Practising Law Librarian

Greg Lambert on Law Librarians and Legal Technology

Greg Lambert, Chief Innovation Officer at Jackson Walker, shares his fascinating career journey, transitioning from service in the U.S. Army to law school while programming at the Oklahoma University library, working to create the Oklahoma State Court Network during his time at the Oklahoma Supreme Court, rebuilding an academic law library destroyed by a tropical storm, and his move to law firm libraries. He discusses how his contributions to legal innovation and technology, including the implementation of AI tools, began and later progressed. Greg also talks about his insights on the transformation of law firm operations, the evolving role of law librarians in the legal industry, and the importance of communication.
The Practising Law Librarian brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

Josh LaPorte on Learning by Doing

Josh LaPorte, supervisory librarian at the United States Court of International Trade, discusses his career trajectory, including stints in his high school library, as a cataloger, as a library assistant, filling in for various library jobs, in several law school librarian posts, and in his current position. LaPorte shares his experiences navigating the evolving landscape of legal research, including the integration of AI tools. He emphasizes the importance of understanding bias in AI-generated results and its potential benefits and limitations in legal applications. LaPorte also highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with developing library skills and the role of paralegal education in enriching legal librarianship.
The Practising Law Librarian brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

Theresa Kim: A Pathfinder for Legal Research

Theresa Kim, Senior Business & Legal Research Analyst at Venable LLP, talks about how her 20+ year career has evolved from a print-dominated landscape to a digital one. With research tools ever-evolving, she discusses the use of AI as a resource supported by human input, as well as several tools Venable’s team has developed to streamline and enable attorneys’ access to information. Her advice to new law librarians includes embracing the unexpected nature of the work, maintaining curiosity, and never giving up on difficult research tasks.
The Practising Law Librarian brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

John Davey’s Journey Through Law Librarianship and Beyond

John Davey, Research Manager at Alston & Bird and a seasoned law librarian with over 30 years of experience, shares insights about his career journey, the evolution of law libraries, and the integration of technology and AI in legal research. The conversation highlights his current role at Alston and Bird, reflections on changes in law librarianship, and his personal interests outside of the profession.
The Practising Law Librarian brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

Be the Person That Gets Stuff Done

Dean Mason, the London-based head of Sidley Austin’s award-winning Library & Research Services team, shares his perspective from over two decades working in legal and commercial information. He discusses his thoughts on several differences in legal research at British and U.S.-based firms, how his department successfully raised awareness of its services internally with "Just Ask", and how working to be “the person that gets stuff done” has made an impact on his firm and his career.
The Practising Law Librarian brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

CJ Pipins on Teamwork and the Quiet Room

CJ Pipins, Director of the Law Library and Professor of Practice at the University of Baltimore School of Law, shares his journey from a BFA in musical theater to law librarianship, detailing the pivotal moments and mentors that guided him. CJ recounts his diverse experiences at various institutions, highlights his contributions to creating educational tools and managing public services, and discusses AI's role in legal education and research. He emphasizes the importance of assuming good intentions and finding career fulfillment.

Lawyer in the Library : A Conversation with Avery Le

Avery Le, the director of the Homer M. Stark Law Library, recounts her shift from aspiring trademark lawyer to law librarian, working in academic, corporate, and county government settings. She discusses her innovative 'Lawyer in the Library' program, which offers public legal consultations through a partnership with Atlanta's Legal Aid Society. Avery emphasizes the importance of exploring various roles in law librarianship and the evolving impact of AI on the profession. She advises new librarians to seek diverse experiences and build strong professional networks.
The Practising Law Librarian brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

Unlocking Legal Knowledge: A Conversation with Vicenç Feliú

Vicenç Feliú, Associate Dean of Library Services and Professor of Law at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law in Fort Lauderdale shares his career journey from a marine officer, FBI agent, and high school teacher to an esteemed law librarian and professor of intellectual property and copyright law. In a departure from the practice of many law schools, his Panza Maurer Law Library is open to not only the bar, bench, students, and faculty, but also to the public, exemplifying his belief that the bedrock of librarianship is access to information and educating the public. Vicenç shares his innovative approaches to incorporating artificial intelligence in legal education, the ethical implications of using AI in research, and the importance of teaching students to use tools effectively. He closes with emphasis on the value of mentorship, lifelong learning, and the rewarding nature of influencing future generations.
 
The Practising Law Librarian brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

Embracing Change: The Law Librarian’s Journey

Zanada Joyner, Associate Director for Collections and Information Discovery at Francis King Carey School of Law at the University of Maryland describes with joy her role overseeing collections and facilitating resource access.  She discusses how law libraries have changed since the 1990s, including the transition from print to digital collections, the impact of COVID-19 on accessibility, and the importance of balancing cost and user needs.  Zanada emphasizes the significance of mentoring and professional networks and shares her journey from teaching to becoming a law librarian, highlighting pivotal experiences that shaped her career. The conversation also touches on the use of AI in legal research and the strategic importance of time management and professional development in librarianship.
 
The Practising Law Librarian brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners.
 
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

Chris Laut on Breaking Down Information Silos

Chris Laut, Director of Library and Knowledge Services at Sullivan & Worcester, shares his serendipitous journey into law librarianship, starting from his initial role as a paralegal to his current position. He discusses his early days at Goodwin Procter, his pivotal experiences at Hemenway & Barnes, and his formal education in journalism and library science. Chris highlights his significant roles at Ropes & Gray and at Liberty Mutual before detailing his current multifaceted responsibilities at Sullivan & Worcester, which include information governance and knowledge management. He also emphasizes the importance of being involved in professional communities, the evolving role of AI and tech in law firms, and his passion for continuous learning and project management.
 
The Practising Law Librarian brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners.
 
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.