Irvine, Calif. (August 5, 2025) — The University of California, Irvine School of Law appointed Amy Atchison Associate Dean and Director of the Law Library. As Director, she will oversee Law Library operations and collections to ensure these resources support the Law School’s mission. Dean Atchison served as the Law Library’s acting director over the past year and previously as deputy director.
Associate Dean & Director of the Law Library
Dean Atchison credits her “outstanding, bright, and creative colleagues in the Law Library, the privilege of working at a UC Library, and the wonderful law school community” as the best aspects of her new position. “The UC Irvine Law Library’s strength stems from its integration within the broader UC Library System, which provides unparalleled access to resources through campus collections, the California Digital Library (CDL), and the Systemwide Library Facilities,” she said. “This gives UC Irvine Law faculty and students access not only to our excellent local collections but to one of the world’s largest academic library collections, encompassing millions of digital resources provided by CDL and over 40 million print volumes across all UC campuses. The UC Libraries are the best places to learn, research and study.”
The UC Irvine Law Library was founded alongside the Law School in 2008 as a modern, technology-focused enterprise designed to support faculty scholarship, excellence in student education, and service in the public interest.
Law Library staff are responsible for acquiring, cataloging, and maintaining the Law Library’s collection while providing essential document delivery, interlibrary loan, and research and instruction services. To put this in perspective, annually, the Law Library delivers over 1,000 books and articles to law faculty and provides them with over 1,600 hours of research support. The Library also responds to over 500 requests each year from students. Librarians work with the Law School’s Academic Skills Program to collect the most effective study aids and with Student Services to coordinate wellness events during exam periods. They also dedicate over 100 hours annually to teaching for-credit Legal Research Practicum and Advanced Legal Research courses.
Our faculty, staff, and students are grateful that Amy has stepped into this key role as our Law Library is vital to the success of the Law School’s research, teaching, and public service missions, as well as a core hub for our students to study and do their work. I know our library will thrive under Amy’s leadership.
Austen Parrish
Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law
“Amy brings a wealth of experience and institutional knowledge to this role,” said Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law Austen Parrish. “Our Law Library is an integral part of our community, and we are fortunate that we have the support of highly trained librarians and library staff. Our faculty, staff, and students are grateful that Amy has stepped into this key role as our Law Library is vital to the success of the Law School’s research, teaching, and public service missions, as well as a core hub for our students to study and do their work. I know our library will thrive under Amy’s leadership.”
Dean Atchison joined UC Irvine Law in 2017, bringing with her extensive experience in legal information services. Prior to her time at UC Irvine, she held positions at the libraries of UCLA School of Law, the RAND Corporation, and USC Gould School of Law. Her professional service includes long-standing membership in the American Association of Law Libraries and the Southern California Association of Law Libraries, where she has chaired and served on committees for both organizations. She earned both her B.A. and Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) degrees from UCLA and holds a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. She is a member of the State Bar of California.
“I am interested in the responsible and creative use of generative AI in law librarianship and legal information preservation,” said Dean Atchison. “With two law firm library directors, I co-founded the Artificial Intelligence Caucus within the American Association of Law Libraries. The caucus brings together law librarians from across the profession for monthly discussions on how legal professionals are using generative AI and its potential impact on our field. I also serve on the board of the Legal Information Preservation Alliance (LIPA), which provides leadership and develops frameworks for preserving both paper and electronic legal information.”
Amy Atchison’s appointment is a cause for a celebration. Amy is a highly respected librarian, the Law School is fortunate to have her in this leadership role, and she will be a fabulous strategic partner.
Lorelei Tanji
Endowed University Librarian, UC Irvine Libraries
Dean Atchison also publishes in the areas of legal research and librarianship. Recently, she contributed to the 9th edition of Henke’s California Law Guide and the forthcoming Organizational Structures of Academic Law Libraries. She has also served as a consultant and editor on several legal research and writing publications.
“Amy Atchison’s appointment is a cause for a celebration,” said Lorelei Tanji, Endowed University Librarian, UC Irvine Libraries. “Amy is a highly respected librarian, the Law School is fortunate to have her in this leadership role, and she will be a fabulous strategic partner.”
About the University of California, Irvine School of Law
The University of California, Irvine School of Law is a visionary law school that provides an innovative and comprehensive curriculum, prioritizes public service, and demonstrates a commitment to equity within the legal profession. At UC Irvine Law, we are driven to improve our local, national, and global communities by grappling with critical issues as scholars, as practitioners, and as teachers who are preparing the next generation of leaders. The collaborative and interdisciplinary community at UC Irvine Law includes extraordinary students, world-renowned faculty, dedicated staff, engaged alumni, and enthusiastic supporters.
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