Established in 2000, the University of Arizona Law Library Fellows Program has been a premier experiential training ground for aspiring law librarians. Now, thanks to a generous grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, we are expanding the program to allow law libraries nationwide to host their own Fellows in the National Law Library Fellows Program.

In the National Fellows Program, online students in University of Arizona's Master of Arts in Library and Information Science (MLIS) program can elevate their professional skills and expertise through compensated, immersive, hands-on training by working as a Fellow in a local law library of their choosing. Host libraries can help shape the future of the legal information profession by training a future law librarian who has the contacts and incentive to stay in the local area. Both Fellows and host libraries will make a difference by contributing to the diversity and vibrancy of the legal information field.

Benefits of Becoming a Host Library

By hosting a National Fellow, the host library receives:

• Assistance from Emerging Professionals. A National Fellow can work in your library for 20 hours per week for up to 2 years, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to your library’s mission and perform the professional tasks that you determine would best suit your library's unique needs.
• Tailored Program Support. From a comprehensive Fellowship Handbook to personalized consultations, we provide you with resources and individualized guidance from our well-established and successful Fellows program, which will allow you to seamlessly and easily integrate a National Fellow into your library.
• Flexible Commitment. You may host a Fellow whenever there is a candidate in your area and your time and resources allow.

By hosting a National Fellow, the host library facilitates:

• Education and Recruitment. Through your provision of real-life experience, mentorship and professional development, you are cultivating the next generation of law librarians and reducing barriers to entry into the legal information field.
• Diversification. You are fostering inclusivity and innovation, which will help remedy the homogeneity and stagnation within the legal information field.
• Investment in Local Talent. You are responsible for compensating the National Fellow (through a stipend, benefits, tuition remission, and professional development) as well as a reimbursing a portion of the University of Arizona's program costs. Your financial support, training and mentorship of emerging professionals is an investment that will help create a robust pipeline of talented professionals in the legal information industry.

Benefits of Becoming a National Fellow

By joining the program, National Fellows will obtain:

• Expanded Horizons. You will discover new pathways to the legal information profession. We encourage people with any level of legal education (e.g., Juris Doctor, Master in Legal Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Law, Paralegal certification, or Legal Paraprofessional certification) and/or prior legal experience to apply to the National Fellowship. We also encourage individuals with education and expertise in technology, data science, or foreign languages -- all in high demand in law libraries -- to apply. 
• Real-World Experience. You will work alongside seasoned professionals in various law library departments, where you will carry out projects tailored to your specific career goals, allowing you to gain invaluable insights and practical skills.
• Financial Support. You will receive funding support—including a salary, fringe benefits and tuition remission for MLIS course credits taken online during the fall and spring semesters of the program—to fuel your educational journey.
• Professional Guidance and Development. You will access individualized guidance, mentorship and resources to enhance your learning and career prospects. Some benefits include: a law library mentor throughout the program; a Fellows Program Alumni mentor in the second half of the program; AALL student membership with two career-related Special Interest Section memberships; specialized career planning guidance; law-library specific course recommendations; and job search guidance.
• Connections. You will build lasting relationships with local mentors and peers, and become part of a national cohort of graduates of both the Arizona's Fellows Program and the National Fellows Program.

How to Join the Program

Potential host libraries:  

• Contact us to discuss your ideas and make a plan. If you already have a candidate in mind who could serve as a National Fellow, great! If not, we will work to help you find one.

Potential National Fellows:

• Prior to applying to either the MLIS program or the National Fellows Program, contact us to discuss your ideas and make a plan. If you already have a law library in your area that’s agreed to host you as a Fellow, great! If not, we will work to secure a placement for you.
• Applications for the National Fellows Program are only considered after a candidate is accepted into the University of Arizona’s Online program for an MLIS, to which candidates must apply separately. Find full details on applying to the MLIS program on the College of Information Science's website.
• To apply to the National Fellows Program, submit the following in one email to Cas Laskowski at claskowski@arizona.edu:
  • A letter of interest answering the following questions: Why do you want to be a Law Librarian? Why do you want to join the National Fellows Program? What background or experience do you have that you believe you could leverage in your career in law librarianship?
  • Resume or curriculum vitae of education and work experience
  • Three professional references with their email and phone number