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Higher Education
Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Michigan
Law Teachers, Postsecondary
Law teachers at the postsecondary level teach future lawyers, usually in a law school setting, where the work mixes classroom discussion, case analysis, grading, and student mentoring. What makes the job distinct is that you are expected to stay current in a fast-changing legal field while also teaching with precision and authority. The tradeoff is strong pay and intellectual freedom, but a very slow-growing job market and a career path that usually demands advanced credentials and academic competition.
Also known as Professor of LawLaw ProfessorAssistant Professor of LawAssociate Professor of LawClinical Professor of Law
Median Salary
$126,650
Mean $139,950
U.S. Workforce
~23K
2.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.2%
29.5K to 30.2K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Law Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~23K workers, with a median annual pay of $126,650 and roughly 2.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 29.5 K in 2024 to 30.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Juris Doctor (First Professional Degree), and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Law Fellow / Visiting Assistant Professor and can progress toward Distinguished Professor / Dean. High-value skills usually include Lecture Design, Socratic Method & Classroom Facilitation, Westlaw, LexisNexis & Bloomberg Law Research, and Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Course Management, paired with soft skills such as Public speaking, Active listening, and Mentoring.
Core Responsibilities
- Lead class discussions about court cases, statutes, and legal arguments.
- Build course materials such as syllabi, reading lists, assignments, and handouts.
- Grade papers, exams, and oral presentations and give students feedback on how to improve.
- Advise student groups and help organize moot court, clinics, or other law school activities.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Lead class discussions about court cases, statutes, and legal arguments.
02 Build course materials such as syllabi, reading lists, assignments, and handouts.
03 Grade papers, exams, and oral presentations and give students feedback on how to improve.
04 Advise student groups and help organize moot court, clinics, or other law school activities.
05 Track attendance, grades, and other required records for each course.
06 Keep up with new legal developments by reading current scholarship, talking with colleagues, and attending conferences.
Industries That Hire
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Private Law Schools
Columbia Law School, NYU School of Law, Duke Law School
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Public Research Universities
University of California, University of Texas, University of Virginia
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Continuing Legal Education
BARBRI, Themis Bar Review, Practising Law Institute
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Government Training and Judicial Education
Federal Judicial Center, U.S. Department of Justice, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong for a teaching job, with a median annual salary of $126,650 and a mean of $139,950.
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You spend most of your time on legal ideas, not repetitive production work, which keeps the job mentally engaging.
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The role lets you shape future lawyers through class discussions, feedback, and student advising.
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BLS says no on-the-job training is required, so once you have the right degree, you are not usually starting from a long apprenticeship.
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There are about 2.2K annual openings, which gives qualified candidates a real chance to move into the field each year.
Challenges
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Growth is very slow at 2.2%, and the field is projected to add only about 0.6K jobs by 2034.
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The credential bar is high: most workers need a doctoral or professional degree, and many hiring committees also expect research credentials.
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The job market is small, with only 22,800 positions total, so tenure-track openings can be very competitive.
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The income ceiling can be lower than in private practice, and prestige often matters as much as experience in academic hiring.
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The work includes grading, records, advising, and staying current on legal changes, so the teaching part is only one slice of the job.
Career Progression
Law Fellow / Visiting Assistant Professor
0-3 years
$75K-$94K
Usually teaches a light course load while building scholarship, sharpening classroom skills, and trying to land a permanent faculty job.
Assistant Professor of Law
3-8 years
$95K-$124K
Teaches regular courses, advises students, and starts building a publication record that will matter for promotion and tenure.
Professor of Law THIS ROLE
8-15 years
$125K-$164K
Leads core and specialized classes, mentors students and junior faculty, and often takes on committee or curriculum work.
Distinguished Professor / Dean
15+ years
$165K-$230K
Combines teaching with department leadership, faculty hiring, fundraising, or major academic program decisions.
Education Paths
Juris Doctor (First Professional Degree)
The most common entry point, held by 46.18% of workers in this role.
Doctoral Degree
A major path into the field, held by 35.26% of workers in this role.
Master's Degree
An alternative route, held by 15.44% of workers in this role, though it is less common than a JD or doctorate.
Post-JD Teaching Fellowship or Academic Training
Some candidates use a law teaching fellowship, clerkship, or similar academic bridge to build classroom experience and publish before applying for faculty jobs.
Key Skills
Technical
Lecture Design, Socratic Method & Classroom Facilitation 91%
Westlaw, LexisNexis & Bloomberg Law Research 88%
Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Course Management 84%
Reading Legal Texts, Case Law & Scholarly Articles 81%
Syllabus Development, Rubric Design & Student Assessment 78%
Legal Writing, Bluebook Citation & Academic Publishing 75%
Soft Skills
Public speakingActive listeningMentoringClear writingCritical thinkingTeaching and coaching Job Outlook and Trends
+2.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 29.5K to 30.2 K over the next decade, representing 2.2% growth. Around 2.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.