Actually, that's not really true. Just like anywhere in academia, where you got your degree and where you've published matters. Academia is as snooty as biglaw in that respect. At anywhere (except apparently your particular school) an adjunct with a JD from Harvard Law with a note published in HLR and another piece here or there published elsewhere will trump your average PhD from Sam Houston State. It depends on the subject matter and what you're publishing in as well. If you're publishing on law & economics, particular industries, ethics, etc. you could find yourself teaching in broader subject areas than just Poli Sci classes in "The First Amendment" or "The Judiciary System." A J.D. from an elite school is a perfectly acceptable path to academia. A J.D. from average state school is a perfectly acceptable path to being a lawyer; the path to academia from there is much more narrow.