Career Networking/Advice

I'd like input from anyone out there who has advice to give with regard to career direction. I've been a lawyer for 24 years and have worked in corporate law, legal publishing, law school administration, and, now, in nonprofit property/casualty education (textbook/examination publications). In my current position, I've handled all our copyright permissions work (and some contract writing for deals with authors and people who use our materials, including more and more contracts for using our materials in electronic forms) for about 7 years - ergo, my presence on this listserv. (Excuse the long sentence.) Lately, I've gotten more into doing a lot of research, primarily on the Internet, and have taken several Internet research courses (law, business, government publications, etc.)

I'm thinking about getting an M.S. in Library Science, primarily because I think that I'd like to (1) work in more of a service (and perhaps some teaching) position as I advance in years (and raise my son as a single mother for another 8 years till his maturity), and (2) to do research. I think perhaps more expertise in electronic database research could give me more autonomy (i.e., something I might do from the nursing home someday with a computer in my room). Anyway, as I end the application process to a fine M.S. program we have nearby, I'm not sure yet what directions an M.S. might (or might not) take me. Any ideas out there? I know that becoming a law librarian is a "natural" result of all this; but I think, somehow, that my copyright experience (and love of the field) might bear some fruit I'm just not visualizing yet. I'd really appreciate any ideas anyone has for "what I want to be when I grow up." Retirement is not an option I'll ever face unless I have to - I can't afford it! So I'm really trying to find some direction for that growing life expectancy we women look forward to nowadays (plus, I became a mom late!).

Karen Porter
<porterk[_at_]cpcuiia.org> Received on Wed Nov 04 1998 - 15:54:26 GMT