Mimi Vollstedt Law Library Intern

Mimi Vollstedt Law Library Intern

The John E. Jaqua Law Library teaches legal research skills, assists faculty with scholarship, provides enhanced learning spaces, and supplies comprehensive legal information collections in partnership with the UO Libraries.

The Mimi Vollstedt Internship is made possible through the Maryruth “Mimi” Vollstedt Student Internship Endowment Fund.  The purpose of the internship is to provide one or more graduate students, earning a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (or its equivalent) through an accredited education program seeking valuable professional experience through a paid internship in the UO Libraries. 

The internship at the John E. Jaqua Law Library will provide graduate students with the opportunity to (1) learn about law librarianship as a career path, and (2) begin to develop the skills and knowledge crucial to the profession of law librarianship, including legal bibliographic knowledge, hands-on practice of legal research strategies, familiarity with the U.S. legal system, and awareness of the difference between legal reference service and legal advice. 

This internship will help build the profession of law librarianship by providing a robust and dynamic experiential learning program through mentorship, support, and guidance by experienced law librarians.

Students interested in applying for the Mimi Vollstedt Law Library Internship should email applications to lawref@uoregon.edu and include the following:

1. Letter of interest, including: how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications; your preferred dates for the internship; and whether you are able to work on campus (preferred but not required).
2. Resume.
3. Proof of Enrollment in Master of Library and Information Sciences program (or its equivalent) through an accredited education program

Job Duties

• Observing and assisting with legal reference services (supervised and mentored by law reference librarians).
• Observing and assisting with an online advanced legal research course (supervised and mentored by the law instruction librarian).
• Observing and assisting with in-person legal research workshops and classes (supervised and mentored by law librarian instructors).
• Completing a variety of projects under the supervision and mentorship of law librarians. These projects may include creating, revising, or updating libguides; developing materials for legal research instruction; organizing law collections; envisioning uses of legal technology in legal reference services and instruction.

Learning Objectives

• The intern will become familiar with law collections, legal terminology, and legal information resources.
• The intern will develop fundamental skills and knowledge of legal research instruction, legal research strategies, and sources of law.
• The intern will apply current and cutting-edge knowledge of technology and other innovations in librarianship in a real-life setting.
• The intern will practice interacting with students, faculty, and members of the public to answer reference questions.
• The intern will gain hands-on practice with legal research skills through completion of research assignments.
• The intern will develop background knowledge of legal research course design, inclusive teaching practices, and effective online instruction strategies.