His classmates included G. Stanley Hall, Hamilton Wright Mabie, Francis Lynde Stetson, and President of Hawaii Sanford B. Dole.
After graduating, he spent the next three years studying law in the office of Hughes & Northrup at Sandy Hill.
After he was admitted to the bar in 1870, he initially practiced law in Sandy Hill and, in 1871, unsuccessfully ran for district attorney of Washington County.
In 1890, he formed a partnership with William H. Hotchkiss, who studied law in his office and served as his clerk in court.
After Hotchkiss moved to Buffalo a year later, Teller created a partnership with Thomas M. Hunt, who also studied law in his office.