Law Libraries

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What is a Law Librarian?
Law librarians are information professionals that specialize in facilitating access to legal information. The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) is the primary professional association serving law librarians and other legal information professionals. AALL’s strategic directions include continuous improvement in the quality of justice among its core values. 

Access to Justice
As providers of legal information in their institutions, law libraries of all types play a fundamental role in fostering access to justice. The 2014 AALL Law Libraries and Access to Justice special report identifies existing law library programs for access to justice and recommends new collaborations and roles for law libraries depending on their work setting.

AALL has other initiatives in access to justice, including:

The AALL website provides online resources for all types of law libraries:

There is a plethora of materials here that may drawn upon from around the country in gauging the public’s need for access to legal information and services and the evolving role of law libraries in facilitating access.

Open to the Public – 2024 How Law Libraries are Serving Self-Represented Litigants Across the Country
The Law Librarians’ Working Group of the Self-Represented Litigation Network with the American Association of Law Libraries Government Law Libraries Special Interest Section Best A2J Practices Committee surveyed law libraries about their services to the self-represented litigant, including self-help programs. Results are displayed in this Story Map. This research and analysis was developed to expand SRL services among law libraries by demonstrating best practices for assisting SRLs.
Year published: 2024
Document Author: SRLN
Map Gallery Reports, Evaluations, Best Practices, Surveys Surveys Self-Help Centers Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Libraries Academic Libraries Law Libraries Public Libraries
Survey: SRLN Library Working Group National Self-Help in Libraries Survey (SRLN 2019)
SRLN Report (March 2021) Evaluating Library Services to Self-Represented Litigants: A Story of Two Surveys The Law Librarians’ Working Group of the Self-Represented Litigation Network surveyed law libraries in the summer of 2019 about their services, including self-help programs. Learn more about best practices and full survey results in this story map.
Year published: 2019
Document Author: SRLN
Map Gallery Reports, Evaluations, Best Practices, Surveys Surveys Self-Help Centers Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Libraries Academic Libraries Law Libraries Public Libraries
Survey: SRLN Library Working Group National Self-Help in Libraries Survey (SRLN 2013)
The Law Librarians’ Working Group of the Self-Represented Litigation Network surveyed law libraries in the summer of 2013 about their services, including self-help programs. The full survey results are available below, as well as maps of the various tiers of service provided throughout the country. The Working Group is re-surveying law libraries in 2019, and will include updated results here when they are available. Executive Summary
Year published: 2013
Document Author: Self-Represented Litigation Network
Allied Professionals Reports Surveys Linking a Self-Help Center to Other Services Libraries Law Libraries
SRLN Brief: Law Library Ethics
The following are resources on law library ethics: American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Ethical Principles & AALL UPL Toolkit
Year published: 2015
Document Author: Self-Represented Litigation Network
Clerk, Self-Help Center Staff, and Librarian Ethics Law Libraries
Resource: Access to Justice and Law Libraries (Law Librarians of New England 2011)
This newsletter outlines some of the ways that law librarians can get involved in the access to justice movement.
Year published: 2011
Document Author: Law Librarians of New England
Law Libraries
Conference: ALL ACCESS: Access to Justice Conference (LLAM 2014)
The Law Library Association of Maryland (LLAM) hosted a day-long Access to Justice Conference focused on librarian involvement in Access to justice.  Program Highlights:
Document Author: Law Library Association of Maryland
Law Libraries
SRLN Brief: The Case for Public Library Services for the Self-Represented: An Opportunity to Enhance Access to Justice for All (SRLN 2008)
This advocacy piece is designed as part of a series by the SRLN to make the case to a variety of stakeholders of the value of innovation in support of access for the self-represented.
Year published: 2008
Document Author: Self-Represented Litigation Network
Law Libraries
Article: Law Libraries Serving Self-Represented Litigants (NCSC 2015)
Law libraries provide essential services to self-represented litigants.
Year published: 2015
Document Author: Joan Belistri, Sara Galligan
Law Libraries
Report: Law Libraries and Access to Justice. A Special Report of the American Association of Law Libraries Access to Justice Special Committee (AALL 2014)
This white paper is the work of AALL's 2013-2014 Access to Justice Special Committee, chaired by Sara Galligan, and explores how all types of law libraries - including private; state, court and county; and academic - contribute to the ATJ movement. The white paper explains the myriad ways law libraries can contribute to the administration of an effective Access to Justice system and successfully work with others on the front lines of Access to Justice.
Year published: 2014
Document Author: American Association of Law Libraries
Law Libraries
Report: The Sustainable 21st Century Law Library: Vision, Deployment and Assessment for Access to Justice (Zorza 2012)
Richard Zorza writes that “this is a moment of opportunity for law libraries to transform themselves as leaders in providing access to justice for all as part of a broad alignment of the legal system.” He notes that law libraries are becoming entry points into the courts for more individuals.
Year published: 2012
Document Author: Richard Zorza
Reports Law Libraries