Law Librarian Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Any thoughts on working as a law librarian even though I have a JD?

Answer: Sure, if that's what you want to do and it's salary will support you. Why not? With a JD, you have a good idea of the unique requirements of a law library.

Question: Where's the best place to look for employement in the UK as a librarian? I'm thinking about relocating to the UK next year. I have a Masters in Library Science and 8 years experience working in law libraries. I'd love to know how to go about finding a job as a informational professional or librarian in the UK.

Answer: If you don't fancy Central London then try one of the major university cities like Oxford of Cambridge Both have colleges specialising in training for the legal profession. Ian M

Question: What is the easiest way to find a job in the mountains of Colorado? Associates of Arts in Business Administration 7 years serving/trainer exp. 3 years a/v coordinator and law librarian Dean's List Phi Kappa Theta Microsoft Office fluent

Answer: I'm gonna have to go with Head Hunter as well.

Question: Should I go to law school part time or do a part time program and get a master in library science? I'm intersted in either becoming a lawyer or librarian. I know there's significant pay different, but I would have to take out significantly more in loans to become a lawyer. Which is the wiser decision?

Answer: If you don't know which you'd prefer, then the wisest decision is to wait and work until you are sure. It might help to look for paralegal or library jobs that don't require a specialized degree so you can get a sense of whether you like the environment. (It would also help to already be employed at a law firm if you pursue that degree part time, since most students who are switching careers go full-time and find their post-graduation jobs during their summer internships.)

Question: I am considering applying to law school at 44 years old. I will attend part-time.? I have been a high school teacher/librarian for 22 years, and I am hoping to retire after completing the four years of law school. I am studying for the LSAT and have hopes of scoring well on it. Does anyone know if law schools admit many non-traditional (older) students? I am hoping to apply in Arkansas.

Answer: No idea on the exact numbers. However, I can tell you that we had a number of non-traditional students in my law school class. Probably around 20 or 30 out of 300. So you won't be alone, but you won't be the majority.

Question: How much do Librarians get paid and is it a good job? I have been thinking about being a librarian. I know law and medical librarians get paid good money. The only thing is I really don't like reading. I like books, but I just don't really like to read them. I know it dosen't make sense, but I like being in libraries, and I suck at everything else, so is this a good job to pursue.

Answer: I am planning on becoming a librarian. I currently work in a library and it is great. I suggest you volunteer at a community library to see if you like the work. That is what I did and it helped me get the experience I needed to get my current position which I love.

Question: Trying to figure out what kind of Bachelors degree I should get.? I wanting to become a Librarian. For that I need a Master in Librarian Science. But first I need to get a Bachelors in what....? I have no idea. I am told I can get it in anything. But I have no idea.. I thought about education, but that centers mostly on teaching. I want to be a law Librarian... Some say that law librarians have law degrees, but Im not sure I want to do that way.. Anyone got an idea what kind of Bachelors degree I should get that will best fit me becoming a Law Librarian..

Answer: You do not need a law degree, but if you want to become a law librarian, you need a well-rounded liberal arts education. Don't bother with an education degree, either. You don't need to spend a semester student teaching. My local university offers a general B.A. in University studies for students who know they need a Masters that has no undergraduate degree requirements. Check on that. If that's not available, take history, government, and English courses. Also, you need to get a computer research course into the curriculum some how. I do almost all my legal research on line and law students are taught on line research. The role of law librarian has changed in that regard, but most treatises are available only in book form. I do frequent the local law library and know the librarians have good jobs with good pay. They've become my friends over the years and I can call in research requests. They have a variety of degrees and I'd suggest you look for a major that exposes you to as many disciplines as possible.

Question: librarian ethics? I want to know about librarian ethics laws in the world

Answer: Most of the libraries I know of are independent, and therefore they are governed by the laws in the country in which they reside. The code of ethics they live by is rather informal. I would say in general, they simply want to provide the highest quality of information to the largest number of the population.

Question: What kind of books do you think Palin inquired hypothetically to ban? Clearly she did not ban any books nor did she try to pass some law to ban books. But shed admits she hypothetically asked the librarian how she would feel about banning some books and the librarian responded she would not be on board with banning books that were in general circulation throughout the libraries of the USA. And Palin apparently, allegedly tried to get the librarian fired. So what can we make of all this?

Answer: Palin is a religious extremists considering she say going into Iraq is God's message. I would say he will ban all books that contradict her faith. Probably books about sex issues, abortion, artificial insemination, divorce, and etc.

