Description

The Research Services Librarian works with a talented team of professionals to provide legal reference and research services to law library patrons; provide research support to law faculty through the law library’s liaison program; develop instructional materials and teach legal research in the required first-year Legal Writing and Research Program; teach upper-division legal research courses; develop and teach other instruction-based programs; update and maintain online research support materials; participate in collection development; support institutional initiatives and collaborate with colleagues across units to support the research and learning mission of the University; work within the law library as well other campus libraries and University to explore emerging technologies in academic libraries, law libraries and the legal field; and promote library programs and resources both internally and externally. 

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Provide reference services to Vanderbilt Law School students and faculty as well as the larger Vanderbilt University community.
• Provide research support to law faculty through the law library’s liaison program.
• Develop course materials and teach legal research skills in the first-year Legal Writing and Research Program.
• Teach in upper-division legal research courses, seminars, and academic programs as needed.
• Provide support to the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab (VAILL).
• Create and update online research guides, tutorials, and other web content.
• Serve on University Library committees and work with colleagues in other campus libraries and University departments in support of the University’s mission for radical collaboration and interdisciplinary scholarship and learning. 
• Participate in professional organizations and engage in scholarly activities at the local, regional, national and/or international level.
• Take part in collection development.
• Manages additional projects and performs other duties as assigned

This position reports to the Associate Director of Instruction.

Requirements

Education and Certifications:

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited institution required
• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (or equivalent) from an ALA-accredited institution or current enrollment in a Library and Information Science program required
• Entry-level and experienced law librarians are encouraged to apply.
• Expertise in legal bibliography and legal research methodologies. Outstanding communication skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively teach and present.

Experience and Skills:

• Entry-level and experienced law librarians are encouraged to apply.
• Expertise in legal bibliography and legal research methodologies. 
• Outstanding communication skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively teach and present.
• Understanding of generative AI and LLMs and interest in the creative use of these tools. 
• Knowledge or interest in emerging technologies and/or legal technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively. 

Preferred: Experience teaching legal research