Research and User Services Librarian

University Of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

An established institution of legal education seeks a Research and User Services Librarian to provide expert research support and coordinate outreach initiatives. This full-time role involves collaborating with faculty, assisting with reference services, and developing social media strategies to enhance library visibility. The ideal candidate will hold a J.D. and possess strong legal research skills, along with a passion for supporting the academic community. Join a vibrant and diverse environment where your contributions will shape the future of legal education and research.

Benefits

Professional Development Support

Comprehensive Benefits

Flexible Work Arrangements

Qualifications

• Proficiency with legal research methods and information sources.
• Experience in academic or law firm legal research.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate outreach and instruction initiatives for law students.
• Perform in-depth legal research for law faculty.

Skills

Legal Research

Reference Service

Social Media Strategy

Instruction Sessions

Education

J.D. from ABA accredited law school

Master's degree in Library Science

Tools

Legal Information Sources

Research Guides

Job description

The Research and User Services Librarian provides reference and research support to the Michigan Law patron community and is the point person for the Law Library's student outreach initiatives.The Research and User Services Librarian reports to the Head of Emerging Legal Technology. Spring/Summer 2025 graduates are encouraged to apply.

Who We Are

Founded in 1859, Michigan Law School is one of the world's leading institutions of legal education and enjoys a reputation for academic excellence. Michigan is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the nation and enjoys international renown for its intellectual rigor, stunning physical surroundings, preeminent faculty scholarship, and a community noted for collegiality and warmth. Michigan Law has an exceptional and cooperative community of talented and interesting students, with 1000 in the J.D. and 40 in the LLM. programs. Our commitments to collegiality, constructive and challenging debate, and enabling our students to pursue a wide range of options explain why the Law School has long been committed to diversity along many dimensions. Our graduates serve with distinction in the private, public, non-profit, and academic sectors, in large numbers in every major market in the nation and internationally.

The Law Library holds one of the world's most comprehensive collections of foreign, comparative, and international law materials. The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is considered among the best places in the United States to live and work. With over 1 million volumes, the Law Library has one of the world's premier collections.

Responsibilities*

• Work with the Head of Emerging Legal Technology to create and coordinate outreach and instruction initiatives for law students
• Perform in-depth, expert legal and non-legal research for law faculty
• Assist and back-up the Faculty Research Librarian in managing the Faculty Research Service
• Provide reference service in all areas of law for all jurisdictions, as well as in non-law subject areas
• Participate in the evening and weekend rotation at the reference desk
• Collaborate with the Law Library's social media team to develop social media strategy for marketing the library's spaces, resources, services, and staff. Create and post content on the Law Library's social media accounts in accordance with Library policy
• Provide ad hoc synchronous and asynchronous research instruction sessions for law school classes and individual or group research consultations
• Create and update research guides, FAQs, and other information provided to patrons
• Fill in for other reference librarians and provide back-up supervision for unit functions during vacations and other absences, as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications*

• J.D. from ABA accredited law school
• Knowledge of and proficiency with a wide range of legal information sources and research methods
• Demonstrated experience performing legal research in an academic, court, or law firm setting
• Ability to work evening and weekends at the reference desk on a rotating basis

Desired Qualifications*

• Master's degree for an ALA accredited school of information or library science
• Licensed to practice law in one or more U.S. states
• Some experience performing reference work in an academic law library and/or experience in a large research library
• Some experience preparing and delivering educational programs
• Ability to work with foreign language materials

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Additional Information

This is a regular, full-time (12 Month), 100% appointment and is subject to the collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Lecturer's Employee Organization, AFT Local 6244, AFL-CIO, Librarians, Archivists, and Curators Bargaining Unit.

Salary: minimum $68,000 at the Associate Librarian level, commensurate with experience and qualifications; benefits worth 28% of salary. Additional support is available for professional development activities.

Application Deadline

Applications are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Ideally a candidate would start by the beginning of the Fall term.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.