How to Become a Law Professor

Brannon P. Denning (Professor of Law, Samford University Cumberland School of Law), Marcia L. McCormick (Associate Professor of Law, Saint Louis University School of Law), and Jeff M. Lipshaw (Associate Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School) recently published their book entitled Becoming a Law Professor: A Candidate’s Guide (ABA Book Publishing 2010). The publisher’s description is below:

This book is a soup-to-nuts guide, taking aspiring legal academics from their first aspirations on a step-by-step journey through the practicalities of the Association of American Law School’s hiring conference, on-campus interviews, and preparing for the first semester of teaching. This up-to-date resource reflects the changing nature and new realities of the legal academy. Until recently, entry into the legal academy was a function of credentials and connections. Today, your record of publication has become the primary portal into professorship. High-quality legal scholarship, in addition to solid credentials can give you the advantage you need to secure the best jobs available.

In this book, you’ll discover the types of teaching jobs available and responsibilities of each, the possible paths to teaching, contrasting the standard entrance model with the various other methods. Three chapters detail the law school hiring process, including a special chapter offering advice to handling issues that may come up during the interview process. The book then details information that will be invaluable for the new professor, drawn from the personal experience of the authors. Finally, you’ll find suggestions in case your first attempt at the academic job market fails to produce an offer. In addition, the book contains an annotated bibliography on the hiring process, as well as a primer on the law review submissions process, and timelines and checklists to help you stay organized.

While this book is perfect for the aspiring law professor, career service professionals will find the book helpful for the right students as an alternative to practice. If you’re even considering charting a course toward a law school career, this is one resource you don’t want to be without.