Education & Careers In Law Librarianship
Overview
Law
librarianship is a multifaceted career with opportunities in law firms,
government agencies, courts, corporations, non-profit organizations,
and academic institutions. Following are links to resources compiled by
the LLAGNY Student Relations Committee to help you understand the
career opportunities available in law libraries.
Law Librarianship as a Career
- A Day in the Life: Career Options in Library & Information Science.
Published in 2007 this book by Priscilla Shontz's and Richard Murray
provides personal descriptions of law librarians and their careers.
Particularly relevant chapters are:
- Chapter 48: Director of Library Services, Law Firm (by Kelly Devlin)
- Chapter 49: Law Librarian, Private Law Firm (by Katherine Coolidge)
- Articles with additional ‘day in the life’ narratives of law librarians: "http://www.aallnet.org/committee/rllc/rc-lawlibrarian/index.asp"
- Articles and sites about law librarianship: "http://www.aallnet.org/committee/rllc/rc-links.asp"
- Interested in working in a Federal library? Watch this video from
the 2007 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC. This program featured
speakers from a variety of federal libraries (not all are law
libraries) talking about how to get a job, the kind of work one can
expect, the different types of federal libraries that are out there,
how to make your way through the application process, and more.
Education
Scholarships
Each year LLAGNY provides two scholarships for area library students interested in a career in law librarianship: http://www.aallnet.org/chapter/llagny/2008LLAGNY_scholarshipapp.pdf Internships
Interning in a law library can give you the experience you need to
better obtain a professional position. Gain hands-on experience using
print & online resources, network with professional law librarians,
take part in technical services processes and apply the skills you
learn in library school.
Jobs
There are many positions in law libraries, and not all require an MLS degree. Check out current job listings at:
Networking
Network. Network! Network!! Networking opportunities are all around you.
- Talk to your classmates and speak with your professors. Take time
to meet and speak with as many of the professors in your school’s
program as you can. A 20-minute conversation outside the classroom
about career paths and choices can be informative.
- Consider attending the LLAGNY Student Relations Committee annual spring programs
for area library students: Intro to Lexis for Law Librarians, Intro to
Westlaw for Law Librarians and Student Breakfast and Law Library Tours.
- Join LLAGNY & other professional associations. Eligible students can join at the student rate of $15.
- Sign up on your library school listerv to hear about area events open to students.
- Consider joining additional listservs like Law-Lib, or one of the many AALL Special Interest Section listservs, to see what law librarians across the US are talking about
Get Involved
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