Gavin Howe
Teaching law is a rewarding career choice for law school graduates. Law graduates can pursue teaching positions at universities or law schools, where they can share their knowledge and mentor aspiring lawyers. To become a law teacher, individuals typically need to demonstrate strong academic credentials, such as excellent grades from a reputable law school, publications in scholarly journals, and prestigious clerkships. Some universities offer fellowship programs that provide graduates with teaching opportunities and a chance to develop their scholarly work. While some law faculties value prior experience in law practice, others focus on scholarly achievements and the potential to contribute to legal research and education. The path to becoming a law teacher involves dedication, a passion for knowledge, and a willingness to navigate a competitive academic landscape.
Can you teach law after graduation?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | In the US, most law faculties value candidates who have practiced law. |
| In India, students can pursue law after graduation. | |
| In Australia, graduates can teach law after completing PLT and attaining a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. | |
| Qualifications | A graduate law degree (LL.M. or S.J.D.) from a top law school is a common path to teaching law. |
| Scholarly achievement is increasingly required, such as publishing articles in law reviews. | |
| Career path | Some law graduates transition into non-legal careers like politics, journalism, or lobbying. |
| Law graduates can pursue post-J.D. fellowship programs aimed at bringing graduates into teaching. | |
| Work-life balance | The field of law is saturated, making it challenging to earn a decent wage and maintain a healthy work-life balance. |
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What You'll Learn
Law teaching career paths
Law graduates have a variety of career paths to choose from, including working at a law firm, clerking for a judge, or transitioning into non-legal careers like politics, journalism, lobbying, or teaching.
If you are interested in teaching law, there are three well-trodden paths to a career in law academia:
The Classical Path
This path involves exceptional academic performance in law school, such as graduating at the top of your class, and service on the law review. It also requires scholarly achievement and a substantial body of published work. Publications are essential for establishing your credibility and expertise in a particular area of law.
Graduate Law Degree
Obtaining an advanced law degree, such as an LL.M. or an S.J.D., from a top law school can enhance your credentials and expertise in a specific area of law. This path may involve teaching legal research and writing at a prestigious law school, which can provide a platform for developing as a legal scholar and educator.
Visiting Assistant Professor or Fellow
Applying for positions as a Visiting Assistant Professor or Fellow at top law schools can serve as a stepping stone to a full-time teaching career. These programs aim to recruit and mentor future law educators, providing them with the necessary skills and experience.
In addition to these paths, it is crucial to establish strong relationships with faculty members who can provide references and support. Candidates should also consider their areas of expertise and the demand for teachers in those fields. The academic job market is highly competitive, so applicants should be prepared to apply to a wide range of schools and locations.
While there is no precise formula for success in the law teaching market, a combination of exceptional academic performance, scholarly achievement, and practical experience can increase your chances of securing a teaching position in the legal field.
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Academic achievements
Academic Performance and Scholarships
Exceptional academic performance in law school is a crucial factor in establishing your credentials for a career in law teaching. This includes achieving excellent grades, graduating with honours, and demonstrating scholarly potential. Consider selecting courses that require writing papers rather than solely focusing on exams. This approach will help you develop your research interests and produce publishable work, which is highly valued in academic circles.
Law Review and Clerkship
Serving on a law review, preferably in a senior editorial position, is an important academic achievement. It showcases your ability to critically analyse legal topics and contribute to legal scholarship. Additionally, completing a prestigious judicial clerkship after graduation can enhance your resume and provide valuable experience in the legal system.
Graduate Law Degrees
Pursuing a graduate law degree, such as an LL.M. or, less commonly for American lawyers, an S.J.D., from a top law school can significantly boost your academic credentials. These degrees demonstrate advanced knowledge and a commitment to scholarly pursuits, making you a strong candidate for law teaching positions.
Teaching and Research Experience
Gaining experience in teaching legal research and writing at a law school can be a stepping stone to a career in law teaching. Many top law schools offer programmes specifically designed to develop emerging scholars, such as the Bigelow program at Chicago Law School and similar initiatives at Stanford and Harvard. Participating in such programmes provides valuable teaching experience and helps you establish yourself as a legal scholar.
Scholarly Publications
Publishing scholarly articles in reputable law reviews or journals is one of the most effective ways to showcase your academic achievements. Consider revising and submitting seminar papers or independent studies from your law school days for publication. Publications can make a significant difference in your job applications and increase your chances of securing a tenure-track teaching position.
Academic Fellowships
Applying for academic fellowships at top law schools can provide a pathway to law teaching. These fellowships often offer funding and residency opportunities while allowing you to develop your scholarship and writing skills. They are designed to nurture emerging legal scholars and can lead to teaching positions within the academic community.
