Lee Skeel immediately began practicing law upon his graduation from Cleveland Law School in 1912, but his practice was interrupted by a period of service with the 322nd Machine Gun Battalion in France during World War I. Upon his return, he served successively as chief police prosecutor of the City of Cleveland, Judge of the Municipal Court of Cleveland, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County and Judge of the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals. He taught at Cleveland-Marshall Law School and its predecessor, Cleveland Law School, beginning in 1926. Skeel served as dean of Cleveland Law School for nearly a decade before taking on the role of president for almost 20 years after the school merged. Following his tenure as president, he served as chief administrative officer and as a trustee for several more years prior to his death. Skeel authored, edited and revised several volumes on criminal and appellate law.