A law librarian is a librarian who specializes in the creation and management of legal reference collections, as well as assisting patrons in locating the information they require. Because there are various types of law or legal libraries, the work of a law librarian will differ depending on the context in which he or she works. Law firms, schools, and both private and public organizations are common places for legal librarians to work. These librarians are usually skilled in the use of various legal databases and are well-versed in legal terminology and procedures, allowing them to complete reference tasks and provide research assistance more efficiently.
Many organizations or libraries that focus on law or public policy hire a law librarian to manage their information resources and assist with necessary research and reference tasks because legal research is a complex area. Although the requirements for becoming a law librarian vary by state, many librarians who specialize in legal issues have degrees in both library science and law or political science. In some cases, in addition to being a librarian, a law librarian may also be a licensed attorney.
Depending on the size of the staff, a law librarian in a law firm or organization may perform a variety of tasks. One librarian may be hired by a small law firm or company to manage an entire collection. In such cases, he may be in charge of the entire library’s management, including acquisitions, training, and reference services. Larger practices and organizations may be able to afford a larger library staff, which could mean that each librarian or library aide has different roles and responsibilities. When working in a law firm or organization, librarians may be called upon on a regular basis to conduct legal research as well as provide supplementary information relevant to specific cases or policy decisions.
Large collections of legal books and journals, as well as online legal databases, are typically managed by law school librarians. As with any academic librarian, this type of law librarian may have extensive collection management responsibilities or spend a significant amount of time providing reference and research services, depending on the size of the library. The law school librarian may also teach students and faculty how to conduct legal research, familiarize them with reference sources, and train the entire school community on how to use electronic reference sources.