Okay, let's break down teaching law with a PhD background. This is a fantastic path, and your PhD can be a significant asset. Here's a comprehensive guide covering various aspects:

I. Understanding the Landscape of Law Teaching

• Types of Law Teaching Positions:


• Tenure-Track/Tenured Professor: The gold standard. Involves teaching, research, and service (committee work, etc.). Requires a strong research agenda and publications. Leads to long-term job security and academic freedom. **PhDs are often highly valued, especially if your PhD complements your JD in a substantive law field.**


• Clinical Professor: Focuses on practical legal skills through clinics where students represent real clients under faculty supervision. Less emphasis on traditional academic research, but expertise in a specific area of practice is essential. PhD can be useful here, but often direct practice experience is most valued.


• Legal Writing Professor/Instructor: Teaches fundamental legal research, writing, and analysis skills. Increasingly, these positions are moving towards greater job security and opportunities for scholarly contributions. PhDs can be valuable for teaching legal writing, esp. if PhD is in rhetoric, composition, or related fields.


• Lecturer/Instructor: Often hired on a short-term or contract basis to teach specific courses. May not involve research or service obligations. Good entry point, but less job security. Can be a good option for gaining experience.


• Adjunct Professor: Part-time instructors who teach one or two courses, often practicing attorneys who bring real-world experience to the classroom.


• Visiting Professor: Temporary position, often filled by professors from other institutions or by scholars who are considering a longer-term position at the school. A good way to "test the waters."


• Law School Administrators with Teaching Responsibilities: Deans, Associate Deans, Directors of Programs, etc., may teach courses.


• Types of Law Schools:


• Top-Tier/National Law Schools: Focus on scholarly research and producing leaders in the legal field. Highly competitive for faculty positions. PhD strongly favored. Look for strong publications and research potential.


• Regional Law Schools: Emphasis on preparing students for practice in a specific geographic area. Research is still important, but teaching effectiveness and community engagement are also valued. PhD can be advantageous.


• Specialized Law Schools: Focus on particular areas of law, such as environmental law, intellectual property, or public interest law. PhD that relates to the specialty is very valuable.


• Community Colleges/Paralegal Programs: Teach introductory legal courses or paralegal studies programs. Less emphasis on research, more on teaching skills and practical knowledge. PhD can be helpful, but not always required.


• The Current Job Market: The law teaching market is highly competitive, especially for tenure-track positions. Demand varies by specialty, but overall, it's a challenging market. Networking is crucial.

• Highlight Synergies: Your PhD should complement your JD. How does your doctoral research inform your legal scholarship and teaching? Examples:


• PhD in History + JD: Teaches constitutional law, legal history, or property law, bringing historical context and analysis to the subject matter.


• PhD in Economics + JD: Teaches law and economics, antitrust, or corporate law, using economic models to analyze legal issues.


• PhD in Political Science + JD: Teaches constitutional law, administrative law, or legislation, focusing on the political and policy dimensions of law.


• PhD in Philosophy + JD: Teaches legal theory, jurisprudence, or ethics, exploring the philosophical foundations of law.


• PhD in Sociology + JD: Teaches criminal law, family law, or poverty law, using sociological perspectives to understand social problems and legal responses.


• PhD in English/Rhetoric + JD: Teaches legal writing, legal rhetoric, and argumentation, using rhetorical principles to improve legal communication.


• Research Agenda: Develop a clear and compelling research agenda that builds on your PhD and JD. What are the big questions you want to answer? What methodologies will you use? What contributions will you make to the field?


• Publications: Publish your research in peer-reviewed law reviews and journals. Quality over quantity is key, but you need to demonstrate a track record of scholarly productivity. If you have strong publications from your PhD, that's a good start.


• Teaching Experience: Gain teaching experience through:


• Teaching Assistantships: During your PhD or law school.


• Guest Lectures: Offer to give guest lectures in law school courses.


• Adjunct Teaching: Teach a course at a law school or community college.


• Teaching Fellowships: Some law schools offer fellowships for aspiring law teachers.


