How to Get a Job As a Law Professor

Scales of Justice

Law professors are some of the most revered and feared teachers in academia today. Many people see them as wise sages who bestow wisdom on law students. Law students often see them as angry tyrants. Either way, being a law professor can be an enriching and fulfilling experience. Becoming a law professor is a lengthy, costly, and difficult process, but if you want to become a law professor and stay focused, it can be done.

Things You'll Need

• Undergraduate degree
• LSAT score
• Juris Doctor degree
• Curriculum vita
• CoverlLetter
• References

Instructions

1. Apply to a college or university to enroll in an undergraduate program. In order to be able to apply to law school, you must first graduate with an undergraduate degree. It generally does not matter what major you choose, but it is essential that you graduate.

2. Create an account for the Law School Admission Council and register to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) toward the end the of your junior year. The LSAT is essential to getting into law school, and a high score is important to getting into a reputable law school.

3. Apply to law school during your final year of college, after you have received your LSAT score. You must complete a law degree program in order to take the bar exam to become a lawyer.

4. Apply to take the bar exam in whatever jurisdiction you choose during your final year in law school. While it is not essential to work as an attorney to be a law school professor, most law schools want their faculty to have a breadth of practical experience.

5. Apply for a position as an attorney or start your own law firm after graduating from law school and passing the bar exam. Working as an attorney is necessary to gain the practical experience needed to make you an attractive candidate for a faculty position at a law school.

6. Write scholarly articles on your given practice areas. A list of published scholarly articles will provide you with a strong application packet that may differentiate you from other applicants.

7. Create and submit an application packet for a faculty position at a law school. Generally the application packet should contain a cover letter, curriculum vita, and references. Bolster these with strong practical experience and scholarly articles.

8. Complete the interviewing process. The law school will initiate an interviewing process, which may include several interviews, if the recruiter approves of the application packet. Succesfully completing this interview process with an approved application packet and a successful check of your references will put you on your way to becoming a law professor.

References

• Drexel University, Earle Mack School of Law: Faculty Applications
• Harvard Law School: Human Resources External Candidates

Resources

• The Law School Admission Council