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An Interview with Shameema Rahman, Legal Reference Specialist

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This week’s interview is with Shameema Rahman, a Legal Reference Specialist in our Public Services Division.  She has previously written a guest blog post for us.

Describe your background.

 

I was born in Pakistan and grew up in Bangladesh because the place of my birth changed its name after independence.  Since my father was a judge and transferred to different districts every two years, he decided to keep the family in Dhaka while he was traveling because two of my siblings were in medical school and the other two were in Dhaka University.  This gave me the opportunity to grow up in Dhaka most of my life.  My father died when I was in high school but my mom kept his dream alive by raising the children the way my dad wanted.  She put me through the best schools and colleges in the country.  I did not realize how much my mother did for me until I became a mother myself.

What is your academic/professional history?Shameena Rahman standing on a stage behind a podium and looking to the right of the camera.

I completed my undergraduate degree in law from Dhaka University.  After completing my LL.B. with honors from Dhaka University in 1991, I was admitted to the LL.M. program there.  At the same time, I was working as a junior attorney, handling cases in the Magistrate Court, Family Court, District Court, and the Supreme Court.  In 1992, I had to leave Bangladesh for the U.S. because my immigrant visa was about to expire and my mom was having trouble taking care of her children in two different countries.  My mom came to America to be with my eldest sister in the early 80’s.

My first job in America was as a substitute teacher at a preschool in New Jersey.  I moved to New York to work at the Tax Center of America as an accountant in December, 1992.  I left New York in 1993 to pursue my LL.M. degree at Howard University School of Law. The program was on Comparative Jurisprudence.  I graduated in 1994.  After that, I completed a certification on Government Contract Management from George Washington University.  I have also completed two semesters at Howard University towards a Ph.D. program.

My first library job was at Howard University Law Library where I started working as a student library assistant in 1993.  In 1994, I joined the Telesec professional staffing services company and held four jobs at the same time including the night shift at Howard Law Library.  My first full-time permanent library job started at the Hale & Dorr law firm in 1996.  I stayed there until December 1998.  I joined the Law Library of Congress in January 1999. My 12th anniversary at the Law Library of Congress will be in January 2011.

How would you describe your job to other people?

My job at the Law Library of Congress is a perfect match with my academic and professional background.  I feel lucky when I am able to use my Bangladeshi education and experience at my job.  I feel lucky when I use my American education and experience in the reading room.  As a Legal Reference Specialist I do a number of things.  For example, I work at the reference desk; answer “Ask A Librarian” reference inquiries; teach legal research classes both for public and congressional staffs; conduct congressional briefings; answer inquiries on Bangladeshi laws; publish articles in the Global Legal Monitor; work as the curator and the database administrator for the Global Legal Information Catalog; volunteer as a docent of the Library of Congress to provide tours of the Jefferson Building;  and many other short-term and long-term projects.  I enjoy every piece of my job responsibility.  I love my work and I love the place of my work.

Why did you want to work at the Law Library?

I used the Law Library of Congress as a student researcher from 1993 to 1996.  Since I was