Wow – it’s been almost a solid three months since I last updated this blog! Time really flies.
I’ve been really putting in the work at library school and at my job in the law library, as I promised myself I would. The previous semester, I struggled to balance family and motherhood, school, work, and my own self-care (if any). Since then, I’ve been working hard to be fully present wherever I was needed. To do this, I had to cut down on my screen time (sorry, social media), keep an organized but flexible schedule, and set up workflows to handle all of my work and school projects at once. This has really helped me get things done! I’m glad school is over, and I’m going to enjoy my summer off as a reward.
I also went through my first full-day academic law librarian interview. I really enjoy my part-time job, so when a full-time reference librarian job opened up, I didn’t think twice about applying! I was thrilled to get past the first Skype interview! There was a lot of stress in the days before the second interview. What legal topic should I talk about in my presentation? How can I impress people I already work with? How can I look calm while eating lunch with the search committee while nervous? I made a spreadsheet of common law library interview questions and my answers, and I read up on law library interviews to get a sense of what to expect.
Thankfully, the interview went well. Before answering each question, I took a few deep breaths, made eye contact, and even cracked a few jokes. Reading about current events and hot topics in law librarianship helped me prepare for my law library interview the most. It helped me answer a lot of questions to be an active reader, so these are my favorite news sources:
The day was very long, but time passed by quickly. First, I wore business clothes that didn’t make me feel stuffy and shoes that were comfortable. Second, I organized my thoughts and wrote down the strengths I wanted to highlight at least a week before the interview. I felt like I had an internal guide throughout the day.
If you have an interview for a law librarian role coming up, thorough preparation is key to landing the job. Law librarians need specialized knowledge and skills to excel in supporting legal research and analysis.
Interviewers will want to assess your qualifications and gauge if you’ll be a good cultural fit. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll overview typical law librarian interview questions with example answers to help you craft confident, compelling responses.
We’ll break it down into two sections
- General librarian interview questions
- Law librarian-specific interview questions
Let’s start with commonly asked questions for any librarian role
Top Librarian Interview Questions and Answers
- Why are you interested in working as a librarian?
I’m deeply passionate about connecting people with information. I love enabling learning and growth by facilitating access to resources. As a law librarian, I’d utilize my legal knowledge and research skills to empower attorneys and law students to find authoritative sources efficiently and accurately. I want to play an essential role in the analysis and strategy development processes.
- What do you consider to be the most important qualities of a librarian?
A strong service mentality, intellectual curiosity, technology savvy, attention to detail, and project management abilities. Law librarians must adeptly juggle numerous research requests while guiding users to the right information. I excel at multitasking and carefully tracking progress on multiple projects at once. My dedication to public service is unwavering.
- How would you handle a user who becomes frustrated or confused while you assist them?
First, I would empathize with their situation and then re-explain the concept while walking through examples hands-on together. If they required more simplified guidance, I’d break the steps down further and confirm their understanding incrementally. I would exercise patience and remain focused on effectively serving their needs, regardless of any initial obstacles.
- What experience do you have with legal research databases and platforms?
Throughout my MLIS program, I took dedicated law librarianship courses covering LexisNexis, Westlaw, HeinOnline, and Bloomberg Law extensively. I’m highly proficient in constructing searches using Boolean operators and fields, analyzing results, and navigating these systems. I look forward to further sharpening these skills with on-the-job experience. My favorite platform is Westlaw for its robust catalog of case law.
- How do you stay up-to-date on technological skills and library science trends?
I avidly read industry publications like Library Journal and actively participate in professional associations, including the American Association of Law Libraries. I pursue continuing education opportunities like conferences and webinars to build emerging tech skills in areas like metadata, digitization, and data visualization. I’m committed to continually enhancing my expertise over the course of my career.
Law Librarian Interview Questions and Answers
Now let’s look at some specialized questions unique to law librarian roles:
- What are your best practices for approaching and completing a research request?
I would first consult with the requestor to fully understand parameters and objectives so I can craft an effective plan. I execute searches methodically, recording key terms and databases utilized. I analyze results for relevance before compiling the most pertinent sources into a report, citing appropriately. I follow up with requestors to confirm I met their needs or address any outstanding issues.
- What internet research tools and resources do you rely on, and why?
I extensively leverage free legal research sites like FindLaw, Justia, and the Library of Congress. Google Scholar is useful for locating scholarly articles. I tap into government sites like Regulations.gov for regulatory and administrative law materials. And comprehensive university library catalogs often yield sources not discoverable elsewhere.
- What is your favorite legal research platform and what do you see as its pros and cons?
Westlaw offers an unparalleled case law library with robust filtering and visualization features. However, it lacks as many secondary sources and practice guides as LexisNexis. I utilize both in tandem to capitalize on their respective strengths. Lexis’ Shepard’s Citations Service also adds value for tracing case histories.
- How do you stay on top of current events and legal news?
I read national newspapers like The New York Times and Wall Street Journal daily, along with niche legal publications like The American Lawyer that cover case developments, new regulations, and trends. I also utilize news aggregators like ABA Journal and law firm blogs to identify emerging issues on the radar.
- How would you go about researching an unfamiliar industry or technical process?
I would tap into multidisciplinary databases to build foundational knowledge on the topic, leveraging reference sources like encyclopedias and textbooks. I’d search patents and scientific literature related to the technology. And I would consult with attorneys to understand nuances specific to the legal matter at hand to focus my research accordingly.
With meticulous preparation using these examples, you can master the art of the law librarian interview. Highlight your legal knowledge, unwavering service dedication, and enthusiasm for the role. You’ll be well on your way to a rewarding law librarianship career. Good luck!
a student-run blog on law libraries, access to justice, legal research, and legal tech
Wow – it’s been almost a solid three months since I last updated this blog! Time really flies.
I’ve been really putting in the work at library school and at my job in the law library, as I promised myself I would. The previous semester, I struggled to balance family and motherhood, school, work, and my own self-care (if any). Since then, I’ve been working hard to be fully present wherever I was needed. To do this, I had to cut down on my screen time (sorry, social media), keep an organized but flexible schedule, and set up workflows to handle all of my work and school projects at once. This has really helped me get things done! I’m glad school is over, and I’m going to enjoy my summer off as a reward.
I also went through my first full-day academic law librarian interview. I love my current part-time position, so when a full-time reference librarian position opened up I didn’t hesitate to apply! I was thrilled to get past an initial Skype interview. The days leading up to the second interview were full of anxiety: What legal topic will I tackle during my presentation? How do I impress people I already work with? How am I going to appear graceful while nervously eating lunch with the search committee?! I made myself a spreadsheet of commonly asked law library interview questions along with my answers, and read up on law library interviews to get a feel for what I could expect.
Thankfully, the interview went well. Before answering each question, I took a few deep breaths, made eye contact, and even cracked a few jokes. Reading about current events and hot topics in law librarianship helped me prepare for my law library interview the most. It helped me answer a lot of questions to be an active reader, so these are my favorite news sources:
The day was very long, but time passed by quickly. First, I wore business clothes that didn’t make me feel stuffy and shoes that were comfortable. Second, I organized my thoughts and wrote down the strengths I wanted to highlight at least a week before the interview. I felt like I had an internal guide throughout the day.
I will update everyone soon about the position. Cheers to summer!
I’m Ash, a library student and law librarian with research interests in access to justice.
Law Librarian interview questions
FAQ
What is the role of a law librarian?
Why should we hire you as a librarian interview?
