We all knew that law libraries were shrinking. No one suspected that they would be totally “done in” by a virus. Law libraries have been “going digital” for at least 20 years, but few firms tossed out their last “pocket part” update. But as firms plan their post-pandemic re-openings, retaining a collection of shared books is frankly a biohazard. Should librarians develop systems for sanitizing and quarantining books? In today’s digital world -– is it even worth the trouble?
Does anyone really want to take on the backlog of updating books that are nine months out of date next January when lawyers begin returning to offices?
For the past two decades, many law librarians have been assessing products and developing in-house solutions to support virtual library resources.
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There is no universal solution . The law firms which have the foresight to invest in strategic information professionals are most likely to have had substantial digital libraries in place last March when COVID-19 brought the world to a screeching halt. Many firms are running parallel digital and print libraries because they are supporting both the last of the “baby boomer partners” and the “born digital” generation of lawyers. COVID-19 has been an unprecedented tipping point which exposes the importance of completing or starting a digital library transition plan.
Cost savings and re-engineering workflow. COVID-19 created a virtual force overnight. Will have a laser focus on future real estate savings which will include reduction of library space? The reduction/elimination of print resources also reduces costs associated with the maintenance and upkeep of print (loose-leaf filing, serials check in, routing, labeling and maintenance of print).
Raymond W. Fox Law Library — Kalamazoo Public Library
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Climbing the value ladder . The implementation of a digital library eliminates a host of necessary but lower-value administrative activities. This transition increases the time and attention which information professionals have available to focus on higher value and transformative technologies and projects, including knowledge management, AI, and analytics.
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The digital library is a journey not a destination. Products and practice needs will continue to evolve. The role of the law librarian/information strategist will be to continually reassess the balance of resources, capture and analyze the ROI of digital products, and work with the practice groups to assure that they have the right mix of desktop resources to optimize client support. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing firms to fast forward into designing the law firm of the future. A critical piece of that mosaic will be digital library customized for the resilient law firm.
Jean O’Grady is a knowledge strategist/librarian/lawyer with over 30 years’ experience leading the transformation of research and knowledge services in Am Law 100 law firms. She is the author of the Dewey B Strategic blog, which monitors the evolving landscape of technologies and companies that are transforming the business and practice of law.This website does not fully support Internet Explorer. For a better experience, please consider using a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
When a paralegal has a question about a tricky case or a law clerk to a Supreme Court Justice needs help with legal research, they can both turn to a law librarian for assistance. This interdisciplinary field rests at the intersection of law and information science.
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Some law librarians choose this career path after working in law, such as in the paralegal profession. Ordinary librarians attracted to legal research also find this career appealing. Regardless of your background, if you have keen legal research skills and an eye for detail, you might consider pursuing a career as a law librarian.
Law librarians have a sedentary office job. Some law librarians interact primarily with colleagues, while others hold positions that require interaction with the public, legal staff, law students and others. A wide variety of organizations may hire law librarians, including the following.
Law librarians are custodians of information. They are responsible for managing materials, organizing and reviewing them, providing information and managing new materials. Law librarians may train lawyers, staff and students on best practices in legal research, including how to use specific digital tools such as online court dockets. Law librarians may also have any of the following responsibilities:
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The daily of a law librarian can vary depending on where he or she works. Librarians who work at law school libraries may deliver legal reference services to faculty and students, train lawyers and students on legal research, represent the law library in committee meetings and support student research education. Alternatively, law librarians who work for private law firms may have more varied responsibilities, such as the following:
If spending a day searching online court dockets and databases while fielding questions from students, law professors or attorneys sounds appealing to you, you may have what it takes to be an effective law librarian. These professionals are highly organized and detail-oriented researchers. It is not sufficient find the answer to a legal research question. Law librarians must communicate clearly through spoken or written language.
If you are interested in a law career, consider enrolling Grand Canyon University’s Master of Science in Criminal justice with an Emphasis in Legal Studies degree program. Whether you are interested in a career transition or you want to ascend in your current field, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences can provide you with the academic foundation you need for your goals. Visit our website or click on the Request More Information button on this page to learn more about our programs.
Mckusick Law Library
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
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How To Become an FBI Agent The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is tasked with keeping the country safe and upholding the United States Constitution. This is no small feat, given that communities across the nation are... Posted onApril 24, 2023I’ve said it before: if you detest studying in the library at your law school, don’t do it! It’s not required to do well on your exams. You should study wherever you feel the most comfortable, focused, and productive. That said, though, did you know that law libraries often house some fantastic resources that many law students never take advantage of? If you’re just starting out exploring your law library, or want to get more out of navigating the library you know and love, here are some resources to check out.
As we’ve mentioned before, bar review materials can be a great way to study for your 1L doctrinal courses like Torts and Civil Procedure. They can also be really helpful for 2Ls and 3Ls taking classes like Evidence and Corporations. If you’re enrolled in a class that is also on the bar exam, consider checking out bar review books and multiple choice questions. These are usually on reserve in the library.
Since studying for the bar involves cramming your head full of copious amounts of black letter law in a short period time, the good news is that bar review books aim to be simple and straightforward. They are a nice place to look for the big picture outline of how the topics you’re learning about in your course fit together, and they explain the law in a way that many students actually find easier to grasp than supplements and hornbooks. One caveat here, is to make sure you’re sticking to the subjects on your syllabus. And, as always, if you have questions about your professor’s own interpretations of the law, or what will be on your exam, ask!
New Lawyers In The Library Clinic Debuts In December 2019
Thankfully, more and more law schools now have online databases of past exams that you can sort through to look for practice hypos. If you’re having trouble finding practice problems, though, check your library. Practicing early and often is necessary to ensure that you understand the material you’re learning. Look for past exams that your professor has written since these will likely be the closest approximation to what you might see on your final exam.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell which supplement will work the best for your course or Professor. If you want to try out several options before committing to any one of them,
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