get the clerkship you were looking for, or any number of other problems. Some lucky people are very successful at all stages, but most people will encounter difficulties.

<<Many well-qualified candidates don't get a teaching position, or even an adjunct professor job the first time they apply. They may have to go on the market again to get a job. There's a wide gap between the success rates of people who are really committed to the process of getting a teaching job and those who aren't. Some people only want a job if they can get it in a specific location, or if they can be employed by a top school. These kinds of caveats mean they're likely to give up early. Being willing to write a great deal, work hard, and be flexible are important qualifications for getting law professor jobs.

Is Adjunct Work Worth It?

Adjunct law professor jobs are held by people who work in academia while also acting as consultants or being part of a firm. This lacks the prestige of being a full-time professor, but can allow greater income opportunities, and may be a good way to get the experience and reputation for a full-time position later. The demand for adjunct professor jobs is rising, making it easier to get positions of this type.

However, a school that uses adjunct professor jobs more than it uses full-time law professors can be of low quality. So, it could be damaging to your reputation if you're employed at such a school. What’s more, being in adjunct professor jobs can take up a lot of time, so weigh the costs and benefits carefully.

What to Expect out of Law Professor Jobs

Law professor jobs offer less monetary compensation than being an associate or partner in a law firm. In general, salaries are similar to those of associates, with lower end professors making around $50,000 per year, and higher salaries rising to $300,000 or more. There are also unusual cases, such as the $600,000 offered by Yale for a top corporate law professor, but much lower salaries are the norm. Those looking primarily for a high salary may be disappointed by law professor jobs. On the other hand, those interested in a low-structure work environment, with the ability to engage in plenty of scholarship, may find the lower compensation not to be a problem.

Popular Articles About Being a Law Professor

 
Please see the following articles for more information about law professorships:
 

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

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Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

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This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

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He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

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If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

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This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

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For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
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