One misconception students may have about being a law professor is that we are trying to make the class harder than it needs to be. The reality based on my experience is that we remember what it was like to be a student ourselves and we have great empathy for how difficult law school can be. What we are doing is preparing you for the Bar exam and preparing you for doing the work of being an attorney. The day-to-day work of being an attorney requires resilience, patience, and determination. When I ask my students to "dig deeper" it is because I know they are capable of more than they could ever imagine.
Unveiling the True Role of a Law Professor of Being More Than Just a Lecturer One common misconception I encountered as a law student was that being a law professor primarily involved lecturing in front of a classroom and grading papers, with little engagement beyond that. In reality, my experience revealed that law professors are deeply involved in research, mentoring students, and contributing to the development of the legal field. I remember attending a guest lecture by a professor who was not only an expert in contract law but also actively published articles and engaged in legal reform discussions. It became clear that their role was not just about imparting knowledge but also about shaping the future of law through scholarly work and student engagement. I realized that professors often spend countless hours outside of class preparing for lectures, meeting with students one-on-one to discuss career paths, and collaborating on research projects. This multifaceted role requires passion and dedication, and it significantly impacts how students view the law and its applications. The reality is that being a law professor is a dynamic and rewarding career that combines teaching, scholarship, and mentorship, making it far more than just a classroom job.
Most students mistakenly assume that law professors know definitively what they're talking about. The truth is that law is inexact and subject to political leanings, personal biases, and personal values. It's why judicial decisions are so often called opinions. The reality is that most of the legal world is subject to interpretation. As a favorite professor of my own used to quip: "There are two correct answers in law 'it depends' and 'judicial economy.'" The former "correct answer" is nearly always in play.