If you are looking for a law student, odds are they are in the library. Despite all this time we spend there, however, most law students are only scratching the surface of the library’s resources. That’s something Professor Kevin Garewal is eager to change.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Professor Garewal’s journey has brought him full circle back to Cleveland State University, where he earned both his J.D. and a Master’s in Accounting. Professor Garewal previously worked as a public librarian before going to law school. During law school, he was in the part-time program and attended classes in the evening. One of his fondest memories of law school was gathering outside the Moot Court room with fellow night students, forming a close-knit community through those late-night chats.
After graduating, Professor Garewal began his legal career as a prosecutor with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. While he enjoyed public service, he found himself seeking a career with better work-life balance. His intellectual curiosity ultimately led him to academia, where he held several prominent library positions, including Dean of Libraries at the University of Rochester School of Law and Associate Director of Collection Development at Harvard Law School Library.
So, what brought him back to Cleveland? “This is a mission driven job . . . and I want to give back to my community. I also missed getting to interact with students,” he said. Now, as the Law Library’s Director, Professor Garewal is focused on making the library a more valuable resource for students.
In our conversation, Professor Garewal emphasized the evolving challenges young lawyers face today, particularly with artificial intelligence reshaping the legal landscape. “It’s still emerging, but not a lot of people are taking the time to learn how it works.” He wants to be at the forefront of these new challenges so students can meet them head-on. He also highlighted how the law school has created the JDO program and how he wants the library to adapt and serve a diverse range of learners.
Many first-year students often struggle with legal research and writing, widely regarded as one of the most challenging subjects in law school. Cleveland State requires a full year of legal writing in the 1L curriculum, so I asked Professor Garewal what he believes are the key skills for mastering legal research. “It’s about understanding the sources you are using, what they cover, and what the strengths and weaknesses are.”
He also discussed the hurdles students face during legal research and cautioned students not to rely too heavily on artificial intelligence. “We want to make students understand the benefits and disadvantages of AI . . . our goal is to educate them.” According to Professor Garewal, information literacy is essential for law students navigating an increasingly AI-driven world.
When asked for his advice to students hoping to get the most out of the law library, Professor Garewal’s response was simple: “Come and talk to us!” He emphasized that students don’t need to have a specific legal question to get help from a law librarian. He wants students to view the law library as a place where they can go to develop their ideas and move forward in whatever they are researching.
Given his own non-traditional career path, I also asked Professor Garewal for his advice to students considering similar routes. “My path is unique . . . my parents were supportive of me following a journey rather than a destination.” He encourages students to take a leap of faith, especially when they’re passionate about something that may not follow the conventional path.
Although he is not teaching this semester, he will be in the classroom next semester teaching advanced legal research, where he is sure to continue being a bridge. With his unique perspective and wealth of knowledge and experience, he’s excited to help shape the next generation at Cleveland State, one student at a time.
Comments