In summary, pursuing a career in law teaching after graduation requires a strong academic foundation, enhanced by scholarly achievements, publications, and practical teaching or research experience. By focusing on these academic achievements, you can position yourself as a competitive candidate for law teaching positions at reputable institutions.
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Work experience
While work experience is not a prerequisite for law school, it is becoming increasingly important in the realm of law school admissions. In recent years, many law schools have indicated a preference for applicants with real-world experience over those applying straight from college. This is because students with work experience tend to be better prepared to handle the challenges of law school, particularly the difficult first year, and exhibit desired personal qualities like professionalism, maturity, and the ability to engage constructively with others they don't agree with.
If you are applying to law school with work experience, be sure to effectively communicate this on your resume. Include all jobs before or during college, such as summer internships and campus jobs, as well as seasonal or service jobs. If you have a long gap in your resume or a lack of work experience due to life circumstances, include a brief addendum to provide explanatory context to the admissions committee.
After graduating from law school, most graduates work in law firms, but there are various other options, including judicial clerkships, solo practice, working for the federal and state governments or military, finding a position in a corporate legal department, working for a non-profit organization, or becoming a legal professor. Clerkships are considered very prestigious and play an invaluable role in your resume, as they allow graduates to gain first-hand experience working under a judge and create a network at the very beginning of their career. Most graduates take up advanced degrees or gain relevant work experience before pursuing these options.
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Law specialisations
Law is a diverse field with numerous specialisations to choose from. These specialisations can be broadly categorised into several groups, including constitutional law, criminal law, and civil rights law.
Constitutional law is a broad and involved branch of law that requires a deep understanding of a country's constitution, such as the US Constitution, and its interpretations and implementations. This area of law focuses on preserving the relationships between state and federal governments and protecting individual rights. It draws heavily from rulings made in the Supreme Court.
Criminal law involves the governmental prosecution of individuals or organisations for committing criminal acts, as defined by public law. Criminal law lawyers can be further classified into criminal defence lawyers, who represent accused clients, and prosecutors or district attorneys, who represent the interests of the state.
Civil rights law deals with the balance of governmental power and individual liberties. Lawyers in this field may take cases pro bono and often work for non-profit organisations or government agencies.
Other specialisations include corporate or business law, which focuses on helping businesses navigate legal matters and ensure compliance. This field may involve working on mergers and acquisitions, contracts, and compliance issues. Environmental law, a subfield that has gained prominence since the 1970s, deals with the impact of agencies' and businesses' practices on the environment and aims to protect it through laws and standards.
With the ever-evolving technological landscape, technology law has become an in-demand specialisation. This field encompasses artificial intelligence (AI), privacy law, cybercrime law, and data security. Telecommunications law is a related specialisation that deals with legal issues concerning communications technology and internet regulation.
Animal law is another emerging specialisation that combines statutory and case law relating to non-human animals. Lawyers in this field may address issues of animal cruelty, entertainment involving animals, and federal statutes regarding exotic animals.
These are just a few examples of the diverse range of specialisations available within the field of law. When choosing a specialisation, it is essential to consider your interests, regional job opportunities, and personal strengths and weaknesses.
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Student debt
Loan repayment for graduates typically begins in December following graduation, with the federal loan servicer determining the exact due date. Graduates are contacted a few months after graduation to set up a repayment plan, and if they do not actively choose one, they will default to the Standard 10-Year Plan. However, it is possible to change the repayment plan at any time. The University of Chicago Law School offers a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) to help alleviate the debt burden of its graduates working in public interest, government, and nonprofit jobs. The program offers a generous $80,000 salary cap, coverage of monthly payments, and annual forgiveness of LRAP funding for up to ten years after graduation.
In India, students can pursue a Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB) programme after graduating with a bachelor's degree in any field. The LLB programme is typically a three-year course dedicated solely to law, and graduates can go on to practice law, become solicitors, or pursue careers in corporate law, journalism, civil services, academia, and politics.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can teach law after graduation. However, it is a competitive market, and most law faculties value candidates with prior experience in law.
There are three well-trodden paths to a career in law teaching: exceptional academic performance in law school, service on the law review, and a prestigious judicial clerkship. It is also beneficial to pursue an additional graduate degree in a law-related discipline or participate in post-J.D. fellowship programs.
There are various career paths you can take after graduating law school, including working at a law firm, clerking for a judge, transitioning into non-legal careers such as politics, journalism, lobbying, or consulting, or pursuing an advanced degree.
Academic research and teaching can be solitary occupations, and the rewards often lie in the pleasure of the process rather than making a tangible difference. It is essential to consider your career interests, the size and culture of the law firm or institution, and the potential impact on your work-life balance.
You can develop a record of scholarly achievement by selecting courses that require writing papers, working as a research assistant, presenting papers in seminars and conferences, and letting your professors know about your interest in teaching.
