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Legal Consultant or Law Professor?
Hi Guys,
I'm a college Freshman trying to decide what I want to do for my career. I'm stuck between consulting and teaching. Any insight? #law
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Joanne Keating
Vice President and Senior Associate General Counsel at Lexington Insurance Company
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Joanne’s Answer
Teaching and consulting are very different. And if you are looking at law as your specialty, both may require that you practice law for a while. A lot of lawyers become adjunct faculty for a law school, teaching a course in an area of specialty in which they may have some practice experience, such as criminal law, tax, or evidence if a trial lawyer.
Legal consulting may be more limiting. While there may be consulting firms that specialize in legal consulting, law firms may also provide substantially the same service for its clients.
Look for opportunities to lead a team in a classroom or find volunteer opportunities to tutor or teach to see if you enjoy teaching. Speak to professors about how they pursued their faculty positions, what they like and what they don't like about their work. Teaching at a college or law school level as a full time professor may mean that you will be required to research and publish writings. Would that interest you?
Good luck as you find ways to assess what best suits you.
Legal consulting may be more limiting. While there may be consulting firms that specialize in legal consulting, law firms may also provide substantially the same service for its clients.
Look for opportunities to lead a team in a classroom or find volunteer opportunities to tutor or teach to see if you enjoy teaching. Speak to professors about how they pursued their faculty positions, what they like and what they don't like about their work. Teaching at a college or law school level as a full time professor may mean that you will be required to research and publish writings. Would that interest you?
Good luck as you find ways to assess what best suits you.
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Kim’s Answer
Hi Katelyn!
What an interesting question!
Many law professors are lawyers. Are you wanting to teach law in a law school, undergrad, or what?
As to consulting, while it is possible to go straight into consulting from college, especially if you work for a consulting company, to be an independent consultant, it usually requires that you have some real world experience. This builds up your resume and gives you credibility. Also, I am not sure what you have in mind when you say "legal consultant." Again, that sounds like something that is best approached with a solid legal education.
What is it about law that appeals to you? Law, teaching, and consulting are all interesting possibilities. It is not something you have to narrow down right now. Explore them all, and see what options there are that appeal to you!
What an interesting question!
Many law professors are lawyers. Are you wanting to teach law in a law school, undergrad, or what?
As to consulting, while it is possible to go straight into consulting from college, especially if you work for a consulting company, to be an independent consultant, it usually requires that you have some real world experience. This builds up your resume and gives you credibility. Also, I am not sure what you have in mind when you say "legal consultant." Again, that sounds like something that is best approached with a solid legal education.
What is it about law that appeals to you? Law, teaching, and consulting are all interesting possibilities. It is not something you have to narrow down right now. Explore them all, and see what options there are that appeal to you!