Last updated: 6/23/2025
Here is a list of recommended sources relevant to the topic of law librarianship. Each of these sources provides a unique perspective or area of focus within the field of law librarianship, from foundational knowledge and historical context to specific areas like teaching, knowledge management, and academic librarianship.
Introduction to Law Librarianship (Open access book) - This resource is highlighted for its accessibility and helpfulness to newcomers in the field.
Mary Whisner's "Practicing Reference" - Is a column that was featured in the Law Library Journal (LLJ) from 1999 to 2019. This column covered a range of topics relevant to legal librarianship and legal research.
AALL’s Body of Knowledge (BOK) - Designed to serve as a blueprint for career development—defines the domains, competencies, and skills today’s legal information professionals need for success.
Locating the Law: A Handbook for Non-Law Librarians - Published by the Committee of the Southern California Association of Law Libraries (SCALL), provides ready access to a reliable legal research reference resource to assist you in reading legal citations and how to conduct legal research.
The Accidental Law Librarian by Anthony Aycock - This book is recommended for its perspective on entering the field of law librarianship, particularly for those who may not have initially aimed for a career in this area.
Law Librarianship in Academic Libraries: Best Practices by Yemisi Dina - Recommended for its focus on academic settings, this book offers best practices for law librarians working within universities and colleges.
Robert M. Jarvis, John B. West: Founder of the West Publishing Company, 50 AM. J. LEGAL HIST. 1 (2008) - This article is suggested for its historical insight into the legal publishing industry, offering valuable context for law librarians.
Teaching Law by Design - Recommended for law librarians getting into teaching, this resource provides guidance on effective legal education.
The Fundamentals of Legal Research by Roy Mersky - Although the author has passed away, this book continues to be a foundational text for understanding legal research, updated by others to remain relevant.
Legal Research in a Nutshell - This book is recommended as a good starting point for those new to law librarianship, providing an overview that is particularly useful for students but also beneficial for professionals in the field.
eCornell Legal Research Certificate - A useful credential for law librarians. As an alternative, CALI classes are free with AALL membership.
Knowledge Management & Innovation: A Manual for Law Firms and Other Legal Services Organizations - This publication from PLI is pitched for its comprehensive coverage of topics such as research services, legal analytics, and managing people, making it a valuable resource for law librarians looking to expand their knowledge in these areas.
Svengalis' Legal Information Buyer's Guide & Reference Manual by New England LawPress - Has some history on legal publishers, great resources for specific practice areas.
Kent Olson, Aaron Kirschenfield, and Ingrid Mattson's Principles of Legal Research (3d ed. 2020) (successor to Cohen, Berring, and Olson's How to Find the Law ), www.westacademic.com/...
Megan Austin, Advanced Legal Research: Process and Practice (2023). https://opentext.uoregon.edu/legal/. (Open access and used for ALR)
Short and Happy Guide to Advanced Legal Research (2d ed. 2022) (Used for ALR and available on West Academic)
State Legal Research Series – Carolina Academic Press (Used for ALR)
Where the Law Is (5th ed. 2018) (Used for ALR)
Origins of Bibliometrics, Citation Indexing, and Citation Analysis: The Neglected Legal Literature - Legal bibliometrics has been overlooked by historians. However, citation indexing and analysis were practiced in the legal field long before their introduction to scientific literature. Publication counts date back to 1817, and citation indexing dates as far back as 1743. A comprehensive citation index book was published in 1860, and in 1894 and 1895, there were ambitious citation analyses of court decisions.
Christopher Sprigman, Jennifer Romig, et al.,The Indigo Book: An Open and Compatible Implementation of A Uniform System of Citation (2021) (online or public-domain PDF download)
Peter W. Martin, Introduction to Basic Legal Citation (2020) (online or free PDF download)
Beau Steenken and Tina Brooks, Sources of American Law: An Introduction to Legal Research (2022) (Creative Commons-licensed multi-format download, or price t/b/d paperback)
Pollman, Price & Berger's Examples and Explanations for Legal Research