What are Legal Education Careers?
A diverse ecosystem of opportunities exists within the field of legal education. In the classroom setting, law professors can assume a variety of roles, including those of distinguished educators and accomplished scholars; respected researchers; mentors to students; coordinators of innovative programming; and leaders of pivotal initiatives that impact education. Professor-level roles extend beyond traditional professors active in scholarship and research. Positions for legal writing and clinical professors also exist as educators, with these professors engaged in intensive teaching that is closely involved with experiential learning and professional skills development.
The next tier of positions within legal education is that of academic leader and faculty administrator. Those who choose this pathway are most often tenure-track faculty members themselves or have a long history of teaching experience in law school settings. In addition to possessing the requisite advanced degrees and law licenses, they serve as key decision-makers and ultimately have a significant impact on the direction (and even sometimes the culture) of their schools. Academic leaders include law school deans at the associate, assistant, and senior levels, as well as those heading specific divisions or programs, such as division chairs (for example, the lawyering division or the environmental practice division), program directors (for example, the curricular development program), and center directors (for example, academic success center director). Other positions available to academic leaders enable faculty with extensive experience to support a law school’s administrative structures and key initiatives, such as associate deans for academic affairs, student affairs, research, and international initiatives. Faculty members with key administrative leadership responsibilities are referred to as faculty administrators. Examples of faculty administrators include division directors, senior associate deans, and associate deans.
In addition, legal education is supported by a host of valuable resources and services. Among these are positions focused on student support (academic advising, academic success, career counseling, and career services), library services, technology, development, and institutional research. Law school libraries are led by library directors and associate directors , many of whom also hold faculty status and are promoted with the same process as faculty members. In addition to library faculty members (who may receive faculty status), other positions within library services are also filled by librarians. Director and senior director roles exist for educational development and training units, which provide curricular and pedagogical support to faculty members. Some law schools also offer faculty members the option to obtain the distinction of "master teacher" or "senior master teacher" in educational development and training units. Educational development faculty members typically become important colleagues to law professors, offering meaningful professional networks, collegial respect and admiration, and impactful collaborations to enhance teaching materials and skills.
Other support-focused positions emerge from an academic institution’s placement of a high value on innovative programs relating to curriculum and institutional advancement. For example, positions such as clinical program directors and academic success professors may be faculty members or law professionals (as they do not always require a JD), but they are always essential to the personal and academic success of law students. Coordinator and director roles exist for scholarships, enrollment, and marketing and promotional initiatives. Institutional research professionals (most often possessing advanced statistics skills and degrees in social science or research design) provide valuable aid to law schools, which increasingly require and benefit from data-driven approaches. The positions of institutional researcher or coordinator, and co-director of institutional research, are often vital to law schools’ strategic planning, governance, and reporting functions.
These varied roles in legal education require an equally wide range of skills, backgrounds, and professional experiences. Educational and teaching experience, tenure in law practice, and research and scholarly activities are only some of the substantive qualifications law schools seek when hiring. Those interested in entering or expanding their role within legal education should tap into their existing strengths, hone specific desirable attributes, and make dedicated efforts to promote their transferable skills and identify prospective opportunities.
Requirements and Skills
The majority of colleges and universities, especially research institutions, require candidates to hold a doctorate degree in law or a related field as well as the appropriate licensure or certification. Several institutions will sometimes accept candidates with a Juris Doctor degree and related experience, such as private practice or relevant training, instead of a doctorate or equivalent professional degree.
Other institutions may require that candidates for tenured positions prove that they have conducted original research and published their work. Candidates with an impressive publication record will typically have a higher chance of employment compared to those without prior publications. Many employers ask that candidates hold a doctorate degree, the required licensures, as well as 3-7 years of teaching experience. Those with less experience can still be considered for an entry-level position.
Most legal educators prefer individuals that have earned either a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from a reputable university. Many post-secondary institution require that candidates for such faculty positions hold a doctorate degree, licensure, and 3-5 years of legal work experience in addition to 3-5 years of related teaching experience. International applicants without the required U.S. credentials may be accepted if they have the equivalent experience and training relevant to the subject area. Graduate programs such as PhDs that major in higher education are a plus for applicants.
