Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Postsecondary law teachers instruct students on legal principles, regulations, and judicial systems. These educators, who may work as constitutional, criminal, or environmental law professors, spend their days preparing lectures, teaching classes, and grading assignments. They must gather information, analyze complex data, and interpret legal meanings for their students. Many also conduct original legal research and publish their findings.

Succeeding in this role requires strong skills in speaking, instructing, active listening, and critical thinking. Teachers must have deep knowledge of law and government, English, and education. Because their work is highly intellectual and social, they benefit from work styles like intellectual curiosity, integrity, dependability, and self-confidence. They must communicate clearly with students and colleagues while making decisions and solving problems daily.

Entering this career typically requires extensive academic preparation. Most individuals need a doctoral or professional degree, such as a Juris Doctor (JD) or a PhD, before they can teach law at the college level. Common college majors that lead to this profession include law, legal research and advanced professional studies, dispute resolution, human resources management, and religious institution administration and law.

In addition to completing graduate-level coursework, aspiring professors often gain practical legal experience before transitioning to academia. While licensing requirements vary by location, some states do list a license for this work. Professional experience and academic publishing can also help candidates secure competitive teaching positions.

In 2025, the median annual pay for postsecondary law teachers was $128,500. The lowest 10 percent of earners made less than $64,250, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $287,900.

There were 20,060 people employed in this field. Employment is projected to grow by 2.6 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth, along with normal retirement and turnover, is expected to result in 1,800 job openings each year.