Teaching law with shitty grades. Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hello all,

So 1 semester into law school, I have decided that I want to teach law. I am not interested in practicing law. The only problem is, I go to a shitty school (T2) and have shitty grades.

I'll obviously have to try to pull my grades up, but career-wise, how can I go about pursuing a teaching career? And is all hope lost due to my grades?

Any advice appreciated.

[MrKappus]

What next poster said. Edited for late-night cranky douche-itude.

[IAFG]

If you really want to teach, maybe you could do high school or community college? Law school is out, but there are alternative ways to teach.

[omninode]

You could go back to graduate school for a PhD if you want to teach something other than law. If you don't mind spending a lot more time and money in school, that is.


Or you could get a real job.

[taxguy]

Since I know a number of law school professors, here is my take:

Frankly, your chances of teaching law in the future are significant reduced for several reasons. First, many law schools only hire faculty, regardless of accomplishments, that have attended top tier law schools . Moreover, most law schools want their professors to have done very well in law school. If you check the faculty bios, most have been on law review and have graduated with honors from their respective law schools.

However, If you can make partner somewhere and becomes an established lawyer in your community, you just might be able to teach part time at a law school. I guess if you write a number of published articles and publish some books, you might have a chance to teach as some law schools.

Moreover, although your chances of teaching at a law school are slim, you would be able to teach at colleges. I have taught business law, tax law etc at various colleges ( undergraduate accounting programs) even though I didn't attend a top law school. Most colleges want lawyers to teach their business law courses regardless of what law school the professor might have attended.

[cinephile]

You could go back to graduate school for a PhD if you want to teach something other than law. If you don't mind spending a lot more time and money in school, that is.


Or you could get a real job.

PhD programs should be paying you.

[BEAST_mode]

My high school business law teacher was median at a TTT. Take from that what you will. In his defense, he was one of the chillest bros I ever knew.

[timbs4339]

However, If you can make partner somewhere and becomes an established lawyer in your community, you just might be able to teach part time at a law school.

This is the only way you will become a law professor. Most of the adjuncts at my school are very successful lawyers in both private and public practice in their fields. Biglaw partners for corporate seminars, prosecutors teaching Trial Practice, Public Interest Lawyers teaching in their field. Most, however, are 15 years into practice at least.

[LawIdiot86]

Law's out, but business law in a b-school or prelaw in a lower ranked poli sci program are still possible. See if your region has a continuing ed state school like UMUC, Charter Oaks, Excelsior, or Thomas Edison that will let you teach as an adjunct while in law school. Even teaching at Phoenix or Strayer would be helpful in pursuing that path.

[conn09]

I don't think all hope is lost. I mean there are 200 law schools and once you get to the local TTT in a saturated state, I don't think its as hard as people are making it out to be. It's very difficult and extremely unlikely, but not as bad as it is. Another way to academia is to just keep writing extremely controversial shit, that you can sort of backup. There are several professors at big schools who didn't clerk or have honors, but managed to get famous by just writing lots and lots of bullshit.

[MrAnon]

bad school and bad grades? Your best hope is some kind of community college teaching gig.

[Br3v]

I don't think all hope is lost. I mean there are 200 law schools and once you get to the local TTT in a saturated state, I don't think its as hard as people are making it out to be. It's very difficult and extremely unlikely, but not as bad as it is. Another way to academia is to just keep writing extremely controversial shit, that you can sort of backup. There are several professors at big schools who didn't clerk or have honors, but managed to get famous by just writing lots and lots of bullshit.

I feel as if this is bad advice.

[zanda]

My high school business law teacher was median at a TTT. Take from that what you will. In his defense, he was one of the chillest bros I ever knew.

Your high school had business law?

[DoubleChecks]

I don't think all hope is lost. I mean there are 200 law schools and once you get to the local TTT in a saturated state, I don't think its as hard as people are making it out to be. It's very difficult and extremely unlikely, but not as bad as it is. Another way to academia is to just keep writing extremely controversial shit, that you can sort of backup. There are several professors at big schools who didn't clerk or have honors, but managed to get famous by just writing lots and lots of bullshit.

I feel as if this is bad advice.

But it'd be fun to see happen, amirite?

[Br3v]

I don't think all hope is lost. I mean there are 200 law schools and once you get to the local TTT in a saturated state, I don't think its as hard as people are making it out to be. It's very difficult and extremely unlikely, but not as bad as it is. Another way to academia is to just keep writing extremely controversial shit, that you can sort of backup. There are several professors at big schools who didn't clerk or have honors, but managed to get famous by just writing lots and lots of bullshit.

I feel as if this is bad advice.

But it'd be fun to see happen, amirite?

hahaha. pseudonym

[seancris]

Community College. I don't know what the pay or job market is like, but teaching at community college seems like it would be the most relaxed/fun work environment you could ask for.

[BEAST_mode]

My high school business law teacher was median at a TTT. Take from that what you will. In his defense, he was one of the chillest bros I ever knew.

Your high school had business law?

It was a senior year elective. We learned nothing about business law, and watched To Catch a Predator at least 10 times. We also had Criminal Law. My only memorable experience was a class trip to Attica. A heroin addict told us about killing his parents.

[omninode]

You could go back to graduate school for a PhD if you want to teach something other than law. If you don't mind spending a lot more time and money in school, that is.


Or you could get a real job.

PhD programs should be paying you.

Good point, didn't think about that. Just a lot of time, then.

[r6_philly]

Community College. I don't know what the pay or job market is like, but teaching at community college seems like it would be the most relaxed/fun work environment you could ask for.

It is. It doesn't pay a whole lot, but you can get tenure with any advanced degree. So JD is fine. I think teaching full-time at a cc may make it really hard to move to a 4-year college later. Personally I think teaching at cc could be a very positive experience because of the students you work with and what you could do to help their careers/lives.

ETA: you can teach criminal justice and paralegal with a JD at cc. A regional powerhouse JD may be very good for teaching jobs in the region.

[Br3v]

I know of a guy who landed a tenure-track law teaching job this year (at a low-ranked law school), despite having pretty bad grades from a low T1 law school. He published his ass off, hustled to network within the academic sphere, etc. And even then, he was out in no-man's land for a little while. So it can happen.

As for whether OP can replicate that success, I think the odds are small. They are small for anyone who does not fit the traditional profile of YHSC, LR, PhD or high-end clerkship, lots of publishing, etc.

Now, if OP wants to teach as an adjunct, things change a little. But realistically you cannot get one of those jobs before building up subject-matter expertise (e.g., via a private practice).

hope.