How To Become A Law Professor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a law professor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Alex Holte PhD

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a law professor. For example, did you know that they make an average of $73.74 an hour? That's $153,386 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 12% and produce 159,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a law professor?

Alex Holte PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychology, Website

My advice for someone new to the field of academia is to learn time management skills early and learn what type of service work you find interesting and would like to contribute to. From there, learn how to say “no” to opportunities that may not align with your goals as well. I feel a lot of new professors tend to find the need to be involved in everything, which can result in burning out later in their career.

ScoreLaw ProfessorUS Average

Salary

9.0

Avg. Salary $153,386

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.1

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 11.31%

Black or African American 7.06%

Hispanic or Latino 10.07%

Unknown 4.92%

White 66.36%

Gender

female 44.04%

male 55.96%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.4

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a law professor

Explore law professor education requirements

Most common law professor degrees

Bachelor's

43.2 %

Doctorate

40.4 %

Master's

12.2 %

Start to develop specific law professor skills

Skills	Percentages
Legal Research	46.54%
Property Law	13.53%
Legal Studies	8.10%
Constitutional Law	7.42%
Family Law	4.62%

Research law professor duties and responsibilities

Used blackboard online to manage students tests, grade papers and assign materials.
Prepare the first comprehensive syllabus for human rights subject in the institution.
Test, troubleshoot, and resolve issues with new implement software packages.
Prepare comments, oppositions, and other advocacy documents to be file at the FCC.

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