Christopher Mallon’s work as a private law tutor has taken him to places throughout the world. He has worked in the US, Canada, Dubai, Bahrain, many parts of Europe and the UK where he is based. One particularly interesting journey brought him to Doha for a substantial sum.
A graduate of a top Law School in the UK, Christopher, 36, works with law students studying UK law. He worked as a law lecturer in some of the top UK Law Schools but decided that this environment was not for him. He has now been privately tutoring law for three years. His clients are generally wealthy, and the majority of his tutees are international students. The growth of the distance learning model also means that he helps online.
“The best thing about this job is seeing the student develop. Of course, the money is fantastic. However, the main driver in this job is seeing your personal effort in helping someone develop and progress” he says.
Source: SA Study
A boom in the market
The market for law tutoring, and tutoring generally, is exploding. The traditional leaching models are giving way to more novel methods of learning. As a result, the top end of the market has created highly paid tutors who have been dubbed ‘super tutors.’
Law is becoming an increasingly popular subject. That is the case all around the world. Law is a fantastic degree for students to attain. It is transferable in that it can be used for many careers. The legal education industry is growing. Universities and private providers are providing a growing number of qualifications including the LLB, JD, LLM, and the BA.
Tutoring is not for everyone. A successful tutor of law students needs several important skills.
Source: insiderguides.com.au
Skills
“The main skill needed is the ability to explain difficult concepts in an easy an accessible way,” says Christopher. He adds “it is important that students get the foundation first and then you can build on the extras.”
The super tutor also needs to understand that their job is a vocation. Therefore, they need to be flexible. This means travelling when needed and answering calls and emails when required. Students may need help at the last minute. A tutor needs to be alert to this and make sure they are available.
Christopher’ next assignment brings him to Athens in Greece where he Is helping a student for exams next month. “It might seems a strange career for some. But the world is getting smaller. And the appetite for studying law is getting greater. I wouldn’t change my career choice at all. I love it. I could never go back to conventional legal education. I enjoy my job too much!”
For some readers, the rise of this industry might be problematic. The rates charged are extremely high. However, focusing on the rate of pay is the wrong approach, according to Christopher. “I get that complaint quite a lot. However, it is important to focus on the outcome and not the time spent. If I have a student who wants to get a high grade in two weeks, and I can do that for them, then I should charge a premium. They get the outcome they paid for. That does not depend on time only. I deal with outcomes and goals. I ensure students achieve those goals.”