• Interdisciplinary Scholarship: Explore interdisciplinary research opportunities that bridge your PhD and JD. This can make you stand out from other candidates.

• Entry-Level Hiring Process (FAR Process): The Faculty Appointments Register (FAR) is a database maintained by the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). Most law schools use the FAR to identify potential faculty candidates.


• AALS Faculty Recruitment Conference: An annual conference where law schools interview candidates for faculty positions. Critical for networking and getting your foot in the door.


• The Meat Market: (Informal Term) Refers to the AALS Faculty Recruitment Conference.


• Application Materials:


• Curriculum Vitae (CV): A comprehensive overview of your education, experience, publications, presentations, and awards.


• Cover Letter: A tailored letter that highlights your qualifications and explains why you are interested in the specific position.


• Research Agenda: A detailed description of your research plans.


• Teaching Philosophy Statement: A statement that articulates your beliefs about teaching and learning.


• Writing Sample: A published article or a draft of a scholarly paper. This is crucial.


• Letters of Recommendation: Letters from professors and other professionals who can attest to your qualifications. Cultivate strong relationships with faculty.


• The Interview Process:


• Initial Interviews: Often conducted at the AALS Faculty Recruitment Conference or via Zoom.


• Fly-Out Interviews: If you pass the initial screening, you will be invited to visit the law school for a series of interviews with faculty members and administrators.


• Job Talk/Scholarly Presentation: You will present your research to the faculty and answer questions.


• Teaching Demonstration: You may be asked to teach a class.

• Network, Network, Network: Attend conferences, meet with faculty members, and build relationships with people in the legal academy. Networking can open doors to opportunities that you might not otherwise find.


• Mentorship: Seek out mentors who can provide guidance and support.


• Be Patient and Persistent: The law teaching job market is competitive, so don't get discouraged if you don't get a job right away. Keep refining your application materials, publishing your research, and networking.


• Consider Alternatives: Be open to alternative career paths, such as clinical teaching, legal writing instruction, or legal administration. These positions can provide valuable experience and lead to other opportunities.


• Know Your Value: Understand how your PhD makes you a unique and valuable candidate. Emphasize the strengths that your background provides.


• Polish Your Legal Skills: If your PhD is in a non-law field, ensure your legal skills are sharp. Take CLEs, work on legal research projects, and stay current on legal developments.


• Be Prepared to Explain Your Path: Search committees will ask about your decision to pursue a PhD and a JD, and why you want to teach law rather than practice. Have a compelling and coherent narrative.

• Humanities (e.g., History, Literature, Philosophy): Focus on legal theory, legal history, jurisprudence, constitutional law, or areas where your humanities expertise intersects with law. Develop a clear theoretical framework for your research.


• Social Sciences (e.g., Economics, Political Science, Sociology): Focus on law and economics, public law, criminal justice, or areas where your social science expertise can inform legal analysis. Use empirical methods to study legal issues.


• STEM Fields (e.g., Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics): Focus on intellectual property law, environmental law, health law, or areas where your STEM expertise can inform legal analysis. Develop a strong understanding of the legal framework governing your area of expertise.


• Education: Focus on legal education, clinical teaching, legal writing, or areas where your education expertise can inform legal pedagogy. Conduct empirical research on effective teaching methods.

• Association of American Law Schools (AALS): https://www.aals.org/ (Especially the section on Faculty Recruitment)


• The Chronicle of Higher Education: https://www.chronicle.com/ (For academic job listings and advice)


• Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/ (For academic news and advice)


• Law School Blogs: (e.g., PrawfsBlawg, Leiter Reports) - Monitor these for insights into the legal academic world.


• Faculty Recruitment Databases: Access to the AALS FAR requires being a candidate.

Teaching law with a PhD requires a strategic approach. By highlighting the synergies between your PhD and JD, developing a strong research agenda, gaining teaching experience, and networking effectively, you can increase your chances of landing a law teaching position. Good luck! Be prepared for a challenging, but potentially rewarding, career.