Law professors teach courses in law in colleges and universities. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, papers, and oral presentations.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as civil procedure, contracts, and torts.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
  • Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
  • Assign cases for students to hear and try.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  • Act as advisers to student organizations.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
  • Participate in campus and community events.
  • Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
  • Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  • Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
Work Context
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 92% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Electronic Mail — 82% responded "Every day".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 77% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Contact With Others — 59% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 71% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 69% responded "Every day".
  • Public Speaking — 59% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".
  • Read More
Work Activities
  • Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Read More
Detailed Work Activities
  • Evaluate student work.
  • Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
  • Prepare tests.
  • Evaluate student work.
  • Teach social science courses at the college level.
  • Guide class discussions.
  • Read More

Knowledge

Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Read More

Skills

Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Learning Strategies
  • Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Read More

Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Clarity
  • The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Read More

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
Read More

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Google Docs Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
  • Collaborative editing software
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Read More