Career Overview
Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also Known As
- Associate Professor
- Instructor
- Law Professor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Law Professor
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Business Law Instructor
- Business Law Professor
- Clinical Law Professor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Constitutional Law Professor
- Contracts Law Professor
- Criminal Law Professor
- Environmental Law Professor
- Faculty Member
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Social Orientation
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Carousel slide projectors
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Computer projectors
- Conference telephones
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Handheld microphones
- Interactive whiteboard controllers
- Interactive whiteboards
- Laptop computers
Work Environment
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $58,330 |
| Median | $126,650 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 22,800
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $71,470
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $94,680
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $82,540
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $97,270
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $119,980
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.