Research Librarian and Lecturer in Law

Description

The Research Librarian and Lecturer in Law within the Law Library reports directly to the Assistant Director of Research & Instruction. This role is primarily responsible for providing legal reference and research services to the Lewis & Clark legal community, team teaching the semester-long Legal Research 1 course for first-year students, and creating and updating research guides and resources. To be successful in this position, the individual must excel at working collaboratively in a team-oriented environment, delivering exemplary customer service, and demonstrating a commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse instructional and scholarly environment.

Legal Reference and Research Support

• Provide legal reference and research assistance to law school students, faculty, staff, alumni, and public patrons.
• Deliver reference services at the reference desk and through individual consultations, phone, email, and online chat.
• Collaborate with faculty on research projects.

Instruction and Teaching

• Team teach the Legal Research 1 course, focusing on beginning legal research concepts for first-year law students.
• Create and conduct legal research workshops and training sessions to enhance students' research skills.
• Provide specialty research classes tailored to specific needs of the law school community.

Resource Development and Management

• Develop and maintain research guides, finding aids, and documentation to facilitate legal research.
• Evaluate and select information resources to ensure the library's offerings meet user needs. 

Program Administration

• Oversee the certification in legal research program, ensuring its alignment with academic standards and student success.

Professional Development

• Engage in professional development activities to stay current in legal research and library services.
• Contribute to team projects and assist with various tasks assigned to the Research and Instruction team.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Behaviors

• Proficient in legal research techniques, sources, and formats, with a strong understanding of online platforms essential for conducting legal research.
• Excellent teaching skills or a sincere desire to develop effective legal research teaching methods.
• Proficient in developing asynchronous tutorials or familiar with the tools used to create them, with the knowledge or a willingness to learn necessary skills as a substitute for direct experience.
• Superior organizational and analytical skills, demonstrating self-motivation and attention to detail in all tasks.
• Extremely effective in delivering exemplary customer service and working collaboratively within a team-oriented environment.
• Commitment to promoting inclusion and equity in the workplace, fostering a diverse and supportive instructional and scholarly environment.
• Strong public service orientation, with the ability to engage positively with a diverse population and varied user groups.

Required Education / Experience

• Master’s in Library Science (MLS) or equivalent.
• Juris Doctor (JD) or foreign equivalent. 

Preferred Education / Experience

• Additional certifications related to legal research or instruction.
• Experience in teaching legal research or related subjects at the higher education level.
• One year of relevant work experience in a library or legal research environment.
• Experience in practicing law.