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Law Librarianship Education & Careers

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 Outreach Committee to help you understand the career opportunities available in law libraries.

Law Librarianship as a Career

  • American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Law Library Careers website
  • 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)
  • Information about law librarianship
  • 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 scholarships for area library students interested in a career in law librarianship. See the Grants and Scholarships page for more information.

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. LLAGNY's Outreach Committee posts internship opportunities submitted by members on the Internship Listings webpage.

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 Outreach 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. These are generally offered in March and April; check our Calendar of Events for more information.
  • Join LLAGNY & other professional associations. Student membership to LLAGNY is free, so there is no excuse not to join if you are an eligible student and have interest in the profession. The current student rate for AALL is $67.00
  • Use your library school's preferred communication channels to hear about area events open to students.
  • Consider joining the Law-Lib listserv, to see what law librarians across the US are talking about.

Get Involved

Volunteer with LLAGNY and meet other librarians in the profession.