I work with data on the daily. Numbers and order have always appealed to me, so a position focused on scholarly metrics is a natural fit. Previously, this was a niche interest I would bore others with at conference cocktail hours and over coffee.
But lately, data has become all the rage. AALL Spectrum dedicated their latest issue completely to data analytics and data literacy. Courses focused on data analysis and visualization are popping up everywhere, such as Edward Tuft’s course reviewed in this great post by Cassie Walker last year on the RIPS blog, or on-campus mini workshops such as these at the UW offered in collaboration with Software Carpentry.
While these courses are excellent resources for certified data nerds such as myself (and beginners too!), there are ways to add data visualization to your daily work life with less time commitment as detailed in this excellent blog post by Kris Turner. His post covers the whats, hows, and whys of data visualization and highlights low-cost tools available for legal professionals. For a deeper dive, Turner presented with Jennifer Roberts on data visualization for lawyers at the 2020 ABA Techshow, their slides can be found here. There are also excellent LibGuides that cover the basics of data visualization, such as the various types, general vocabulary, and the coolest new tools, such as one of my favorites: Tableau (who are currently offering a free conference running from November 9-11).
But why bother studying data visualization and analytics? Why crunch adding a new skill into our already overcrowded days?
Because data is everything. Well, it’s information about everything, but why split hairs?
Data is the future of the legal profession and by transference the legal information profession.
In the past four years since I graduated from library school, I’ve seen the proliferation of data visualizations in legal research increase exponentially. Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg all now offer some form of litigation analytics, case mapping or statute version comparison. The number of requests I receive from law professors interested in empirical research or engaging in data driven analysis increases each year; to such an extent that I have on-campus Research Data Services on my speed dial.
Data analysis has also been key in many Access to Justice initiatives, such as the A2J Lab, which applies empirical research to the U.S. justice system. The University of Virginia School of Law recently opened a LawTech Center to “address policy issues, legal texts as data and the use of tech in the legal profession.” There have been a number of studies recently using data to support the importance of diversity, such as this study aimed to assess the “diversity rationale.” The legal industry is recognizing the power of data research and is responding with initiatives we need to be ready for.
As librarians, it is our role to support future attorneys, faculty, and the public. We cannot properly support users of data analysis if we are not versed on the methods ourselves. In addition to supporting the research of others, the rise in scholarly metrics analysis as a routine requirement of librarians also demands us to have at least a rudimentary understanding of data and data visualization. Employers have realized this as well. As of the writing of this post, 18 of the 49 job postings in AALL’s Career Center mention the word “data.” And while that’s just a snapshot and not data analysis, 37% is a compelling number.
RIPS Law Librarian Blog 
