I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. after completing my LL.M. in Corporate Law, with the long-term goal of building a career in legal academia. Teaching and research have always been my primary interests, and I hope to work as a law faculty member in the future.
However, I have not yet qualified the UGC NET examination, which I understand is an important qualification for many academic positions. At the same time, I am looking for stable employment to support myself financially while continuing my academic journey. This has left me uncertain about the opportunities currently available to me and the best way to balance my long-term academic aspirations with my immediate career needs.
Which opportunities, skills, or experiences should I prioritize in the short and medium term to improve my employability while continuing to work towards a career in legal academia?
A Ph.D. takes significant time and effort to complete. My advice would be to pursue any post in legal academia that you can get without UGC-NET. You might enter the profession as a teaching assistant or a research assistant. You need work experience right now. Simultaneously, keep preparing and appearing in UGC-NET, until you qualify for the post of Assistant Professor.
In the meantime, if you are unable to join any University, you can consider joining any reputed thinktank in a research position. Alternatively, you could practice in Courts. I would advise you to become proficient in CPC. There are very few members in the legal academia who can teach CPC.
So far as skills are concerned, please develop and keep improving: 1. Speaking Skills, 2. Research Skills, 3. Subject Matter Expertise, 4. Empathy (for your students in particular and for the rest of the world in general), 5. Writing Skills (Making question papers, publishing original research and creating study material), Honesty (If you don’t know the answer posed by any particular student, accept it – read/research and get back to the student the next day) and Neutrality (One has to be a teacher within the classroom without any bias in favour of or against anyone) and 7. Perseverance (Keep trying and never give up no matter how dire the circumstances or professional hazards may be).
Finally, I would like to recommend two books for you:
- What the Best Law Teachers Do.
- McKeachie’s Teaching Tips.
Best of Luck!