Kansas City Association of Law Libraries

What Are Professional Law Librarians

Law librarians are brokers and managers of legal information. Law library activity revolves around the expeditious delivery of quality legal research services to attorneys, judges, law clerks, legal assistants, legal secretaries, clients, and other members of the legal community.

The committees of KCALL exist to assist members in performing their professional duties and to promote knowledge of and appreciation for law librarianship. The current committees are: Budget Review, Duplicate Exchange, Professional Standards, Program, Public Relations, Technology, and Union List. In addition to these committees, the KCALL President appoints a representative to serve on the Board of the Jackson County Law Library.

Law librarians are in demand now more than ever because of the interdisciplinary nature of law and the additional research required in the medical, scientific and business fields. Non-legal research in a legal context is a highly specialized process presenting challenges which law librarians are especially prepared to address. Typical areas of responsibility for the law librarian include the following:

Law Library Management

• Budgeting
• Collection Development
• Space Management
• Long-range Planning
• Personnel Management

Legal Research

• Manual
• Computer-Assisted
• Internet
• Non-legal & Specialized

Computer Technology

Selection, implementation and evaluation of new services and products.

Orientation and Training

Teaching and exposing new associate clerks, paralegals, legal secretaries, Law students and others to new and efficient methods of legal research as to the specific services law libraries provide.

Professional Development

Membership in professional associations, continuing education, networking at the local, regional and national levels to improve resource sharing.

Program Planning

• Speakers
• Informal Discussions
• Seminars and Workshops