next »

[sangredeltoro]

I've been told that having a JD will only be considered for Paralegal and PoliSci positions at CCs.  However, I am currently attempting to leverage my JD with my corporate instructing experience for a couple of Speech Communications instructor positions.

Is this a battle I have no way of winning?

And yes, I am trying to work my way out of the private sector to become an academic. 

[zharkov]

I would add Business Law and Criminal Justice to the fields that you could teach in.

In many state systems, you need 18 hours of grad credits to teach in a discipline as a full timers.  So you'd need grad work in communications, for example, to be generally consider for full time positions.

[antiphon1]

Do you have 18 hours of graduate credit in communications?  If not, you will probably not be considered for the position.  It's an accreditation issue.  However, if you are willing to commit to taking the 18 hours, the CC might be willing to hire you with a contractual obligation to finish the courses within a certain time period.

[postmodern]

I am not in your field, so can't speak specifically about your predicament. However, I do know a JD who is tenured at a CC. This person teaches polysci and communications courses.

[herr_prof]

My understanding is that in the California CC system, a JD with an undergraduate major or minor in the discipline meets minimum qualifications.  That's the only state where I've ever heard of this.  I'm in a state-run CC system (not in California), and we've had some adjuncts with JDs hired for Political Science and Mass Communications on an emergency basis, but as our state tightens its licensing/credentialing requirements, that possibility will eventually go away.

[betterslac]

Ah, another "I have a JD and bit of practical experience in x -- where's my academic job?"

A JD with no further graduate education qualifies you to teach law in law school and maybe adjunct an undergraduate course in criminal or constitutional law-- nothing else.

[prytania3]

Why in the world would you be qualified to teach speech? I like to argue. Does that mean I can teach law?

[vprof]

Why in the world would you be qualified to teach speech? I like to argue. Does that mean I can teach law?

It means you can be good at business law. Wait a minute. Is that why you are taking the accounting classes in your college?

[untenured]

Ah, another "I have a JD and bit of practical experience in x -- where's my academic job?"

A JD with no further graduate education qualifies you to teach law in law school and maybe adjunct an undergraduate course in criminal or constitutional law-- nothing else.

This is not true.  JDs have successfully taught full-time in the following, in decreasing frequency:

- law school
- business law at a business school
- paralegal courses in a paralegal program
- criminal law in a criminal justice program
- constitutional law courses in a political science department
- real estate law in real estate (finance) program
- health law and policy in a masters of public health program

A JD qualifies you for well paying jobs in academia.  Publications will set you apart from the pack, as well as a pedigree law school degree.

Whoever told you that "having a JD will only be considered for Paralegal and PoliSci positions at CCs" should be ignored from here on.

As for viability in teaching speech communications, I have no idea.

Good luck,

Untenured

[prytania3]

Why in the world would you be qualified to teach speech? I like to argue. Does that mean I can teach law?

It means you can be good at business law. Wait a minute. Is that why you are taking the accounting classes in your college?

Noooo. I want to take the CPA exam. I do have to take business law though.

[sangredeltoro]

Why in the world would you be qualified to teach speech? I like to argue. Does that mean I can teach law?

Good question!

In law school, my curriculum included extensive speech and debate-related work, along the lines of trial and appellate advocacy, and negotiations.  Further, with past experiences in speech teams and coaching/tutoring college students in speech communications, I thought that I would have a strong argument for pursuing that discipline.

As someone else noted, I still need to address the possibility of the 18 credits requirement in the chosen discipline.  That is something I am more than happy to do.

I think that I will need to shore up my academic work to have the best chance to pursue this.

Many thanks for everyone's observations and suggestions!

[betterslac]

Ah, another "I have a JD and bit of practical experience in x -- where's my academic job?"

A JD with no further graduate education qualifies you to teach law in law school and maybe adjunct an undergraduate course in criminal or constitutional law-- nothing else.

This is not true.  JDs have successfully taught full-time in the following, in decreasing frequency:

- law school
- business law at a business school
- paralegal courses in a paralegal program
- criminal law in a criminal justice program
- constitutional law courses in a political science department
- real estate law in real estate (finance) program
- health law and policy in a masters of public health program

A JD qualifies you for well paying jobs in academia.  Publications will set you apart from the pack, as well as a pedigree law school degree.

Whoever told you that "having a JD will only be considered for Paralegal and PoliSci positions at CCs" should be ignored from here on.

As for viability in teaching speech communications, I have no idea.

Good luck,

Untenured

While it may have been true in the past, you will not now be able to teach constituional law full time in a political science department with a JD because:

1) For the vast majority of departments, one person cannot devote their teaching duties only to constitutional law. Con Law is at best a 3 course sequence.  Faculty who take on that responsibility also have to tackle other subfields, usually American, and this takes extensive coursework outside of law school. Even then one is not teaching con law "full-time".
2) For those very large, research instensive institutions where there is one, dedicated con law person, a JD alone will not be sufficient. One would have to be very familiar with the political science literature on both con law and possibly judicial politics. A JD helps, but a political science Ph.D. is also usually required.

As for political science positions being "well-paying," well, enough said there.

[untenured]

While it may have been true in the past, you will not now be able to teach constituional law full time in a political science department with a JD because:

*snip*

That's why I listed the con law option fifth of seven in order of frequency.

Untenured