Research Librarian, School of Law The Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia

The Arthur J. Morris Law Library at the University of Virginia School of Law seeks one or more collegial, intellectually curious, and service-oriented professionals to join our research and reference team. This is a Professional Research Staff position with the classification of Senior Research Scientist reporting to the Law Library’s Assistant Director & Head of Research Services. The University of Virginia School of Law is consistently recognized as one of the top law schools in the country, and the Law Library is critical to its mission and culture. The Arthur J. Morris Law Library supports the Law School’s mission of excellence in teaching, research, and publication.

The Research Librarian(s) will join a highly skilled team of law librarians in providing sophisticated research support for faculty, students, and staff; research instruction to students; and reference assistance to members of the public. The position(s) will allow for exploration and skills development in any of several areas, such as business research, data services, outreach support, creation and curation of research guides, online tutorials and other web applications, space planning or other facets of library operations and administration. Our librarians share responsibility for creating a learning and working environment that supports diversity, equity, and belonging for all students, staff, faculty, and public patrons. We encourage both new and experienced law librarians to apply for this position.

Responsibilities:
Participates in the rotation schedule for providing in-person and online reference services.

Serves on the Law Library’s collection development committee. May also serve on other committees and project teams, such as the Law Library’s Diversity, Equity, and Belonging (DEB) Standing Committee; Technology Steering Committee; Outreach and Social Media teams; talent search committees; and Law School and University committees.

Acts as a library liaison to 1L Legal Research & Writing classes, the Law School’s Summer Research Assistant Program, and one or more of the Law School’s student-run journals.

Depending on interest, teaching ability or aptitude, and Law School needs, may teach, co-teach, or assist with teaching for-credit classes such as Advanced Legal Research or specialized legal research classes. Previous instructional experience is helpful; however, the teaching team will provide support for new and developing teachers.

Supports library operations and administrative projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school (completed by start date).

Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited school of library or information sciences (or comparable degree from a foreign institution); students who are making satisfactory progress in a qualified distance learning MLS degree program will be considered.

Knowledge, skills, and ability in legal research to provide excellent, timely, and in-depth research support to faculty and staff; research instruction and support to students; and reference services to the community.

Strong service ethic, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to work well with diverse patrons and colleagues.

Demonstrated enthusiasm for law librarianship and the librarian profession.

Comfort with office productivity and collaboration applications such as Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint), Adobe Acrobat Pro, and basic HTML, and the ability to adapt quickly in a rapidly changing technology environment.

Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information in a succinct and clear manner.

Strong organizational and project management skills sufficient for successful planning and timely completion of delegated, self-initiated, and collaborative projects.

Preferred Qualifications

Minimum of three years of experience working in a law library is preferred; less experienced applicants with relevant alternative qualifications such as high academic achievement and/or demonstrable success in customer service in an information services field will be considered.

Experience with public speaking, such as through teaching or presenting at conferences.

Professional writing experience, such as publication of articles in legal or library journals, periodicals, and/or substantive blog posts.

Experience with creating and developing research guides (e.g., LibGuides) and/or legal bibliographies.

Familiarity with the ecosystem of scholarly legal publishing.

The preferred start date for this position is August 1 but is negotiable. Salary is commensurate with experience.

The environment at the Law School is both active and supportive, with a strong sense of collegiality among students, faculty, and staff and a commitment to excellence and service.

The School of Law is in Charlottesville, Virginia, a college town setting in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Charlottesville area offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, an active arts and music scene, and access to historical sites where researchers continue to explore the region’s past. Charlottesville is often ranked among the best places to live in the United States.

To Apply:
Apply online at https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs. Search for requisition R0036525. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile. Complete the application and upload the following required materials:

Cover letter

CV/resume

Names and contact information for three professional references.

*** Please note that ALL REQUESTED documents MUST be uploaded in the resume submission field, and you can combine documents into one PDF. ***

**Applications that do not have all the required documents will not receive full consideration.***

The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

Questions regarding the position should be directed to Kate Boudouris, Search Committee Chair, at [email protected] . Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Marcus Rozier, Academic Recruiter, at [email protected]. Review of applications will begin on June 14, 2022.

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visit the UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines webpage prior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirements and guidelines for employment at UVA.