On Friday, January 11, 2008, iSchool students gathered in the Husky Union Building for the day’s stellar line-up of iCareer Week panels. A view of Allen Library and pizza lunch compliments of ALISS framed the second annual “Law Librarianship Panel” which featured six panelists from the Law Librarians of Puget Sound (LLOPS)—a local chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries. 

The panelists shared their diverse career experiences and provided great insight into the professional landscape of law librarianship. They discussed the need to continually market and promote library services in order to maintain a strong patron base and to convey the value of the library.  

Questions posed to this year’s law librarianship panelists included what courses not to miss in library school. Tina Ching from Seattle University School of Law Library expressed the value and salience of cataloging and law librarianship courses. 

Students also inquired after the educational requirements for law librarians. Little known fact: according to the American Association of Law Libraries, around 70% of law librarians do not have a law degree, but 85% have a graduate degree in library science. For further details on the educational requirements of law librarians:

http://www.aallnet.org/committee/rllc/resources/education.asp 

If you think you might be interested in law librarianship, AALL offers educational scholarships for individuals without the Juris Doctorate law degree. The scholarship application deadline for 2008 has already passed, but prepare your materials for 2009 scholarships by April 1, 2009. For further details on AALL educational scholarships:

http://www.aallnet.org/services/sch_edu.asp  

The panelists also spoke to the importance of professional networking associations for finding jobs, establishing lifelong friends and mentors, and developing a career. The two most prominent national organizations for law librarians are the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) and the Special Libraries Association’s “Legal Division”.  Both organizations are hosting annual conferences in the Pacific Northwest this summer—SLA at the Seattle Convention Center and AALL at Portland’s Oregon Convention Center. Details on these conferences can be found through the links below. 

SLA 2008 Annual Conference:

http://www.sla.org/content/Events/conference/ac2008/conference/index.cfm 

AALL 2008 Annual Conference:

http://www.aallnet.org/events/ 

Heartfelt thanks to this year’s Law Librarianship panelists—Jill Allyn, Tina Ching, Bridget Dacres, Robyn Hagle, Penny Hazelton, and Marcus Hochstetler. This event would not have been possible without their valuable knowledge and experiences. 

For a detailed list of iCareer Week 2008 panels, including audio recordings see:

http://students.washington.edu/asis/archived_events.php?event=28 

For access to an audio recording of the Law Librarianship Panel see:

http://students.washington.edu/asis/archived_media.php?media=4