Depending on where you live and the market you want to enter, the process of becoming a law lecturer is very different. In the United Kingdom, you don’t need much more than a law degree and a desire to teach to become a law lecturer. Lecturers are expected to devote their careers to educating future barristers and solicitors, and the job is almost always full time. In the United States and Canada, however, becoming a law lecturer usually requires significant prior experience, and even then, the position is usually only available part-time. North American lecturers are typically expected to be working experts who teach advanced students for a few hours each week.
The difference in job descriptions accounts for a large part of the difference in process. In the United Kingdom, a lecturer is a lawyer who works full-time at a university. That same person is known as a professor or assistant professor in the United States and Canada. Lecturer positions exist in American and Canadian law schools, but they are usually reserved for subject-matter experts. Lecturers in this setting are more akin to adjunct professors or part-time law professors, teaching no more than one course at a time while continuing to practice. Each position has its own set of job requirements.
To work as a law lecturer in the United Kingdom or Ireland, you’ll need a law degree, some experience as a barrister or solicitor, and a passion for teaching law students. Universities typically advertise open positions a year in advance, in the late summer or early fall, before the position becomes available. Prospective lecturers should keep an eye on various university job postings and apply for positions that appeal to them.
Most law lecturers begin their careers as assistant professors. They usually teach one or two electives in their area of specialization, but they spend the majority of their time teaching general and foundational courses. With each year of service, you can expect more flexibility, job security, and course customization.
In the United States and Canada, the process of becoming a law lecturer differs significantly. Lecturers in these settings are usually well-known experts in their fields, with 10 years or more of national-level or otherwise renowned experience. Law professor positions are rarely advertised externally, and schools frequently contact desirable experts directly about potential law professor positions.
Nonetheless, there are ways to become a law lecturer without an invitation in the United States and Canada. One way to get your name out is to network with law school deans at legal events and fundraisers. You can also contact law schools directly about lecture positions, but you’ll need a course proposal and a clear explanation of how your expertise will help the law school achieve its goals.