AALL Centennial Celebration Toolkit:
Paths Through the Profession
Not all law librarians grow up saying I want to be a law librarian. The path to law librarianship is different for all of us. Some come to the profession from other library positions, joining to careers, life changes: moving, corporate or university structure changes, new opportunities, by chance it was the job one had while working and/or going to library school, and others enter the field due to a mother's suggestion.
Here are a few of the paths taken:
A lawyer after practicing for several years, (few or many) decides to return to school for a Masters in Library Science.
Consolidation of libraries at university or corporations opens a position in the law library.
Many law librarians (particularly in the Washington, D.C. metro area), start working for law firm in the library either while pursuing a masters or then decide to take the plunge, and get an masters.
Others moving has prompted the change, leaving a job in public library and taking one in law firm library in the new city.
New careers, after successful career in another profession, they select law librarianship is a new life path.
In some instances a twist of fate, a fall resulting in broken ribs, and a mother's suggestion made a law librarian.
Law Librarians come from all backgrounds, all walks of life, each has different story to tell. The path to law librarianship is not a direct route, but sometimes filled with twists and turns. Augustine Birrell said "Libraries are not made, they grow." I say, "librarians are not made, they grow." Find your local AALL chapter or law library and ask the librarians what path they took to law librarianship.