After teaching linguistics at Wheaton College (1958–1964) and Michigan State University (1964–1967), Shuy accepted a position at the Center for Applied Linguistics in Washington, D.C., as head of its newly created program for studying urban language.
[3][5][6] During his 30 years at Georgetown, Shuy helped create two new organizations, New Ways of Analyzing Variation and the American Association of Applied Linguistics, where he was its second president and was later given the award of Distinguished Scholarship and Service.
[6][7][8] While at Georgetown, he also began a new phase of work on criminal and civil cases as a consultant and expert witness.
[2][6] Shuy first testified as a linguistics expert for the defendant in Texas v. T. Cullen Davis.
After Shuy retired from teaching, he made his home among the mountains and rivers of Montana, where he continues to consult on law cases.