who are we, how did we get here, and where are we going? an it career path in law schools elmer r....
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Who are we, how did we get here, and where are we going?
An IT Career Path in Law Schools
Elmer R. Masters
Director of Computing
Emory Law School
Introduction
Is there a professional IT career path in legal academia?
Skills and tools one needs to run an IT department in a law school.
Background– 22 managers, 4 staff– Non-scientific
Topics of Discussion
IT career path– Who we are– How we got here– Where we’re going
Skills and tools– Management– Planning– Finance
IT Career Path
Who we are:– 22 day-to-day managers– 10 Directors, 4 Managers, 4 Assistant/Associate
Deans, 2 Librarians, 2 Faculty– 5 JDs, 6 Masters, 6 Bachelors, 1 PhD– Average 5.3 years in law school IT
Shortest: 9 months, longest 13 years 7 with 7 or more years of experience in law school IT
IT Career Path (cont.)
How we got here– 22 managers followed 13 different paths to get to
current position 3 - Webmaster -> Director 3 – Support/Helpdesk -> Director 2 – Attorney -> Librarian -> Director 2 – University IT -> Director Others: Military, Reference Librarian, Sys Admin, Law Firm
IT, Non-profit, Public School IT, Consultant
IT Career Path (cont.)
Where we’re going– Open question– 13 – Continue on in Law School IT
At current level or at some unknown level
– 11 – Leave law school IT To University CIO, private sector
– 2 – Assistant/Associate Dean
Real Life (My Path)
5/92 – Reference Librarian 5/93 – Electronic Services Librarian 5/94 – Internet Resources Librarian 11/96 – Associate Director IT 6/97 – Director of IT 6/99 – Moved to current Director position ? – Associate/Assistant Dean of IT
What This Means
No clear path Future is hazy Profession is developing Path will follow Brain Drain?
Tools & Skills
Necessary to new profession Technical proficiency
– Aware of current developments– Provide strategic IT direction
If you don’t, somebody will
Management– You will have a staff– Performance and service orientation will be important– Team work
Tools & Skills
Budget & Finance– Get your own– Keep the books– Plan
Stick to it
Just say ‘No’– Hardest part of the job– Political skills
Summary/Conclusion
No path … yet Birth of a profession Core of professionals
exists Beware brain drain
Stay current Manage staff Manage users Manage money
Who are we, How did we get here, Where are we going?
Elmer R. Masters
Emory University
School of [email protected]