With the hiring conference just around the corner (stock up on energy drinks and energy bars everyone!), I thought it might be worth thinking about one of the most basic questions for aspiring entry level profs, and even for some of us more seasoned academics. Why do you want to be a law professor?
Obviously different folks have different reasons for going into academic law. Some love teaching, some love writing, some love both. Then there's the flexible hours, the ability to shape students' lives, the ability to captain your own ship in terms of your research focus etc.
Have the reasons changed over time? What inspires folks to enter academia today, and has it changed over the last 10-20 years?
All of the above.