Navigating an Academic Career: Essential Insights for Aspiring Legal Scholars
Based on statistics published by the Ghana Bar Association, there are currently 7,386 active lawyers dispersed across various regions of Ghana. While there are periodic discussions regarding the lawyer-to-population ratio and the imperative to train more lawyers to enhance access to justice, the role of law lecturers and how their circumstances can be enhanced to contribute to this goal seems to be somewhat overlooked. Despite being acknowledged as crucial to the future of the legal profession, legal academia remains shrouded in some mystery.
Abenaa Agyekum Esq., a strategic in-house counsel in the extractive industry, shares her interaction with Enam Antonio, a law lecturer at the GIMPA Law Faculty, on her experience in academia.
We also welcome other law lecturers to share their experiences and paths into academia. Hearing from them will provide more valuable insights into this essential aspect of legal education, helping us to gain a deeper understanding of this area.
Part 1: Essentially, what do law lecturers do?
Teaching: Law lecturers conduct lectures, seminars, and tutorials for undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing degrees in law. They cover various legal subjects such as constitutional law, environmental law, criminal law, contract law, international law etc.
Course Development: Law lecturers design and develop course materials, including syllabi, reading lists, story problems, and assignments, to facilitate student learning and meet curriculum requirements.
Research: Law lecturers conduct legal research on diverse topics within their areas of expertise. This research may result in publications in academic journals, books, or other scholarly publications.
Supervision: Lecturers supervise research projects, dissertations, and theses undertaken by graduate students, providing guidance and feedback throughout the research process.
Legal Clinics and Moot Courts: Some law lecturers may oversee legal clinics or practical training programs where students gain hands-on experience by providing legal assistance to clients under supervision. They also help to prepare student-led teams to participate in moot court competitions.
Professional Development: Law lecturers engage in continuous professional development activities to stay abreast of developments in their field. They attend conferences, workshops, and training sessions and participate in scholarly exchanges.
Part 2: Enam answered a few more questions. Find it reproduced below:
Q. Let’s start with the basics – what academic qualifications are essential for pursuing a career in legal academia? Apparently, it’s not a first-class?!
Answer: Well, it’s definitely a plus if you graduate with first-class honors. But to embark on a successful journey in legal academia, acquiring a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws (JD/LLB) or equivalent law degree is foundational. You would need at least a Master of Laws (LLM) from a reputable institution. Some universities only hire applicants with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Law. Having a Ph.D can significantly enhance one's credentials and expertise in a specialized area of legal study, which makes one better qualified to be in academia. It’s fair to say that even if you enter academia with only an LLM, you will have to make plans to enrol in a doctoral programme if you plan on building a career in academia. Some people might decide to begin as an adjunct lecturer until they are sure about their next steps.
Q. It is well settled that transactional and dispute resolution lawyers can use their transferable skills to cross into other spaces. What transferable skills can individuals cultivate while pursuing a career in legal academia?
Answer: Legal academia builds expertise in substantive legal knowledge and also hones a diverse set of transferable skills crucial in various professional domains. These include proficient research and analytical capabilities, effective communication skills for presenting complex legal concepts, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the ability to navigate interdisciplinary intersections within legal scholarship.
Q. It has been suggested that certain personality traits endear people towards certain areas of practice. What personality traits are conducive to thriving in the field of legal academia?
Answer: Thriving in legal academia requires a blend of intellectual curiosity, a willingness to engage with students and other faculty members, resilience, and a passion for scholarly inquiry. Individuals who have a keen interest in exploring multifaceted legal issues, coupled with a dedication to rigorous research and intellectual discourse, tend to excel. You need to be adaptable and open to diverse perspectives. Most importantly, a commitment to lifelong learning helps keep you abreast of the dynamic nature of academia.
Q. Transactional lawyers are drowning in their emails, disputes lawyers in their briefs and we are all searching for balance. How can aspiring legal scholars effectively balance teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities in academia?
Answer: Balancing the triad of teaching, research, and administrative duties is the cornerstone of a successful academic career. This can be daunting at certain times in the academic year (most academics do not look forward to “marking season”!) when you have to meet several deadlines in quick succession (for example, handing in your marked exam scripts and grades while working on a research paper for submission to a journal). Developing efficient time management strategies, prioritizing tasks based on their significance and deadlines, and fostering collaboration with colleagues can help mitigate the challenges of multitasking. Embracing a growth mindset and seeking mentorship from seasoned academics can also provide invaluable guidance in navigating the challenges of academia.
Q. What does progress look like? What avenues for professional development and advancement exist within the realm of legal academia?
Answer:
Legal academia offers lots of opportunities for professional growth and advancement. Engaging in scholarly publications, participating in academic conferences, and securing research grants contribute to building a robust academic portfolio. Additionally, seeking leadership roles within academic institutions, such as department chairs or program directors, as well as deanship, can enhance one's visibility and influence within the scholarly community.
Enam joined the GIMPA Law Faculty (GIMPA Law) as one of its youngest academics. At GIMPA Law, she teaches legal writing and research, as well as public international law. Enam is particularly passionate about clinical legal education and has actively coached numerous students to participate in various international moot court competitions.
Enam integrates her background in climate change law with interdisciplinary studies and environmental policy. Her primary research focus lies in climate change adaptation and loss and damage in Africa. Enam explores innovative approaches to addressing the climate crisis on the continent, including third-world approaches to international (environmental) law, degrowth/post-growth strategies, and the intersection of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles with climate resilience.