Law Librarian

Law Librarians provide reference service in a busy public law library.  Law Librarians play a critical role in increasing access to justice for Travis County residents by connecting patrons with the legal resources and information they need to represent themselves or their clients in Travis County courts. 

This is the second in a series of four law library-related job classifications within the Professional Support job family. This classification performs a mixture of specialty functions that combine public and technical functions. Maintains expertise in print and electronic search strategies.

• Provides legal information to patrons in a variety of settings: in person; over the phone; via email, teleconferencing apps, chat, and the internet; through presentations in workshops; and through content publication.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers both within and outside the Law Library.
• Analyzes a patron’s needs and makes appropriate referrals to library resources, legal aid, community services, or other county departments. 
• Determines appropriate boundary between legal advice and legal information in common customer interactions.
• Conducts complex legal research for judges, staff attorneys, Elected and Appointed officials, and Travis County litigants. Conducts computer assisted searches of primary and secondary legal authorities. Searches periodicals and journals for articles addressing state policies or legal doctrine. Stays current on newly enacted laws which may change or replace information given to patrons or help with policy decisions for the library.
• Provides instruction in use of print and electronic materials.  
• Maintains expertise in print and electronic search strategies to conduct complex and comprehensive research.  Maintains current knowledge about information resources, community resources, and the Law Library’s collection.
• Oversees circulation of library materials and use of library equipment. 
• Collects and reports statistics.
• Identifies need for, and assists with, development and review of forms, instructional materials, brochures, web-based content, videos, and other materials designed for patron use.
• Reviews, evaluates, and recommends legal and non-legal research resources and changes to the Law Library’s collection. Enforces Law Library rules
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Master's degree in Library Science AND two (2) years professional librarian experience;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
None required.

Preferred:
Bilingual in Spanish and English

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Library science and information technology.
• Acquisitions and collections development practices and standards.
• Federal, State, Local and County laws, rules, regulations and guidelines applicable to Libraries.
• Federal, State, Local and County laws, rules, regulations and guidelines applicable to Records Management.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Cataloging practices and standards.
• On-line automated library system software and hardware as well as other relevant computer applications, including CD applications.
• Online legal research tools and databases and the Internet.
• Standard practices in area of assignment.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

• Providing positive customer service in a busy and stressful environment.
• Conducting an effective reference interview to identify legal issues determine the appropriate resource or service referral based on the information provided by the patron.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Conducting research.

• Effectively provide customer service to persons experiencing crises and stress. 
• Work effectively and courteously under high-pressure circumstances.
• Read, analyze, and interpret statute and regulations.
• Simplify legal concepts and terminology to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, with self-represented litigants.
• Organize physical and digital information for accessibility and usability.
• Use and explain library equipment, facilities and materials.
• Manage time well and meet deadlines. 
• Organize, prioritize, and complete assigned responsibilities with minimal intervention.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental support staff, attorneys, judges, clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, carrying, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting, lifting moderately heavy equipment or boxes to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Monday through Friday

Department: Community Legal Services

Location: 1700 Guadalupe Street, 2nd floor, Austin, TX 

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.