Question: What do I get my mother-in-law for her birthday? She needs everything, but doesn't really care about her needs. She loves scrapbooking and sells creative memories. She loves reading and is the Children's Librarian at the library. Her home is cluttery because she likes a few different themes and can't pick one... started with bunnies, then partiotic americana, then most recently a country look. She needs a whole new kitchen and bathroom, but we can't afford to give her that. Any ideas? Oh, she is turning 51 - also loves traveling. Widow.

Answer: Gosh...I can honestly say that you really like your in law! I love mine too! To get to your question - I have hear about these scrapbooking weekends at a retreat (well there actually are a couple accross america) but they cost about $300 for 3 days and it includes the kit she gets to do the scraps with. You can do a search for scrapbook retreats and that should give you some nice options. If you don't want to spend that kind of money, a subscription to a scrapbook magazine migt be a very nice idea. Don't get her a gift voucher for things though - older people appreciate it more if you give them something that has a little of yourself in it - they want to know that they were important enough for you to actually fond them something and not just get a gift voucher over your tea time. Maybe you can offer to help her do something nice with her house - rearrange a couple of pieces and buy some wicker baskets or "storage trolleys" and de-clutter her home with her... Never know if you might stumble upon some very cute pictures of hubby when he was 1 year old....

Question: Is America ready to elect a Black President? Would you really have an inexperienced naughty librarian MILF over the President of the Harvard Law review? Come on, really??? Did you know the Vice President automatically becomes President in the event the President is too ill or dies? Are people that afraid of the brilliant black man becoming President that they would put the country at risk of falling into the hands of the Hockey Mom? Is this some sort of sick joke???

Answer: Yes, America is ready to elect a black President... However, I don't think America is foolish enough to elect Obama. He's an empty suit.

Question: for law school admission, how important is grad school gpa? I really screwed around big when I was in college, my first 2 years were nothing but d's and f's, and a few c's. I am thinking about law school as one of my options right now. I have a masters degree in Library Science (3.72 gpa, and currently work as a full time librarian) and my last 2 years of college I had a slightly better gpa at 3.16. I was wondering what the law schools will decide when they see my terrible first 2 years in undergrad. I want to go to a good law school, but I am not sure if I have a chance.

Answer: The honest truth is...while the fact that you went to grad school and did well is a marginal "soft factor", law schools really don't care. They know (1) that it's your UGPA that is used to calculate their rankings and (2) that in grad programs everybody gets mostly A's. However, if you rock the LSAT (and I mean 165/170+) you may be able to get into a decent program somewhere if you can demonstrate a significant trend, but it will be quite difficult to overcome your GPA.

Question: My...psychotic mother in law is coming to visit me for the first time in years because I'm pregnant...? She hasn't been around to see my belly growing and I'm afraid she's going to wig out and want to touch it and just continue to ask me questions about being pregnant. It's like, since I got pregnant her life purpose has shifted from mother and librarian to person-who-is-obsessed-with-pregnancy-and-enjoys-asking-uncomfortable-and-invasive-questions of both daughter and son in law. I'm worked up over it and she's not even coming for another two months... How can I just relax and enjoy myself until then? I wish she would come sooner so A) my bump wouldn't be so darn big and B) I could get it over with and then finally relax. Can you just tell me that everything is going to be okay? She'll come and then she'll go and this will be fine? My husband tells me that if she acts up he'll put his foot down so I don't really have anything to worry about, but at this very moment I'm having heart palpitations from stressing myself out over this baloney. What to do? woops it looks like in the middle there I was cut short. Here's where the rest of that sentence was going lol! *and-obsessively-asks-uncomfortable-questions-of... estions of I don't have much time on my hands, it bugs me most when I'm trying to sleep or when I'm driving. >:-( Well jeez guys I wasn't going to blather on about her but the reason we moved is because she constantly puts me down, my cooking, the way I was raised, etc. She is not healthy and has the meds to prove it. Anxiety problems? If you had this woman as a mother in law you'd be having anxiety as well. She calls every other day to ask me the same old questions about my pregnant belly. My belly! Not hi how are you, how are you feeling, it's so how big is the belly, are you showing, can you feel it when you lie down, holy cow she goes on and on. I finally stopped answering the phone and the emails. I email her but nothing to do with the belly!

