Summer Research Associate Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT BAKER BOTTS

Baker Botts is a leading international law firm recognized for its deep understanding of the industries it serves. With offices across major global markets, the firm delivers sophisticated legal services while cultivating a collaborative, inclusive culture where both attorneys and professional staff contribute to client success and organizational excellence.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The purpose of this position is to provide research and reference services to firm lawyers and staff in support of service to firm clients and the firm’s business development efforts.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Primary Responsibilities

• Performs specialized legal research for lawyers and clients using a variety of electronic and print resources. Projects may include retrieving court documents; locating contact information for individuals; obtaining legal, business, and medical/scientific literature; authenticating cited sources; finding biographical details on judges and counsel; and tracking litigation.
• Conducts in-depth research in a wide range of practice-specific areas of law, business intelligence, public records, legislative history, and news media.
• Performs research on and prepares company and industry profiles in support of business development efforts.
• Delivers basic and advanced library instruction to new lawyers, legal support staff members and other researchers and assists in arranging vendor-led training on various research platforms.
• Supports the firm’s usage of legal and business databases by securing passwords, coordinating introductory and recurring training, and trouble-shooting technical issues.
• Provides support for onboarding and offboarding of all researchers, including the firm’s summer and fall associate classes.
• Provides routine support for and assists on special projects involving the library systems including the catalog, password management and usage monitoring system, work-product retrieval tool, and library-related content on the firm’s intranet.
• Supports library managers serving as liaisons to the firm’s practice departments by providing collection development assistance, including evaluating information needs, research requests, available resources, and usage patterns. Provides input on addition of new resources and removal of resources no longer needed.
• Evaluates, uses, and promotes responsible application of artificial intelligence tools to improve legal and business research workflows, including prompt development, output review, citation verification, and integration of AI-assisted research practices consistent with firm policies and ethical obligations.
• Monitors developments in generative AI and emerging research technologies; assists with testing new tools, documenting best practices, and advising lawyers and staff on appropriate use cases, limitations, and risk considerations.
• Build dashboards or reports to visualize market trends and resource performance.
• Assists with collection maintenance duties including the ordering and cataloging of books, routing serials, shelving materials, and, periodically, filing updates and looseleaf materials.
• Assists with financial management of the library by reviewing and confirming invoices and allocating expenses to the appropriate accounts.
• Maintains relationships with lending libraries and document retrieval services. Manages inter-library loans with participating libraries.
• Other projects and duties as assigned by direct supervisor and other Library Services Managers.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science with an academic background in Data Science and 3 years of experience is required. Law or professional services firm experience is preferred.
• Substantial experience using major legal and business databases/research platforms, including Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg, Courtlink, Docket Navigator, Questel/Orbit, VitalLaw, and ProView eBooks.
• Strong familiarity with basic legal treatises, particularly where to find them online.
• Experience using the Microsoft Office Suite. Strong technical aptitude and ability to learn new applications and research tools quickly.
• Experience using artificial intelligence tools, including generative AI platforms, to support research, analysis, workflow efficiency, and knowledge management; ability to evaluate AI-generated output for accuracy, authority, confidentiality, and appropriate professional use.
• Familiarity with legal tech and data management processes is highly preferred.
• Proficiency in Power BI preferred
• Knowledge of the Library of Congress classification scheme.
• Significant experience using automated library systems. Genie and Research Monitor experience preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously, perform under tight time deadlines, and flexibly adjust to changing priorities.
• Ability to self-manage.

Core Competencies

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Strong work ethic and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to work well with internal and external clients.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, problem solving skills, and attention to detail.
• Strong customer service skills.

HOW YOU'LL WORK

Extent of Contact

• High level of contact with:
  • Lawyers, Paralegals, and Legal Secretaries
  • Other Research Librarians and Library Services Managers
• Moderate level of contact with:
  • Members of the firm’s Client Relations department
  • Firm vendors
  • Lending libraries
• Occasional level of contact with:
  • Firm clients

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift boxes of files and books weighing approximately 30 pounds.
• Must be able to routinely lift and carry various other materials up to 15 pounds.
• Must be able to spend long periods of time working at computer workstation.
• Must be able to lift, squat, kneel and bend.

Working Conditions and Environment

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior office work environment.
• Regular hours for the position are 10:30am -7:00pm Central, Monday through Friday but are subject to change depending on the needs of the firm. Position often requires hours in excess of the standard work week in order to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job.
• Position may require travel to other Firm offices and to attend professional association meetings.

Baker Botts L.L.P. is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.