Law Professor
A Law Professor teaches specialized law courses, develops curriculum, mentors students, and conducts scholarly research, often within an emerging field such as comparative cyber and digital property law. This is a sample job description from Excelon Associates that you can adapt as a template for your own hire.
What does a Law Professor do?
A Law Professor teaches courses in their field of specialization and related subjects, engaging students through an inclusive, student-focused pedagogy. In a specialized program, that field may be an emerging area such as comparative cyber property law, where the professor helps prepare students for evolving areas of digital and cyber law.
Beyond teaching, the role develops curriculum, mentors and advises students, conducts and publishes scholarly research, and contributes to the school through committee and outreach work. It is a faculty role within the higher education sector, typically in a close-knit, collaborative academic environment.
A Juris Doctor (JD) is the primary professional law degree. An LL.M. (Master of Laws) is an advanced specialization degree, and an S.J.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science) is the highest research law degree. Comparative cyber property law is a specialized field examining digital and intellectual property rights across legal systems.
What does the Law Professor focus on?
Key responsibilities of a Law Professor
- Teach courses in the area of specialization and related subjects, engaging students through inclusive, student-focused pedagogy.
- Develop curriculum to address emerging trends in the field, maintaining the academic rigor and relevance the institution is known for.
- Conduct and publish research in niche areas of the field, contributing to the school’s reputation as a leader in legal specialization.
- Mentor and advise students on academic paths and professional development, creating a supportive learning environment.
- Collaborate with faculty across disciplines on innovative projects and participate in departmental and institutional meetings.
- Serve on committees and support the school’s outreach efforts to strengthen its mission and visibility within the academic and legal communities.
What qualifications does the role require?
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; an LL.M. or S.J.D. in a related field is highly preferred.
- Practical experience in the field and active bar admission preferred.
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching, with a commitment to dynamic and inclusive pedagogy.
- A strong publication record or potential for impactful research in the relevant field of law.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with dedication to a positive and rigorous academic environment.
Why is the Law Professor role important?
Law professors prepare the next generation of attorneys and shape legal scholarship. In specialized and emerging fields such as cyber and digital property law, their teaching and research help define how a new area of law is understood, taught, and practiced.
Because the role blends classroom teaching, scholarship, and service, the strongest professors pair genuine subject-matter authority with a real commitment to teaching. In a niche field, the right hire can put an institution on the map as a leader in that specialization.
A hiring note from Excelon
Specialized law faculty searches are narrow by definition: the pool of scholars in an emerging field such as cyber property law is small, and the best of them are courted. Through our higher education practice, we look for candidates who pair the right credentials with a genuine research agenda in the specialization, since in a niche field the faculty hire shapes the program’s national reputation.
In a niche field, the right faculty hire can put an institution on the map as a leader in that specialization.
Related sample job descriptions
Law Professor: frequently asked questions
What does a Law Professor do?
A Law Professor teaches law courses in their area of specialization, develops curriculum, mentors and advises students, conducts and publishes legal scholarship, and serves on faculty committees. In specialized programs, the role focuses on an emerging field such as cyber and digital property law.
What qualifications does the role require?
This sample role requires a Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school, with an LL.M. or S.J.D. in a related field highly preferred. It also values demonstrated teaching excellence, a strong publication record, practical legal experience, and active bar admission.
What is the difference between a JD, an LL.M., and an S.J.D.?
A JD (Juris Doctor) is the primary professional law degree. An LL.M. (Master of Laws) is an advanced specialization degree, and an S.J.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science) is the highest research-focused law degree, often expected of career legal scholars.
Does the role require research and publication?
Yes. Beyond teaching, a Law Professor is typically expected to conduct and publish scholarly research in their field, contributing to the school’s academic reputation, especially in specialized or emerging areas of law.
Why is this role important?
Law professors prepare the next generation of attorneys and shape legal scholarship. In specialized fields such as cyber and digital property law, their teaching and research help define how an emerging area of law is understood and practiced.
Hiring a Law Professor?
Excelon Associates recruits law faculty and specialized academic talent for law schools and universities across the United States through our higher education recruitment practice. Retained executive search since 2007, headquartered in Asheville, NC, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL.
More Sample Job Descriptions
Templates you can adapt for your own roles.