Answer: Your lucky you have the kind of hubby that will put his foot down to his mom. Most guys wouldnt do that. I would be proud of my growing belly and not care one way or the other what Mom-in-law does thinks or says. It's all about you right now and if she is stressing you out it's not good for the baby at all. Consider yourself lucky you dont see her often! If she asks too personal of questions just tell her you arent gonna go there with her! I have a mom-in-law alot like that and it took me years to learn that she is not gonna change,so I just let it roll off my back and celebrate when she leaves! Good Luck to you!!

Question: PLEASE HELP! Daughter-in-law Might Hate Me!? Please help. I don't understand why after ten years my daughter-in-law is acting like she doesn't want to be around me. I'm devestated because if she doesn't want to come around then my son may not come around as much. She used to be nice and laugh a lot around me but now it's been a year since she's come out. Some things bother me about her. Me son makes good money and she has a job too but she went to school and got a master's degree just to impress people and all she does now is work as a children's Librarian, not even full time. But almost every time I see her she has on a new outfit or a new purse. And when I went to their house I noticed she had this shoe holder with probably ten pairs of shoes! She also drags my son on vacation once or twice a year, instead of having grandchildren she wants to vacation. She says she has infertility but I don't believe that. It seems like once a week when my son calls he mentions oh that they went out to eat today or yesterday. Eating out is so expensive. I taught my son to be frugal and he is but obiviouly she is not. I just know that she's spending all of my son's money. Then they moved further away to her hometown. I just know she bullied him into but he won't ever say. I try to give him opportunities to talk about her spending but he won't bite. He never will critisize her!! Please help what should I do? I know this sounds bad but I wish he would dump the *****!

Answer: I don't know you, but reading what you wrote has made me want to steer clear of you! You are an overbearing, controlling mother who refuses to leave her adult son alone. How do I know that? I talk from experience... you sound like my EX mother-in-law.... yeah... I divorced the guy after 22 years of marriage because she disapproved of everything I said or did...and guess what? The second wife is going through the same ordeal... my ex is 55 years old and STILL lets his mother dominate him. When my son and daughter married, I chose to stay out of their personal business. I may not agree with every decision they've made in their lives, but they are adults and I raised them with a good set of moral values. I refuse to be a domineering, bitch of a mother-in-law and you better start changing your tune soon or you will lose your son. More power to the daughter-in-law if she, indeed, convinced your son to move further away from you... I have a feeling, though, that he didn't have much of a problem doing so... leave them alone and get your own life, lady. If you don't like what I've had to say, too bad... you asked and I replied... and trust me, I speak from experience.

Question: Working in New Zealand - what are the odds of getting a job in my profession? I am aware of the New Zealand law that maintains that native New Zealanders have priority for jobs. That said, I know that the job market is quite active in my profession (librarianship), so I was wondering if anyone had an idea if I could *actually* get a job as a librarian in New Zealand (with the correct visas, etc., of course). Thanks! Just to clarify, I didn't mean aboriginal when I said "native;" I should have said New Zealand *citizens* instead - sorry!

Answer: New Zealand is actively seeking skilled migrants and operates a number of schemes to encourage people to come to New Zealand to work and live. Rather than there being any specific requirement that jobs first be offered to NZ citizens, the emphasis is on bringing people here who have the skills (or investment funds) which are in short supply and will help NZ to grow. The New Zealand immigration site is where you should start. It is very comprehensive and includes everything you need to know about all of the categories under which you can qualify to come to NZ. There are links to information about getting work as well as lists of immediate and long term skills shortages. Look to see if librarianship is listed and, even if it isnt, it is always worthwhile writing to various potential employers to see if they are recruiting. Another avenue, depending on your individual circumstances, is to simply come to New Zealand as a visitor or on a work visa (not necessarily related to your profession) and take a look around. It's always a good idea to visit a country, feel its pulse and talk face to face with prospective employers before committing to live there. Another website of interest is www.seek.co.nz which is a popular recruitment site.

Question: Pardon me, if Republican = freedom/choice, why the anti-choice abortion stand? ? According to a law librarian I know, neither Republicans or Democrats are 'pro freedom' completely, nor are they 'anti freedom' completely. Republicans look out for businesses, and Democrats look out for individuals. If Republican actually equals freedom, why the anti-gay marriage, anti-choice on abortion? I guess my thing is life or no life, how much do I want the government in my face about it either way. Here's a better way of looking at it. Are Republicans pro-all life then? Then why the war?

Answer: Religious reasoning!