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Law Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Other titles employers use
Adjunct Professor · Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Business Law Professor · Clinical Law Professor · Instructor · Law Instructor · Law Professor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, papers, and oral presentations.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as civil procedure, contracts, and torts.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Communications and Media
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.6 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.6 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 1.8 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 84%
- A master's degree 15%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Computer based training software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Document management software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 3,120
- Job openings each year
- 60
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 21.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 3,120 | 60 | 21.9% |
| California | 2,500 | 200 | 8.7% |
| Florida | 1,590 | 140 | 13.6% |
| Texas | 960 | 80 | 9.1% |
| District of Columbia | 610 | 50 | 3.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 540 | 40 | 1.9% |
| Illinois | 530 | 40 | — |
| New Jersey | 530 | 40 | 8.2% |
| Michigan | 420 | 30 | 5.0% |
| Ohio | 420 | 30 | — |
| Virginia | 410 | 30 | 2.5% |
| Massachusetts | 380 | 30 | 11.8% |
| North Carolina | 370 | 30 | 12.1% |
| Alabama | 310 | 30 | 3.3% |
| Tennessee | 310 | 30 | 19.2% |
| Georgia | 250 | 20 | 8.7% |
| Arizona | 240 | 20 | 4.3% |
| Maryland | 240 | 20 | 14.3% |
| Arkansas | 140 | 10 | — |
| Utah | 140 | 10 | 27.3% |
| Oregon | 130 | 10 | — |
| Mississippi | 120 | 10 | — |
| Missouri | 110 | 10 | — |
| Nebraska | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Washington | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Iowa | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Minnesota | 90 | 10 | — |
| Oklahoma | 70 | 10 | — |
| Idaho | 40 | 0 | — |
| Kentucky | 20 | 0 | — |
| North Dakota | 20 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
James Madison University
- Degrees each year
- 70
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 828
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Drexel University
- Degrees each year
- 27
- Admit rate
- 78%
- Annual cost after aid
- $35,000
Amherst College
- Degrees each year
- 23
- Admit rate
- 10%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Winona State University
- Degrees each year
- 46
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Degrees each year
- 369
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- Degrees each year
- 357
- Admit rate
- 65%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
- Degrees each year
- 330
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Compare every college offering legal research and advanced professional studies