Please tell me the requirements to teach law classes.

Question

From 1991 to 2019, I was a practicing attorney.

Answer 1

Hi Elanor,

I am sure you are familiar with the mantra that “All lawyers really wish to teach.” That cuts across several paths.

All lawyers are already teachers. Lawyers teach every time they go to court, whether it be a bench issue or a jury trial. Lawyers teach when they are working with their clients. Lawyers teach when they tell their war stories to other lawyers and family members. The mantra also reflects an often-held desire to break up their daily routine or even stop practicing law altogether.

Yet from my own experience (39 years practicing law and five years as a tutor/mentor since I retired), I am reminded of the phrase

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.”

              Margaret Fuller

Ms. Fuller was not an attorney when she coined that phrase as an early American feminist in the mid-1800, but I think that captures a deeper feeling as to why so many lawyers wish to teach. Practicing attorneys simply learn so much about people, life, and, of course, the law. It would be a shame if we all just disappeared and never passed on that experiential knowledge.



As referenced in the earlier post to your question, colleges and community colleges are often the best way to get started teaching as an attorney. The greatest challenge there is the large pool of others following the same path. For every adjunct position open at a college or community college, there are often dozens of lawyers interested. That results in downward pressure on the salary scale.

If you are interested in discussing this more, just let me know. Go get ‘em!

Terry

Answer 2

After 28 years of practicing law, you're in a fantastic position to step into the classroom. The main ticket you need is your Juris Doctor (J.D.). While top law schools often look for a heavy record of scholarly publications for their traditional professorships, your deep real-world experience is precisely what they value for teaching practical skills like legal writing or trial advocacy.

Frankly, you're also a perfect fit for teaching pre-law to undergraduates or in a community college's paralegal program, where your hands-on experience is often the most important qualification. A great way to start is by simply reaching out to a local institution to guest lecture or teach a single class as an adjunct to get your foot in the door.