Individuals applying for or working in law-focused institutional research positions should have professional experience in a law-related or other academic environment. These institutions sometimes request that applicants (particularly for tenure-track positions) hold a doctorate degree related to social science research theory. Some colleges or universities will accept PhD in sociology, criminology, management, or public policy rather than PhD in education.
Primary employers of graduates in this field include:
Careers in legal education often require the ability to teach effectively and conduct important research, and some positions offer opportunities for career advancement.
Finding Education Career Opportunities
With a strong understanding of the opportunities that await and the possibilities that lie ahead, it’s time to look for the right opportunity. The first step in your search for a legal education position will be identifying places where you can go to find these opportunities. This is no small task, as there are numerous resources available. The key is knowing which are best suited to your situation. For example, there are a number of websites that are very useful in your search to find legal education job openings. Many of these websites are organized by area of practice or by the type of practice setting. If you know the type of job you want, a targeted search of one of these sites can quickly reveal appropriate openings. But if you don’t know where you’re going, this approach may not be the best one for you.
Additionally, a number of law schools actually have dedicated career services staff members whose job it is to help prospective legal educators find positions. These career services officers work to keep abreast of the latest openings, including both full-time and part-time postings, and this kind of help can take a lot of pressure off of your job search. Generally, career services officers at various law schools will be willing to help any prospective legal educator, not just former students. Career services officers can be particularly helpful because they generally focus on a specific geographic area or region and can provide you with specific information about prospective jobs in your target area.
Professional associations can also be useful in finding potential legal education job postings. Some associations dedicated to legal education include the Association of American Law Schools, the Association of American Law Schools Section on Legal Writing, Reasoning and Analysis, the Society of American Law Teachers, and the Clinical Legal Education Association.
Another way to find legal education job opportunities is through internships or fellowships. Many law schools offer fellowship programs for those prospected legal educators that can provide them a way to gain valuable experience. These programs are highly competitive, so you must be well-qualified, but in some cases, if you are able to score such an opportunity, you may have a better chance to land a full-time teaching position at that institution. Finally, some law schools regularly employ relatively short-term staff, so look around for those opportunities as well.
Legal Education Career Advancement
For many professionals in legal education, a career is not just a matter of finding a niche and staying there. As with any career track, advancement may come through continuing education, specialization, taking on leadership roles, and pursuing advanced degrees.
Early Career Track
For those in the early stages of their career, obtaining specializations may be the first step toward career advancement.
Mid-Career Track
Mid-career, leadership roles may become vital. Some professionals pursue mid-level education, such as an advanced degree or training course. Others continue to hone their specializations, positioning themselves as experts in their field .
Late Career Track
In the latter years of their career, professionals may choose to pass their knowledge and experience along to future generations, by teaching. Carrying the passion for their vocation into the classroom, they may even instill the desire to pursue a career in legal education in the next generation.
Professional organizations, such as the National Association of Legal Assistants or the AccessLex Institute, provide information on the tools that help professionals learn the ropes and stay up to date on the latest developments in legal education.
Benefits and Challenges of Legal Education Careers
A career in legal education does not come without its challenges. The workload can be intense, as educators must balance their teaching duties with research, administration, and other responsibilities. This can lead to long hours and high-pressure environments, particularly in competitive academic institutions. Additionally, educators may face challenges in adapting to new technologies and teaching methods, as well as addressing the diverse learning needs of their students.
Despite these challenges, a career in legal education can be incredibly rewarding . For many, the opportunity to share their knowledge with a new generation of law professionals is a source of pride and fulfillment. The ability to shape the future of the legal profession through education and mentorship is a powerful motivator for many legal educators. They have the chance to make a difference in the lives of their students, providing guidance and support as they navigate the complexities of their current studies and their future careers. In addition, legal educators often have the opportunity to engage in meaningful research, contributing to the advancement of legal scholarship and practice in their areas of expertise.