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An Adjunct Law Professor: To Be or Not to Be

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published August 14, 2012

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Adjunct Law Professor
For young attorneys, being an adjunct law professor has been a traditional option though neglected due to poor pay. However, as more and more law schools increase their priority on exposing law students to skills of actual lawyering, the demand and pay for adjunct law professors may rise. While the pay does matter to most, to many, the job of an adjunct law professor also holds out the prospect of interacting with students, and for students it has immense benefits to find a teacher actually practicing in the field. The option of being an adjunct law professor has traditionally been confined to a large part to solo practitioners, because the pressures of private law firms rarely provide such time and opportunity. But in recent times there are more reports of law firm attorneys moonlighting as adjunct professors than ever before.
 
Get advice from law students, prelaw students and others at: Top Law Schools

More solos are trying for the job of adjunct professors

On Aug.1 the ABA Journal published an article titled “To Teach or Not to Teach: Adjunct Work Can Come with a Hefty Price.” The article claimed “more solos appear to be considering adjunct teaching jobs as a means to supplement their income and test an alternative career path.” According to Michael Kaufman, the associate dean for academic affairs at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, more people are viewing adjunct teaching as an entry point to “teaching generally.” Considering that the average pay for adjunct professors was about $1000 per credit hour or about $3000 for a single course during a semester, the pay is insufficient for most lawyers attending firms. Kaufman however stresses that adjunct work does not usually lead to a full-time job as a teacher.

The pay may not be great but the work is definitely satisfying

According to Jonathan W. Michael who taught an Estate Planning course at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, “It is great to work with students who are interested in our area of law … It is also an honor to be appointed to the faculty at the John Marshall Law School.” So, the satisfaction of teaching interested and eager minds and the prestige earned from associating with academia is sufficient for some to accept the low pay.

The benefits to law students of having a practicing lawyer as an adjunct professor

United States
Some topics which have become quite popular and discussed among readers on the internet include the costs of law school, the quality of education imparted, and the lack of practical professional skills acquired by law students. A popular article on the issue was published by the New York Times titled, “What They Don’t Teach Law Students: Lawyering” became an instant hit with those who had been debating on the poor quality of education. The article observed, “the nature of legal work itself is evolving, and the days when corporations buy billable hours, instead of results, are numbered.” Obviously, under such a situation, the benefits of being taught by teachers who are actually practicing law in the field are immense to law students.

Adjunct professors are more motivated by the love of teaching than put off by the low pay

In 2009, The Chronicle of Higher Education published an article, “Love of Teaching Draws Adjuncts to the Classroom Despite Low Pay.” Contrary to other efforts at explaining the phenomenon, the Chronicle rested its article on the results of a survey it undertook to understand the motivations and concerns of adjunct professors. As The Chronicle put it succinctly, “They don't make much money, they don't have health benefits, and they don't have job security. So why do adjuncts keep showing up to teach in college classrooms semester after semester, year after year?” And the answer according to them was summed up by a part-time teacher “It’s not the money … It’s about giving back to the community and seeing the students excel.”


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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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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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With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

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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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A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

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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

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