New York Lawyer
August 6, 2002

Q:
I am debating whether to pursue a law librarian career, but I do not know what kind of personality traits are a good fit for a law librarian.

What are the upsides and downsides of being a law librarian?

Submit Your Question

Find More Answers

A:

I don't know. But I talked with someone who really does, Connie Smith, Head Librarian at the Philadelphia office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. She paints quite a different picture from the traditional Dewey-decimal librarian with a bun in her hair shussing people in a huge book-filled room.

"The library as a physical space is going away," Connie says. "While there always will be a respository for books (because research shows there are differences between how much someone will read and download from a computer screeen versus how much they will read in a book), we really are pushing knowledge down to lawyers' desktops. Our role is about managing knowledge -- and managing the technology that manages knowledge. It's not about shelving books."

There is a division of labor -- and personality -- in most sophisticated law libraries. There are those who conduct research themselves and/or teach lawyers how to perform effective research, and there are more management or organization-oriented people who oversee the library and research function. Connie had always been interested in library science, in systematically organizing and accessing knowledge. But after earlier roles in academe and not-for-profit organizations, she loves the strategic and tactical aspects of large-firm library management. "I like making things work," she says, and that includes overseeing the financial, technology and personnel demands of a sophisticated, state-of-the-art system. "In the Philadelphia office, we have two MLS-degreed librarians, three BA or BS paraprofessionals researchers, plus seven other support staff, plus someone to run it all -- me. It's a real team, and everyone must collaborate to make it work; this is not the place for a loner."

"I love this job. Unlike my earlier job in academe, where I was treated simply as a go-to technical resource, here I really feel part of a team. I am not a lawyer by training, but I am essential to the lawyers -- and they know that. I think my judgment and my planning are respected. What's more, every day is different and varied. It's not the same old thing, day after day. We are constantly responding to variety of challenges, and we make contributions that go way beyond just finding relevant case law for associates' research assignments. Today's law library function is complex, sophisticated and very technology intensive. I serve on two IS committees. We are instrumental in web development. Our skills are used to support firm marketing and client development. We really are at the center of things, and that's exciting."

Connie says the most constant challenge is to keep pace with technology. "We have to stay current even as technology, systems, software and whole approaches to organizing legal information evolve constantly. We really can't plan out longer than about two years, because information management may move in directions we can't foresee today.

"This is also probably the greatest strain on law librarians. By nature, librarians are people who need and like order. We organize things. But the information management world is disorganized and chaotic; it frequently runs against our orderly grain. Today, a successful legal librarian must be flexible, adaptable and be a 'quick study.' He or she really must be comfortable with technology, seeing it as a boon and not an annoyance. It's not a field for someone to consider simply because they love books."

According to the American Association of Law Libraries (AALLnet.org), only about 30 percent of law librarians presently have a JD degree, although about 85% have an advanced degree, most frequently a Masters of Library Science (MLS). The field presently has considerably more females than males, although more males, especially those with technical credentials or those with joint or dual JD and MLS credentials are entering the field.

While earning potential is less than that of practicing attorneys, one can make a good living as a law librarian. In New York, entry-level positions in the $40,000-$60,000 are not unusual (particularly in larger firms), and head librarian positions in New York and DC may approach or top six figures. In other cities, compensation is somewhat lower, but still a solid basis for a progressive career path.

In one sense, law librarians are like the lawyers with whom the work: they are knowledge-based technical experts who have self-selected into a specialty. Given the profession's insatiable need for current, well-organized and accessible information, the law librarian's career path is likely to be stable, regardless of thestate of the economy. It's one of the beauties of being indispensable.

Thanks, Connie.

Sincerely,
Douglas B. Richardson
President, The Richardson Group