Law and Its Discovery: The Roles of Law Librarianship and Legal Information Science in the Age of GenAI

Authors

Paul D. Callister, University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of LawFollow

Publication Date

2025

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

This article explores the interplay between law librarianship and legal information science in the context of generative AI (GenAI), advocating for their reconciliation to address the rapidly evolving information landscape. The thesis argues that law librarianship, traditionally rooted in stable classification systems and cognitive authority, must embrace the methodologies of legal information science to remain relevant and effective in the digital age. Together, these fields can strengthen the rule of law by enhancing the organization, retrieval, and stability of legal information.

Legal information science’s potential subfields are central to the discussion is to develop tools for the law librarianship to thrive in the age of GenAI. Many suggestions are made, but a few instruments are developed in detail: Rule of Law and Thin Theory, Ecologic Holistic Media Theory, heuristics for testing GenAI, the relationship of Rule of Recognition and Cognitive Authority, and the use of new GenAI taxonomies for classifying legal cases.

By harmonizing the values of law librarianship—such as intellectual freedom, equitable access, and knowledge preservation—with the analytical tools of legal information science, this article presents a framework for law librarianship and law to flourish in the age of GenAI. The conclusion envisions a future where both law librarianship and legal information science collaboratively advance legal research, education, and access to justice, ensuring their continued relevance and impact in the digital era.

Recommended Citation

Paul D. Callister, Law and Its Discovery: The Roles of Law Librarianship and Legal Information Science in the Age of GenAI, (2025).
Available at: https://irlaw.umkc.edu/faculty_works/1013