This is a full-time position with the Library at the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C. Closing Date: Monday, 12/01/2025, 11:59 PM EDT Please note that this vacancy has a limit of 200 applicants. The job opportunity announcement will automatically close if that limit is reached prior to the closing date.
At least three years of professional experience in law library setting, performing legal research, general reference, and legislative and historical research in both print and electronic formats and resources, required. Experience with major legal and non-legal databases, including, but not limited to, Westlaw, Lexis, HeinOnline, Bloomberg Law, PACER, Proquest, and JSTOR, required. Experience in the research and literature of one non-legal subject area, such as empirical research, history or business, highly desired. Knowledge of a foreign language desired.
Research Librarians provide in-depth, comprehensive legal and multidisciplinary research for Chambers, law clerks, Court Officers, staff, and others. Utilizing resources in multiple formats and fields of inquiry, they serve as research experts in culling through the wide array of available materials to provide thorough responses to questions. Research Librarians work under intense time pressure and tight deadlines while determining efficient and effective search strategies to meet the research needs and expectations of Chambers and law clerks. They develop and create new formats and resources for the assembly, organization, and delivery of research results to Chambers and other Court constituencies. They perform collection development through selection responsibilities and resource evaluations. Research Librarians provide training and orientations to law clerks and new employees regarding Library resources and services. They participate in the design and maintenance of a complex relational database for research inquiries. In addition, they have broad programmatic responsibilities for long-term projects that influence the overall effectiveness of the Research Department and the Library. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Expert knowledge of research and reference services and methodologies, legal principles and terminology, court structure and procedure, and legal and non-legal research and related bibliography. Demonstrated expertise in research in legal and non-legal subject areas, including advanced skills with and knowledge of the major electronic resources. Understanding of technology and databases sufficient to use and maintain existing resources and to assist in the design and development of new resources. Ability to quickly become familiar with and comfortable using new databases, web resources, and emerging technologies needed to support research functions and services. Ability to initiate, plan, manage, and complete complex projects. Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple projects under intense time pressures while maintaining the appropriate attention to detail. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to work effectively across organizational lines. Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the work.