Constance Matts, M.L.S., J.D.

Constance Matts is a Cleveland native with two degrees from Case Western Reserve University—a bachelor of arts degree was followed by a master of science in library science with a law library specialty. She also has a master’s degree in international relations from Creighton University in Omaha. Her law degree was earned from Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis. As a former evening student with a full-time job, Matts understands the long days of the MAP students.

Her professional work history has always been in law libraries, including academic, court and firm libraries. Matts started her career as a catalog librarian at Creighton University School of Law. A move to Chicago led to a reference librarian position at Schiff Hardin & Waite and a later job as the director of the Jenner & Block law library. A relocation to Indianapolis brought her to the Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis as the assistant director for reader services, where she taught legal bibliography to the law students. While working at the law school, Matts also taught a few courses to the library science students. Before starting her current position as information resources director at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, she was the director of the Indiana Supreme Court Library. Consulting for several Indianapolis private law libraries and one Indiana court library is also part of her past experience.

Matts explained that the world of legal research is “rapidly abandoning the traditional print tools, and that is why the Marian University classes focus primarily on electronic sources and searching methods. With an understanding of the fundamentals of legal research, the students should be able to adapt to whatever systems and legal research tools are available in their workplace.” (2012)

Matts just joined the MAP faculty in Spring of 2012, and she said her students have provided a great reintroduction to teaching. She is rooting for all of them to obtain paralegal positions or receive promotions in their current work places. Matts described the Marian students as “the type of people that one wants as co-workers; good-natured, hard-working and cooperative are the adjectives that I would use the characterize the evening students” (2012).