Law Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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The Daily Work of Law Teachers, Postsecondary Do?
The core tasks performed by law teachers, postsecondary cover:
- 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.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top law teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Law Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Law Professor
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Business Law Instructor
- Business Law Professor
- Clinical Law Professor
Job Outlook
There are roughly 1,048,027 law teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -2.9% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Law Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $91,726 |
| Hourly median | $44.10 |
| 10th percentile | $57,482 |
| 25th percentile | $74,604 |
| 75th percentile | $108,849 |
| 90th percentile | $125,971 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Law Teachers, Postsecondary Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee | $171,280 |
| Iowa | $170,810 |
| Michigan | $167,560 |
| Massachusetts | $164,000 |
| South Carolina | $160,370 |
| Oregon | $158,110 |
| Texas | $153,880 |
| Alabama | $139,880 |
| Utah | $138,020 |
| New Hampshire | $137,900 |
| Maryland | $134,320 |
| Minnesota | $132,610 |
| Wisconsin | $130,530 |
| Indiana | $129,880 |
| New Jersey | $129,550 |
| Louisiana | $129,470 |
| Maine | $128,910 |
| District of Columbia | $128,490 |
| New York | $128,430 |
| Kentucky | $128,380 |
| California | $126,640 |
| Virginia | $125,670 |
| Florida | $124,330 |
| Washington | $115,850 |
| Connecticut | $110,220 |
| Arkansas | $107,890 |
| Vermont | $107,210 |
| Arizona | $106,510 |
| Missouri | $105,880 |
| North Carolina | $105,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $104,820 |
| Idaho | $102,500 |
| Illinois | $99,880 |
| Ohio | $69,770 |
| Mississippi | $65,880 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for law teachers, postsecondary shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $150,868 | 11.8% | 2.19 |
| Far Western US | $143,410 | 4.2% | 0.77 |
| Southwest | $142,037 | 8.1% | 0.36 |
| Plains States | $132,610 | 0.8% | 0.20 |
| Southeast | $124,624 | 23.1% | 0.60 |
| Middle Atlantic | $124,417 | 37.9% | 2.18 |
| Great Lakes | $114,007 | 9.9% | 0.47 |
| Rocky Mountains | $41,145 | 4.2% | 0.63 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | MI | $174,710 | |
| Knoxville, TN | TN | $171,280 | 80 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $167,680 | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $165,340 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $164,000 | 850 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $153,730 | 200 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $138,020 | 100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $135,520 | 60 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of law teachers, postsecondary are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 22,800 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where law teachers, postsecondary work:
Tools and Technology
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for law teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Law Teachers, Postsecondary
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Political Scientists (Supplemental)
- Lawyers (Supplemental)
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring law teachers, postsecondary often complete programs in:
Legal Professions and Studies
25 programs across 2 majors
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
1 programs across 1 majors
Theology and Religious Vocations
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-1112.00 (Law Teachers, Postsecondary).