In a social media post, Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola) criticized Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for supplementing his nearly $150,000 yearly salary with a lucrative $100,000 gig as an adjunct law professor at the University of Florida (UF). The gig requires that he teach for two hours a week.
"The unelected AG, @JamesUthmeierFL, says his overpaid, taxpayer-funded side gig is justified because his $150,000 salary as AG simply "isn't enough to keep the lights on." What world is he living in?" Andrade wrote.
The Miami Herald first reported on his big-time gig. Uthmeier makes around $140K as attorney general, bringing his total pay to $240K.
Uthmeier, who has been the attorney general since February 2025, explained the high-end money while speaking recently with Dara Kam on the “Between the Lines with Dara Kam” podcast.
"I think the reports out there tend to have an angle and an agenda. They certainly don't always highlight all the facts," Uthmeier said. "I'm not a guest lecturer. I'm not just coming in, doing a lecture, and leaving. I'm on the part-time faculty."
An adjunct law salary for one semester is typically $3-5K for one class.
"I'm also part of the law and government institute where I advise, mentor students, help with career placement and advancement, do some other lectures on campus. Currently, I'm doing two classes this year. We'll see if I'm able to juggle everything. We'll see if I expand on that going forward," Uthmeier continued.
Uthmeier attended UF as an undergrad. He later became general counsel and chief of staff under Gov. Ron DeSantis before becoming attorney general.
Uthmeier indicated to Kam that he was leaning toward teaching full-time before the AG job "came by surprise" last year.
"I was honored that UF was still willing to take me on part-time. It is very time-consuming. I take it very seriously. I love the students, and [being] very accessible to them," Uthmeier said.
Uthmeier iterated that the $100k pay is "not that crazy" when compared to law professor salaries across the country. He also called his pay cut from chief of staff to attorney general "significant."
"It was a 60, 70 thousand dollar cut. Other cabinet members now, and historically, they have other business and independent wealth. They're developers or whatever else they are," Uthmeier said.
Moreover, Uthmeier said the extra income was necessary to "keep the lights on."
"I've been a public servant since I was a young lawyer, and when you have a growing family and three kids, you got to look for other ways to keep the lights on and keep food on the table," Uthmeier said.
He justified the pay with the salaries of first-year lawyers and judges in the state. According to one report, first-year lawyers make over $200,000 per year.
"I don't think it's in any way out of the ordinary. I turned down multi-million dollar offers to leave government and go into the private sector, because I care very much about service and what we're doing to fight for the free state of Florida," Uthmeier concluded.
