Clinical Services Law Librarian, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Posted April 27, 2016
The Pritzker Legal Research Center of Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law seeks applications from highly motivated individuals for the full-time position of Clinical Services Law Librarian
The Clinical Services Librarian focuses on providing dynamic and proactive research, teaching, and reference support to the Bluhm Legal Clinic’s faculty, students and staff. The Bluhm Clinic provides unique challenges in that the Clinic operates in a variety of domestic and international disciplines, including juvenile and adult criminal law, appellate and exoneration practice, business law with an emphasis on entrepreneurial support, trial advocacy, negotiation and mediation, and international human rights. With both live-client and simulation programs, the Clinic as an important part of the experiential learning opportunities and obligations that are a critical and required part of a student’s legal education, while providing a valuable and critical service to under-served members of society. The Clinic operates along lines similar to that of a practicing law firm, while also remaining fully engaged in the Law School’s mission of teaching, research and service. For more information, see the Clinic’s website at www.law.northwestern.edu/
Specific duties of this position include the following:
The Clinical Services Law Librarian provides research and reference services to faculty, students and staff of the Bluhm Legal Clinic, encompassing both programmatic and scholarly support; meets proactively with clinic faculty to ascertain research and reference support needs including scholarly, project or client oriented activities; collaborates with other librarians to address and respond to those needs as required; develops methods and processes to actively and effectively promote library resources and services to clinical faculty, staff and students; and performs in-depth, detailed research requiring substantive legal analysis.
Engages in non-legal research support, including social science, political and governmental resources, historic and archival research as needed.
Engages in proactive, formal and informal instruction with and to students in the Clinical programs, including training sessions, in-class presentations, webinars or other asynchronous learning, and other formats as required; engages with other teaching librarians as required.
While serving as the primary Faculty Liaison to the Clinical faculty, the CSLL will also collaborate with librarian colleagues and others in identifying and providing services to Clinical faculty, while sharing information about the Clinic’s research needs with librarian colleagues.
Assist Clinical faculty, staff and students in utilizing law practice technologies including knowledge and case management and organizational tools, time and billing resources, and other software and services.
Participates in the collection development process with particular emphasis on identifying current and out-of-print resources, and practice-oriented resources that address needs identified by the Clinic’s faculty and program needs.
Establishes and fosters contacts with other professionals and libraries by participating in committee work and activities of Law School, University, and professional organizations.
While the focus of this position is on providing support to the Bluhm Legal Clinic, will also provide support to the broader Northwestern Law and Northwestern University communities, through scheduled and back-up Reference Desk support.
Participates in library staff development activities.
Special projects and miscellaneous duties as assigned.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
This position requires an M.L.S or equivalent from an accredited institution. A J.D. or additional master’s degree in a related discipline is preferred but not required.
The successful candidate will have experience working with practicing attorneys in a challenging multi-disciplinary environment. Must be able to demonstrate proficiency with non-legal and interdisciplinary research resources, particularly in the social sciences area, and in working with government and non-government scientific and technical research, in addition to an expected proficiency with legal research tools.
Must have experience working with law practice technologies including knowledge and case management tools, records capture and retention, analytics, and similar resources.
Must also demonstrate a strong service orientation, ability to respond creatively and effectively to faculty and other patron needs, and ability to work as part of a team and with minimal supervision and direction.
Excellent organizational, teaching, and oral and written communication skills are required.
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Environment: Located in the heart of the Gold Coast on Northwestern’s Chicago campus, the Pritzker Legal Research Center supports the research and instructional needs of more than 900 J.D. and LL.M. students and 90 residential faculty of the Northwestern University School of Law. The library has a collection of more than 700,000 volumes and equivalents and subscribes to a wide array of electronic information resources. Further information about the Pritzker Legal Research Center is available at the Library’s website www.law.northwestern.edu/
To apply: Candidates should submit a letter of application, current resume, and the names of three references with addresses and telephone numbers (electronic applications are encouraged) to:
Daurina Gregory
Program Assistant to the Search Committee
Research and Instructional Services Librarian
Pritzker Legal Research Center
Northwestern University School of Law
375 East Chicago, Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-3069
Position is available June 1, 2016. Applications received by May 15, 2016 will receive first consideration.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.