| Topic Name: |
How do I become a law school professor? |
| Message Name: |
it's a challenge |
| Date Posted: |
10/16/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
I've been thinking about it alot lately, and I think that being a Law School Professor is something that I would really enjoy. I was admitted to a Top 3 school, but deferred this year, so I could put a little money in my pocket. However, I am wondering if there is any school out there that would be best for a prospective law professor. Should I reapply elsewhere? If so, how much better is it than say HLS or YLS. Also does anyone know about the requirements to be a prof. Clearly top grades (aka law review) are at the forefront, but what else. Do you need an LLM (in what?), or something further? Thanks.
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| Message: |
Law school prof is one those jobs that is remarkably competitive. A JD from a top 3 school helps, an LLM from another top 5 school doesn't hurt (particularly Harvard or Yale) and a judicial clerkship certainly doesn't hurt. Top grades help. Saving the world doesn't hurt, either. Law recruiting takes place in large measure at an academic meat market run by AALS (www.aals.org). Their website has some good material about the process, including the challenges and what it takes. Take a look at the website at schools at which you might be interested in teaching, and you'll see the types of credentials that the newer profs have. If you have the wherewithal to be a law professor, you may also have the wherewithal to get a PhD in something in which
obtaining a professorship is a bit less competitive, such as a business professor or a computer science professor.
But if you really want to help people think like a lawyer, build your ribbon list and hit the academic meat market. My friend who went to Harvard tells me even among her friends a good entry level faculty position is not considered a sure bet. OTOH, when I look at a number of state schools' faculty, folks with less than top 5 credentials seem to get in as faculty. Good fortune!
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