Law Teachers
O*NET title: Law Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Adjunct Law Professor, Business Law Instructor, Business Law Professor, Clinical Law Professor, Constitutional Law Professor, Contracts Law Professor
Median pay
$128,500
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$64,250 – $287,900
People employed
20,060
Holland code
SIC
Social · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 2.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 3.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 4.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 5.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 6.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 7.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 8.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
Law Teachers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (32 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What law teachers do
- 01Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- 02Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- 03Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- 04Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, papers, and oral presentations.
- 05Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- 06Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Knowledge
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Education and Training
- History and Archeology
- Philosophy and Theology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from law teachers
- Political Scientists82% · +11%
- Sociologists74% · −17%
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary69% · −19%
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists69% · +51%
- Economists66% · −3%
Change into law teachers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Political Scientists88% · $142,080
- Instructional Coordinators78% · $77,440
- Sociologists78% · $106,030
- Judicial Law Clerks76% · $64,920
- School Psychologists76% · $95,990
Majors that lead here
- Law
- Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General
- American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence
- Canadian Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence
- Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law
- Comparative Law
- Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law
- Health Law
- International Law and Legal Studies
- International Business, Trade, and Tax Law
- Tax Law/Taxation
- Intellectual Property Law
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.