Legal Librarian

NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Sunderland; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

PSD Scotland is seeking a capable Legal Librarian to manage legal information resources, support fee earners, and develop library collections. You will lead legal research and knowledge management across CLO, ensuring timely access to materials for solicitors and staff.

The role requires strong research skills, familiarity with key legal databases, and the ability to train users at all levels. Hybrid working is offered, with some Edinburgh office presence and UK residency required.

Qualifications

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Library and Information Studies, Information Management or a related discipline.
• Experience in legal or professional services environments and familiarity with key legal databases.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop legal information services and library collections.
• Support fee earners with timely access to resources and training for users at all levels.
• Conduct legal research and knowledge management to improve service delivery.

Skills

Legal research

Information management

Library services

Education

Degree in Library and Information Studies

Tools

Legal databases

Job description

On 1 April 2026, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) became one national organisation, focused on continuity today and a stronger, more connected service for tomorrow.

As part of this transformation, NSS and NES have joined to form a new organisation: Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland). This new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and ensuring the long-term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland.

About The Organisation

PSD Scotland unites expertise from NES and NSS in a way that will allow us to accelerate national programmes to support the NHS to deliver better care, now and in the future.

We support staff with education and training, provide the tools and data that improve services, and run vital national functions such as procurement, logistics and blood, tissue and cell services.

The Central Legal Office (CLO) provides NHSScotland with legal advice and assistance in a broad range of areas of law relevant to the health service. We operate a team-based structure over four Departments – Litigation, Employment, Commercial Contracts and Commercial Property. Each Department comprises experienced solicitors, legal executives and support staff committed to delivering a responsive and cost-effective service to clients across the NHS.

The Post

In this role, you will manage and develop our legal information services, ensuring our fee earners have timely access to the resources they need. You will play a key part in legal research, knowledge management, and maintaining both digital and physical library collections within CLO.

CLO is a fantastic place to work, offering a varied and interesting range of work.

The Candidate

CLO is seeking an organised, proactive, and knowledgeable Legal Librarian to join our team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong research expertise and a passion for supporting legal professionals in delivering high‑quality work.

The successful candidate will have strong research skills with experience in legal or professional services environments and have familiarity with key legal databases. They will have excellent organisational and information‑management capabilities and be confident in training and supporting users at all levels.

A degree or post graduate qualification in Library and Information Studies, Information Management or a related discipline is required.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a PVG Scheme/Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidate who have lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.

Location and Working Pattern

PSD Scotland offers the opportunity for hybrid working and at CLO there is an expectation that all staff will come into the office in Edinburgh on at least one day a week – subject to business need.

36 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK and have entitlement to work in the UK for the post in which you will be employed.

Benefits

Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure.

Inclusion

Public Services Delivery Scotland is a national organisation and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. PSD Scotland has made a long‑term commitment to staff health and well‑being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such aim to guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of PSD Scotland to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on [e-mail]

Further Information

For an informal discussion on the post, please contact the Legal Adviser to NHS Scotland [e-mail]

Closing date for completed applications is Wednesday 23rd September 2026.

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e‑mail only, so please check your e‑mail regularly (including junk folders).

We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies however, where exceptionally high application volumes make this impracticable, a fair and proportionate shortlisting approach will be applied in line with Disability Confident guidance