Junior Research Librarian

Allens Corporate Services; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market-competitive fixed remuneration

Hybrid and flexible working

Health and wellbeing programs

Parental leave policy

Training and professional development

Job summary

Allens’ Library team in Sydney seeks a motivated information professional to support legal and business research, current awareness, and training services. You will manage digital resources and assist with the physical collection, collaborating with colleagues and providers to enhance research delivery.

You will work in a hybrid setup, develop expertise in legal information services, and contribute to innovative research tools and AI-driven knowledge sharing within a leading law firm.

Qualifications

• A degree or postgraduate qualification in library and information studies, law, or a related field (completed or nearing completion).
• Prior legal research experience is welcome but not required.
• Strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A commitment to delivering outstanding service.
• Curiosity about information, technology and learning new research tools, including an interest in how AI is transforming research and knowledge services.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Undertake legal and business research requests, supported by our experienced librarians as you build familiarity with the firm's legal research function.
• Support the management and ongoing maintenance of the Firm’s digital library resources.
• Assist with the management of the physical collection in the Sydney office.
• Build relationships with colleagues, information providers and publishers to support our research services.
• Keep up-to-date with evolving research strategies, tools and emerging technologies, including AI and its application to legal research.
• Support the delivery of training on legal research platforms, helping build research capability across the firm.
• Support current awareness and news monitoring services to keep teams informed.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of research delivery, workflows and overall user experience.
• Promote library services and collaborate with colleagues to support Firm-wide knowledge initiatives.

Skills

Legal research

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Library and information studies degree

Law degree

Tools

Research databases

Job description

Your role Start or grow your legal research career at Allens. Join our Library team and contribute to how knowledge is discovered, delivered and shared across the Firm. Whether you're a recent library and information science graduate or an experienced librarian looking for a new challenge, you will be welcomed into a collaborative and forward-thinking team, where you can develop your expertise, make an impact and help shape the future of our legal research function.

We are seeking a motivated person with a qualification (or nearing completion of a qualification) in library and information studies, law or a related field to support legal and business research, current awareness and training services, help manage physical and digital resources, and contribute to how knowledge is shared across the firm. This role is well suited to someone starting their career in library and information services, or to an experienced librarian seeking to transition into a specialist information environment. You do not need prior legal research experience. We will provide training, mentoring and professional development to set you up for success. As part of the Knowledge Services team, you will work with leading information resources and emerging technologies, help maintain the Sydney collection, and deepen your expertise in legal information services alongside experienced colleagues.

Key responsibilities:

• Undertake legal and business research requests, supported by our experienced librarians as you build familiarity with the firm's legal research function.
• Support the management and ongoing maintenance of the Firm’s digital library resources.
• Assist with the management of the physical collection in the Sydney office.
• Build relationships with colleagues, information providers and publishers to support our research services.
• Keep up-to-date with evolving research strategies, tools and emerging technologies, including AI and its application to legal research.
• Support the delivery of training on legal research platforms, helping build research capability across the firm.
• Support current awareness and news monitoring services to keep teams informed.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of research delivery, workflows and overall user experience.
• Promote library services and collaborate with colleagues to support Firm-wide knowledge initiatives.

This is a permanent, full-time opportunity. At Allens we have a hybrid working structure, typically 60% in the office and 40% from home. We would be happy to discuss any other flexible working arrangements that best support you.

About you

• A degree or postgraduate qualification in library and information studies, law, or a related field (completed or nearing completion).
• Prior legal research experience is welcome but not required.
• Strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A commitment to delivering outstanding service.
• Curiosity about information, technology and learning new research tools, including an interest in how AI is transforming research and knowledge services.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

At Allens, we value curiosity, collaboration and continuous improvement. Whether you're just starting out or bringing experience from another library setting, you’ll join a team that invests in your growth and helps shape the future of research in the legal profession.

Your development

In this role, growth and development will look like:

• A structured induction and buddy program to help you settle into in a specialist legal research environment.
• On-the-job training in legal and business research platforms, tools and workflows, alongside support to strengthen your commercial and legal knowledge.
• Exposure to a broad range of practice areas and the opportunity to work alongside experienced librarians and legal professionals in a changing research environment.

Our perks

• Financial: market competitive fixed remuneration, employee recruitment referral program, discounts at hundreds of suppliers including retail outlets, health and travel insurance, charity matched funding program.
• Health and wellbeing: fully subsidised gym memberships, annual flu vaccinations, skin checks, in-house snacks and catered meals, subsidised sporting and social activities, Employee Assistance Program including confidential counselling, wellbeing coaching and financial coaching for employees and their families.
• Flexibility: hybrid and flexible working arrangements to support you in your work and life commitments and passions, equipment to support working from home.
• Leave: ability to purchase additional annual leave, access to an enhanced, inclusive and flexible parental leave policy - 26 weeks paid parental leave with no minimum service for permanent employees and high quality executive coaching to support the transition.
• Recognition: team based recognition including social activities and contribution based recognition activities, and annual Allens Values Awards to nominate and recognise the incredible contributions of our people.
• Allens is also proud to invest in our communities, giving you the opportunity to make a difference through our work on reconciliation, the environment and other social justice issues as well as our workplace giving and volunteering programs.

Through our alliance with Linklaters, we work in a global network of 40 offices in 25 countries. Our size and global reach provide exceptional opportunities for career development, including both on-the-job learning and formal training and development opportunities. Our commitment to high performance is balanced with a focus on wellbeing, with a culture that's inclusive, supportive and collaborative. We prioritise connection and value the unique contribution of everyone at the firm. We're proud to hold some of the world's longest ongoing client relationships, stretching back more than 180 years.

At Allens, our culture is made up of unique backgrounds and varying life experiences. We celebrate our people's differences across gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, cultural backgrounds, First Nations communities, and family and caring arrangements.

The right role for you might be just around the corner! At Allens, we've been building legal careers for 200 years; longer than any other firm in Australia. The impact of our people extends to almost every sphere of business, government, the judiciary and the wider legal profession. We continue to provide opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to build outstanding careers and shape the world around them.