Education & Childcare career

Law Professor

Also called: Law School Faculty · Legal Educator · Clinical Law Professor · Legal Writing Professor

What law professors do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a law professor do?

Law teachers, postsecondary, teach courses in law at law schools and universities and write legal scholarship. The median pay is $128,500 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 7+ years after high school plus experience, and employment is projected to grow +2.6% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $128,500
    Annual salary · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +2.6%
    2025–35, about as fast as average
  • Openings per year
    1,800
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Doctoral or professional degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    7+ years after high school plus experience
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    25,800
    Employment, 2025

What law professors do

Law professors prepare future lawyers. They teach courses like contracts, torts, constitutional law and criminal procedure using the Socratic method, run legal clinics where students represent real clients, teach legal writing, publish law review articles and testify or advise on policy.

Law professors hold a J.D., and many have clerkships, practice experience and sometimes a Ph.D. Law teaching is among the higher-paid academic fields.

Typical duties

  • Teach law courses
  • Run legal clinics
  • Teach legal writing
  • Write legal scholarship
  • Advise students
  • Serve on committees
  • Comment on legal issues

Work environment and schedule

Faculty work in law schools, clinics and offices.

Schedule: Teaching, scholarship and service with flexible hours.

A day in the life

  1. Teach contracts using the Socratic method.
  2. Hold office hours.
  3. Supervise clinic students.
  4. Write a law review article.

See a full day in the life of a law professor →

Law Professor salary

Half of law professors earned more than $128,500 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $64,250 for the lowest 10% to $287,900 for the top 10%.

Full law professor pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a law professor

  1. Earn a bachelor’s
  2. Earn a J.D.
  3. Clerk or practice
  4. Write scholarship
  5. Go on the AALS market

A Juris Doctor (J.D.) is required, often with strong grades, clerkships, practice experience or a Ph.D.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a law professor →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Legal expertise
  • Socratic teaching
  • Legal writing
  • Legal research
  • Clinical supervision

People skills

  • Public speaking
  • Critical thinking
  • Mentoring
  • Persuasion

All law professor skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • High pay for academia
  • Intellectual freedom
  • Policy influence
  • Prestige

Cons

  • Very competitive hiring
  • Scholarship pressure
  • Clinic caseloads
  • Long path

Certifications and licenses

  • J.D.: Juris Doctor.
  • Bar admission: Required for clinical faculty.
  • Judicial clerkship: Common path.
  • LL.M. or Ph.D.: Advanced degrees.

Career path

  1. Fellow or Visiting Professor: Enter teaching.
  2. Assistant Professor: Tenure track.
  3. Associate Professor: Tenure.
  4. Professor or Dean: Lead law schools.

Learn the job before day one

Our Law Professor training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as teach with the socratic method and supervise a legal clinic case, safety and how to land your first job.

View Law Professor trainingIs this career right for me?

Lawyer

Advise clients on the law and represent them in disputes and deals.

  • $159,670
  • 7 years after high school

Judicial Law Clerk

Research and draft opinions for a judge, usually right after law school.

  • $64,920
  • 7 years after high school

Criminal Justice Professor

Teach how the justice system works and research crime and policing.

  • $76,590
  • 5–7 years after a bachelor’s

Compare: Law Professor vs. Lawyer · Law Professor vs. Judicial Law Clerk · Law Professor vs. Criminal Justice Professor · Law Professor vs. Political Science Professor

Law Professor FAQ

Do law professors need a Ph.D.?

Not usually; a J.D. is the main degree, though some have Ph.D.s.

Do law professors practice law?

Clinical faculty often do; others may consult.

Is hiring competitive?

Very.

How much does a law professor make?

The median annual wage for law professors was $128,500 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $64,250 and the highest 10% earned more than $287,900.

How long does it take to become a law professor?

Most people need about 7+ years after high school plus experience of training. A Juris Doctor (J.D.) is required, often with strong grades, clerkships, practice experience or a Ph.D.

Do you need a degree to be a law professor?

Yes. Law professors need a J.D., a professional doctorate, and law schools usually look for clerkships, practice experience or a Ph.D. as well.

More law professor questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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