Specialist: Legal Information Center Research

Mayer Brown•New York, NY

6h•Onsite

About The Position

Mayer Brown is an international law firm that represents major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in complex transactions and disputes. The firm values its role as a strategic partner with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to excellence. It fosters a collegial and collaborative environment where motivated individuals can grow and thrive. This position is in the Legal Information Center department in the New York office. The Specialist: Legal Information Center Research supports various practice groups, exercising discretion and independent judgment under the general direction of the Senior Manager: Legal Information Center – US. The primary responsibility is to provide in-depth research and reference services to attorneys and staff, ensuring information needs are met efficiently, accurately, and cost-effectively. This is a professional library position that requires maintaining professionalism and strict confidentiality in all client and Firm matters.

Requirements

Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from a program accredited by the American Library Association, required.
Minimum of 3-5 years of previous law library experience, required.
Prior experience working in a law firm, preferred.
Experience and Proficiency in legal and business research required.
Business & Competitive Intelligence research experience, required.
Strong computer skills with solid experience and proficiency in Microsoft Office products, required.
Knowledge of various search strategies, functionality and navigation using a variety of Internet search engines, required.
Analytical and technical skills requiring an aptitude for detail, precision, and logic with comprehensive knowledge of Library principles and practices in order to conduct legal and business research and reference services; analyze data and recommend solutions; evaluate new research services and resources, required.
Experience effectively utilizing and navigating a variety of legal and business research tools, such as, but not limited to: LexisNexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg, CCH/Wolters Kluwer VitalLaw, S&P Capital I.Q., RIA Checkpoint, PACER, Factset, Pitchbook, HeinOnline, required.
Ability to keep current on new enhancements and developments relating to online legal and business research, required.
Maintain a network of information resources outside of the Firm; and participate in continuing education, required.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors.
Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm.
Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities.
Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative.
Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs.
Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects.
Maintains professionalism and strict confidentiality in all client and Firm matters.
Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

General familiarity, awareness and inquisitiveness with regards to emerging AI technologies in the legal landscape, preferred.
Experience using automated library systems including in-house and outside libraries, preferred.

Responsibilities

Independently, creatively, and accurately assess incoming research requests to identify the scope, complexity and specific data required by the requestor.
Apply critical thinking to determine the most relevant and effective questions to pose as a part of the “reference interview,” to ensure that one is delivering accurate, relevant and timing results within any time constraints and/or budget restrictions.
Work closely with customers, practice groups, and other stakeholders to ensure clarity in research objectives and expectations.
Perform conventional and sophisticated legal and non-legal research using a variety of online research tools including but not limited to Westlaw, LexisNexis, CCH/Wolters Kluwer, Bloomberg as well as many other practice-specific databases.
Provide creative and strategic solutions to address unique research queries, adding value to the findings.
Perform research relating to corporations, securities law, banking and finance, litigation, employment/benefits, government/global trade, IP, bankruptcy, tax, environmental law, real estate and many other practice areas.
Provide accurate, relevant and timely research results to the practice groups, Business Development & Marketing Department, industry teams, recruiting department, and to strategic committees of the firm, in alignment with the firm’s strategic and business plans.
In conjunction with the other Firm librarians, evaluate, and when appropriate, recommend, new publications and research services in a variety of formats to develop the Firm’s information resources.
Seek out opportunities for collaboration across administrative teams in order to offer enhanced deliverables to stakeholders, ensuring that the outcomes align with organizational goals and client needs.
Make informed and educated decisions as to the best and most relevant research tools needed in order to address and answer the requestor’s inquiry all the while staying abreast of new and emerging technologies in the legal research market and profession.
Legal Monitoring: track and monitor court rulings, government publications, news outlets, and relevant legislative, regulatory and judicial developments from local, national and international sources.
Responsible for opening, sorting, distributing mail; retrieving and working with the mail room to deliver library materials both within (e.g., office copies) and outside the Firm (e.g., interlibrary loans).
Assists with publication check in and routing, invoice processing; verifying invoice matches materials received, bar coding, and labelling of those materials.
Maintains professional appearance of the library collections; to include shelving.
Responsible for the check-in process of the mail and loose-leaf filing into our ILS (Softlink) in preparation for the outside loose-leaf filing service.
Responsible for making library claims for scheduled materials not received from vendor suppliers.
Work with Legal Information Center Manager on the maintenance and currency of standing orders for library publications.
Update and maintain routing lists for the standing orders of library publications.
Work with Lexis and Westlaw account representatives to coordinate training and maintenance of database passwords.
Communicates with management team on projects and deadline issues.
Assists with special projects and coverage as needed in ancillary business service departments.
Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives.