Korean Job Discussion Forums

[joe tetrick]

I am a lawyer in Washington State and am looking for a university position or private school that is catering to Koreans interested in becoming proficient in legal english and business english. All of the offers i am getting are for elementary, etc. where i think my skills would be wasted. Have any of you posters noticed a need or interest for the type of english skills that i can provide? Or is there little application for this type of teaching?

Thanks,
Joe T.

[Ya-ta Boy]

There is some call for Business English here. What may be of more interest to you, Korea is just changing it's type of law school to become more like that of the US. You might want to try contacting those schools directly and offering your services. How you would go about identifying those schools...maybe write to the Ministry of Justice???

[PRagic]

I have a friend here teaching English at university who also teaches a 'legal English' class and a business English class. If you apply directly to some of the bigger universities in Seoul, you might be able to teach in other related diciplines as well.

With a law degree, you might be able to get hired directly from the U.S. In general, though, univerisites tend to hire from in Korea as they want experienced teachers. This is not set in stone, though, so give it a shot. Keep on eye on the job postings on the Chronicle of Higher Education web site. The postings on Dave's are usually straight ESL positions, and generally not good ones at that.

[MarionG]

I have a JD and am finishing up a year in Korea, now applying to universities...a few have an interest in legal writing, business law and related courses, but not many I'm sorry to say.

[PRagic]

In most of the departments I've worked in, it has been tough for the Korean boss to wrap their head around a N. American lawyer wanting to teach English in South Korea. While the degree is good and the intentions are usually great, lawyers are left with little leverage. Why? University administrators think that if you want to be here, then you can't be 'there'.

One good thing to do is to sell yourself, your person, during an interview. Emphasize that you want a fulfilling career change, that you have teaching experience and love it, and that you love working in an academic environment.

I think that JDs make for fantastic writing teachers. To the best of my knowledge, law majors write more on a class-by-class basis than anyone save perhaps the journalism major. I'd suggest my department hire a J.D. in a heartbeat...if they'd come up with the budget!

[joe tetrick]

I really appreciate the input from everybody. I am facing the decision of going headfirst into a long career without much opportunity for travel, or traveling and teaching while running the risk of atrophy to my skill set. I have had an interview with Footprints recruiting and they were very nice, but were not very confident in being able to secure me a position at a university teaching my field. I will follow the suggestions that some of you have made and contact universities directly and the Ministry as well. Thanks again to everyone, and perhaps we'll meet overseas some time.

Joe T.

[legalquestions]

Hey Joe,

I practiced for ten years in the US, and did exactly what you're now doing. Stay positive and focused, thats my advice.

I came to Seoul in 1997 and started pounding the pavement, looking for a university job. It's all about timing and/or connections here (isn't it that way almost everywhere?).

I was hired, almost immediately, by a university who had had a no show hire. In addition, through teaching a private business English class, I met a young Korean lawyer, and she introduced me to one of her former professors, a judge who was then teaching at the government institute for new lawyers.

I began teaching there also (at the judge's invitation), while continuing to teach at the university, as well. Soon after that, I was hired to teach some intro American law classes for a group of Seoul judges who had been awarded scholarships to attend LLM school in the states. Next, I was asked to teach a group of military law G officers.

After three years, I went to the UAE and taught military law (and English)to air force pilots. Then on to Cambodia, where I taught business law (and English) at a university. Then on to Vietnam where I tutored Korean businessmen (and not a few lawyers).

Now I'm back in Korea teaching English at a university, and I've recently accepted a position teaching law in a Seoul law school, to begin in March.

I know of lawyers working for/teaching in the whole spectrum here - from kid's hagwons, the courts, universities, law schools, companies, and law firms. There are jobs to be had here.

My point, in all of this rambling, is that it can be done, if you are persistent. And, if you are exceptionall well qualified (I wasn't) and/or lucky, you may be able to line something up from the states (but don't count on it).

Last words of advice-google is your friend!

Best of luck in your search!

[joe tetrick]

Thanks legalquestions. that was awesome and encouraging. I will keep my eyes out.
joe t.

[Alexander]

I had been meaning to post something similar Joe, but wasn't interested in dealing with typical Dave's responses. I'm happy to have been proven wrong!

Great post, legalquestions. I have "practiced" for four years in AUS, three of which have been with the Courts. I worked out early on that busting my balls for partnership wasn't something I was interested in, and took the role with the Judge at that time.

I've just been signed up with EPIK and will be making the move in February. The plan is to finish a year with the program, and start looking for something that'll be more suitable to my skill set and experience. I'd be interested to hear more about court/ministry opportunities. If you're happy to share, feel free to PM me, as I'm unable to do so with my meagre post count.

Other than that, I take it that I should be networking my arse off during my first year!

[joe tetrick]

I am looking to start in Feb as well, looked into EPIK, but may be going with a university if my recruiter works for me. I plan on staying current with this site, so we'll be in touch as well.
Joe T

[Alexander]