Law Teachers, Postsecondary

25-1112.00 Zone 5 — Extensive Preparation Needed

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Also known as: Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Law Professor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Business Law Instructor, Business Law Professor, Clinical Law Professor, ...

Annual Salary

$126,650

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$84,540 25th – 75th percentile $173,580
10th percentile $58,330
90th percentile $208,000+
U.S. Employment: 22,800

Job Outlook

+2.2%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (About average)

Annual Job Openings 2,200 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: Doctoral or professional degree
Experience: Less than 5 years

What You'd Do

  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, papers, and oral presentations.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as civil procedure, contracts, and torts.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.

Top Skills

Speaking 4.6
Reading Comprehension 4.3
Active Listening 4.3
Learning Strategies 4.3
Instructing 4.1
Writing 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Active Learning 4.0

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Law and Government 4.9
English Language 4.7
Education and Training 4.4
Computers and Electronics 3.3
Communications and Media 3.3
Customer and Personal Service 3.0
Administration and Management 2.9
Sociology and Anthropology 2.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

Professional
46.2%
Doctoral
35.3%
Master's
15.4%
Post-Master's
2.1%
Associate's
1.1%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Google Docs Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

Other Tools

AbacusNext HotDocs ACD Systems Canvas Blackboard Learn Calendar and scheduling software Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction CALI Author Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction CALI Classcaster Collaborative editing software Collateral Consequences Calculator Course management system software CT Summation iBlaze Desire2Learn LMS software DOC Cop Email software ExamSoft Exam Intelligence Image scanning software +9 more

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.7
Intellectual Curiosity
2.4
Dependability
2.3
Integrity
2.2
Social Orientation
2.1
Achievement Orientation
2.0
Cooperation
2.0
Leadership Orientation

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Expression 4.6
Written Comprehension 4.4
Oral Comprehension 4.1
Speech Clarity 4.1
Written Expression 4.0
Deductive Reasoning 4.0
Inductive Reasoning 4.0
Near Vision 3.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Training and Teaching Others 4.8
Getting Information 4.6
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others 4.5
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge 4.4
Coaching and Developing Others 4.3
Thinking Creatively 4.2
Analyzing Data or Information 4.0
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work 3.9

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
4.9
E-Mail
4.8
Freedom to Make Decisions
4.8
Contact With Others
4.5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
4.5
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.4
Public Speaking
4.2
Telephone Conversations
4.2
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
4.1
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
3.9
Frequency of Decision Making
3.7
Spend Time Sitting
3.7

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.