Research and Instruction Law Librarian (2) - Cornell University Library

The Cornell University Law Library invites applications for two Research and Instruction Law Librarian positions — one role targeting early career professionals (Assistant Librarian rank) and the other for experienced candidates (Associate Librarian rank). Both positions offer growth and leadership opportunities, particularly in legal research, reference, and instruction services. These roles offer dynamic opportunities to shape legal research instruction and support faculty scholarship in a top-tier law library environment.

The Research and Instruction Law Librarians will deliver expert legal research instruction and legal research and reference services that reflect and anticipate rapid changes to prepare future lawyers for bar and practice success and to support the research needs of doctrinal and experiential faculty and programs of a top-tier law school. The positions prioritize the preparation of law school graduates for roles in U.S. and global legal practice and academic pursuits, and faculty conducting empirical and traditional legal research using advanced legal and academic research technologies.

Librarians at Cornell University hold academic appointments as Research, Teaching, and Extension faculty and must meet Cornell University Library requirements for promotion and reappointment.

The Research and Instruction Law Librarians will have the following essential areas of responsibility:

Legal Research, Reference & Instruction

• Provide expert reference services and in-depth research consultations.

• Deliver workshops, presentations, and embedded classroom instruction.

• Develop legal research guides and promote critical legal information literacy.

• Support faculty with legal research tools, including AI and emerging technologies.

Curricular Instruction

• Teach legal research in the 1L Lawyering course and LLM Principles of American Legal Research and Writing.

• Design curricula, create instructional materials, and assess student learning.

• Prepare students for clinical work, legal practice, and the NextGen Bar Exam.

Advanced Legal Research Course Responsibilities

• Design and teach advanced legal research courses (e.g., FCIL, business law, legal tech).

• Develop learning outcomes and assessments as instructor of record.

Service & Professional Development

• Engage in outreach, orientation, and committee work across Cornell Law School and University Library.

• Contribute to professional conferences, publications, and collaborative initiatives.

Candidate Profile:

• JD from an ABA-accredited program or equivalent; or, Master’s degree and combination of legal research competencies such as are normally gained through a JD program.

• Demonstrated ability to teach and conduct U.S. legal research.

• Knowledge about current pedagogical approaches to legal research curricular development and teaching, such as topical, programmatic, or advanced legal research courses in a law school or legal education, librarianship, or another relevant accredited program.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

• Demonstrated ability to initiate, develop, manage, and assess projects and programs in collaboration with others, and ability to adapt with shifting priorities.

Additionally, we would prefer any of the following:

• Knowledge about one or more of Tribal Law, Federal Indian Law, and Indigenous law research; New York legal research; Business Legal Research, and Foreign, Comparative, and International Legal Research.

• Ability to plan, organize, develop, and maintain subject-specific research guides for use as research and instructional tools.

• Familiarity with bar preparation or bar exams.

Work location: This position is located in Ithaca, New York, with the potential to enter into a flexible work arrangement consistent with university policies. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke, or terminate a work arrangement at any time.

The New York convenience of employer guidelines requires New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside New York State.

How to Apply:  All