Legal Librarian Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The University of Pittsburgh School of Law invites applications for a Legal Research & Technology Instruction Librarian at the Barco Law Library.  This is a faculty librarian position for an early-to mid-career professional who approaches librarianship as a teaching profession and is eager to build a meaningful role at a research-intensive law school.

The successful candidate will be a core member of the library's public service team, with primary responsibilities in legal research instruction, student engagement, reference services, and faculty support.  The position carries significant instructional weight:  the new librarian will teach Foundations of Legal Research, the required first-year course, and will have genuine ownership over the development of additional instruction in legal research, technology, and related areas over time.

The School of Law has identified legal technology and AI literacy as a strategic priority, and this position will play a key role in building the library's capacity in this area.  We are seeking someone who holds a J.D. and is excited about teaching and working directly with students.  Candidates with an interest in legal technology and AI are especially encouraged to apply.  The library is prepared to invest in the right candidate's development in this area, including dedicated time, resources, and institutional support to build expertise and programming.

Responsibilities

Legal Research Instruction

         Teach Foundations of Legal Research, with responsibility for a section of the incoming 1L class.

         Develop and teach advanced or specialized instruction over time, which may include upper-level legal research, AI-focused research methods, or research modules integrated into doctrinal and clinical courses.

         Integrate instruction on AI-assisted legal research tools into core and advanced research courses as these tools become standard components of legal practice.

         Prepare and maintain instructional materials including research guides, course resources, and tutorials.

         Participate in guest instruction in doctrinal, clinical, and skills courses at faculty invitation.

Student Engagement & Outreach

         Serve as a visible, accessible resource for students seeking research assistance and guidance on substantive writing projects, including law review, moot court, and seminar papers.

         Design and lead workshops and informal learning opportunities throughout the academic year, including programming on legal technology and AI tools, and assisting other departments with programming for students preparing for summer positions, clerkships, and bar examination.

         Develop at least one workshop or instructional module on AI-assisted legal research withing the first year of appointment.

         Contribute to library programming during orientation and academic success initiatives.

         Build relationships with student organizations and clinical programs to expand the library's presence and relevance in students' academic lives.

Reference & Faculty Support

         Participate in the reference desk rotation, providing research assistance to students, faculty, staff, and library patrons.

         Serve as liaison librarian to an assigned area of the faculty, providing research consultations, collection input, and instructional support.

         Support faculty and students in evaluating and integrating AI tools into legal research, writing, and course design.

         Assist with faculty research activities including source verification, citation checking, and bibliography compilation.

Digital Services & Collection

         Serve as vendor liaison and facilitate access to databases and LibGuides.

         Contribute to collection development in assigned subject areas.

Library Technology & AI (Developing Area of Responsibility)

The library is actively building capacity in legal technology and AI instruction, and there is demonstrated demand from students and faculty for programming in this area.  This is a genuine component of the position, not a secondary add-on.  The library will provide dedicated time, resources, and institutional support for the successful candidate to develop expertise and programming.  Core expectations and growth opportunities include:

         Year-one expectations:  Develop familiarity with AI-assisted legal research platforms (e.g., Westlaw AI, Lexis AI, CoCounsel); deliver at least one workshop or instructional module on AI tools for legal research; begin identifying opportunities to integrate technology content into existing instruction.

         Ongoing development:  Develop and deliver instruction AI research tools, legal technology platforms, and emerging practice technologies; support faculty and students in evaluating and integrating AI tools into legal research and writing; contribute to law school-wide conversations and initiatives on AI in legal education and practice.

         Institutional support:  The library will provide dedicated professional development funding, conference support, and protected time for the successful candidate to build capacity in this area.

Professional Service

         Participate in library planning, committees, and staff development activities.

         Engage in professional development and, where applicable, scholarship and serve to the broader profession.

Qualifications

Required

         J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.

         M.L.I.S. or equivalent graduate degree in library or information science form an ALA-accredited program.  Demonstrable interest in law librarianship and a commitment to earning M.L.I.S. in specific timeframe will be accepted as a substitute for the degree at the time of hiring.

         Commitment to legal research instruction as a core professional responsibility.

         Strong grounding in legal research methods, sources, and tools across primary and secondary materials.

         Willingness to develop and maintain expertise in emerging legal technologies, including AI-assisted research tools, with institutional support.

         Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with faculty, students, and colleagues in a demanding academic environment.

Preferred

         Prior teaching or instructional experience in a law school, law library, or related setting.

         Demonstrated interest or experience in legal technology, AI research tools, or emerging practice technologies.

         Familiarity with AI platforms used in legal practice (e.g., Westlaw AI, Lexis AI, CoCounsel), and the ability to evaluate them critically.

         Experience with research guide platforms (e.g., LibGuides) and learning management systems.

         Experience in an academic law library setting.

         Record of, or potential for, professional engagement, scholarship, or service.