Emerging Technologies and Legal Practice Librarian

Description

Job Description Summary:

The William & Mary Law Library invites applications for the Emerging Technologies and Legal Practice Librarian position. This innovative and forward-thinking librarian will lead efforts to promote digital literacy by integrating emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, into teaching and research and by creating a curriculum that educates students about these technologies and their impact on the practice of law. Reporting to the Head of Research and Instructional Services, this librarian will develop, coordinate, and teach a required upper-level course that focuses on legal practice technology, as well as provide instruction in the legal research curriculum. Additionally, this librarian will serve as a member of the reference team, providing expert research support on topics related to technology and the law to the William & Mary community.

Job Description:

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library or information science from an ALA-accredited program.

• Either a JD or substantial prior work experience with legal resources in a professional setting.

• Demonstrated knowledge in emerging technologies, such as AI, data analytics, and automation, as applied to legal research, teaching, and the practice of law.

• Instruction and teaching experience, particularly in instruction related to emerging technology and law practice.

• Knowledge of, and experience in, the use of current and emerging law practice technologies.

• Knowledge of legal research sources and the changing landscape of legal information.

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.

• Effective communication skills consistent with being a teacher of students and a colleague who can communicate within the library, law school, and university.

• Demonstrated ability to multitask and to manage library and instructional responsibilities seamlessly.

• Understanding of the changing nature of legal information sources and materials; an ability to participate in holistic collection development to keep and maintain a strong research library reflecting the research and instructional needs of the William & Mary Law School.

• Ability to view the library and its functions as a unified whole and work effectively and collegially with library staff and other members of the law school and university communities.

• Ability to treat students, faculty, staff, and other library users from diverse backgrounds fairly and without bias.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in course design, particularly in the development of teaching law practice technology courses.

Conditions of Employment: 

• Position may require working additional hours outside of normal working hours.

Job Duties: 

40% - Instruction:

• Designs and shares responsibility for teaching a required upper-level course on the use of technology in the practice of law.

• Develops and delivers instruction, training, and support to law faculty, administrators, and staff who are incorporating AI and other emerging technologies into their courses or administrative workflows.

• Provides training and consultation to library colleagues on incorporating AI and emerging technologies into library services.

• Creates online materials supporting independent learning on AI, legal technology, and digital research tools.

• Contributes to teaching the research component of the 1L Legal Research and Writing course.

25% - Collaboration and Outreach:

• Evaluates and recommends technology tools, databases, and platforms for the law library’s collection that will support the Law School’s academic and administrative initiatives.

• Partners with Law School and other university departments to promote the use of AI and other emerging technologies.

• Cultivates relationships with law firms, governmental agencies, and corporate legal departments to identify technological trends and best practices in legal operations.

• Consults with appropriate vendors and technology consortia.

25% - Reference and Research Services:

• The incumbent is considered the expert on the reference staff on the use of emerging technologies in research, the classroom, and in the practice of law, and will receive referrals from other librarians for reference and research needs of the William & Mary Law School community in these subject areas.

• Responsible for the preparation of research guides or other instructional materials on topics in emerging technologies and law practice.

• Selects and coordinates the selection of law materials focusing on emerging technologies and the practice of law – in both print and digital format – for the law library’s collection. Assists with collection development projects and de-selection projects.

• Provides general reference and research services to the William & Mary Law School and college community, the Virginia bench and bar, and the public. Refers patrons to and demonstrates the use of a broad range of resources, including both legal and non-legal materials, utilizing diverse types of information resources.

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Head of Research and Instructional Services and the Director of the Law Library.

10% - Professional Development:

• Pursues ongoing intellectual and professional growth through involvement in professional associations, conference and workshop attendance, and other activities.

• Serves on library, law school, or college committees as appropriate.