An academic teaching and researching constitutional law at a law school — covering Supreme Court doctrine, federal structure, individual rights, and the foundational legal framework that shapes American government. Tenure-track or visiting faculty at JD-granting institutions.
Most days tend to balance teaching constitutional law courses (often 1L Con Law plus upper-level offerings), legal research and writing for law journals, student advising, and the service obligations that come with law faculty appointments. You'll often prepare for Socratic-method classes, write articles or books on constitutional doctrine, comment on emerging cases, and participate in law school committee work. The semester rhythm shapes the calendar.
The variance between institutions is significant — elite law schools expect high-volume publication in top-tier law reviews and lighter teaching loads; regional law schools emphasize teaching outcomes and bar passage; teaching-focused schools and adjunct positions trade research expectation for student-centered work. Public speaking and media engagement are increasingly common for con law professors as constitutional issues hit news cycles.
People who tend to thrive here are comfortable with the dual identity of teacher and scholar, intellectually rigorous about doctrine and theory, and patient with the slow pace of academic legal writing. JD plus elite credentials (clerkships, top publications) anchor tenure-track entry. The work tends to offer academic freedom and intellectual community, with the trade-off being modest pay relative to law firm partners and the pressure of tenure or publication expectations — for those committed to legal academia, the role shapes a long-arc career.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
An academic teaching and researching constitutional law at a law school — covering Supreme Court doctrine, federal structure, individual rights, and the foundational legal framework that shapes American government. Tenure-track or visiting faculty at JD-granting institutions.
Median pay for a Constitutional Law Professor is about $127K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $58K to $208K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Speaking, Active Listening, Learning Strategies, Reading Comprehension, and Instructing.
Most people in this role hold a doctoral degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 2.2% through 2034, with roughly 22,800 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Law Lecturer, Law Professor, and Law Instructor.
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