Hey all,
In response to my post a couple of weeks ago regarding bar licensure for librarians, I received numerous requests to compile the responses and share. At the same, many of those who responded to me asked not to be quoted or to be quoted anonymously. Because many of you are in the same position I am, I think it's valuable to share the collective wisdom. In order to respect everyone's privacy, though, I decided to summarize the results in my own words. I tried to avoid generalizing or stereotyping too much, but there were some obvious patterns that became apparent. After sharing the results, I'll tell you about my decision, in the event you all are interested.
I received around 110 responses. Nearly everyone who responded said that the decision is ultimately a personal one, which is certainly true (probably the single best piece of advice I received). From there, opinions started to differ on what the best course of action is. I am no statistician and so I didn't bother to analyze the results in such a fashion, but some general sentiments became clear as I read the responses (again, I'm not trying to stereotype anyone):
1. Opinions differ by work environment.
A. Many of the academic law librarians who responded held both the JD and MLS. Most of them suggested that I take the bar. It was pointed out that many Tier 1 schools prefer librarians that are licensed and many directorships require bar licensure. This might be less true outside of T1 schools. Moreover, being licensed may reap more professional respect in the eyes of professors and law students. Many agreed that licensure helped advance their careers. At the same time, many noted that they have had fine careers without ever sitting for a bar.
B. Many of the firm and court librarians that responded suggested that it was a good idea to take the bar, but in no way essential, even to become a director. Indeed, a large majority of law librarians that responded said that it was so irrelevant to their position that it was not worth taking. Others said it might help boost the rate at which the firm will bill my time for, but would ultimately not reap any financial or professional rewards - only personal satisfaction and more money for the firm. Some court librarians (as well as academic librarians) said that being licensed might remedy any concerns about unauthorized practice of law, given their interaction with the public on a regular basis. They said that it might make a difference in the level of professional respect attorneys accord them (i.e., taking the bar is the best way to get out of the "you have a JD, why aren't you practicing"-type questions). Many of them sympathized with the expense of time and money (although I think everyone sympathizes with this). A few responders also warned me that a firm may not be interested in picking up the librarian's tab for bar prep, time off for bar exam studying, or CLE dues. Moreover, some firms might be suspicious that a licensed librarian might be trying to find a back door way to an associate position.
2. Opinions differ by academic credentials.
An overwhelming number of the respondents held both the JD and MLS. I received 5 or 6 responses from MLS-only librarians and a similar number from JD-only librarians. Typically, librarians with both degrees said that I should take the bar - if not for professional advancement, then for personal satisfaction, career options, etc. Many of the MLS-only and JD-only librarians said that I should hold off on the bar or not it take at all.
3. Opinions differ by level of work experience.
I heard from a nice cross-section of well-seasoned vets, mid-career, and young librarians. Generally speaking, the longer one has worked in the profession, the less they valued bar licensure. Younger librarians pointed out that they had a very difficult time finding a job in an academic law library without bar licensure (see above), while librarians with more experience under their belts suggested that it is not worth the money.
As for me, I have decided to sit for the Texas Bar, but am planning to hold off on doing so until February or July 2009. Instead of worrying about the bar at this point, I'm going to focus on providing the best service possible for the users of our library and finish the MSIS by the end of 2008. I second the sentiment that passing the bar will yield personal and professional satisfaction, but I think it's best to focus on the required credentials first and then put the icing on the cake afterwards. Moreover, the roughly $5000 that the bar would end up costing is money I'm not interested in spending right now (I can't stand the thought of going into debt for anything, especially for a bar exam!).
Thanks to all of those who shared their thoughts and opinions with me on this. Your comments really helped me think through this and make sure that I was making the decision for the right reasons. If anyone has any questions about my summary of the responses or would like to discuss them with me, feel free to contact me off-list.
Michael
> Michael Daniels, J.D.
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