Law Library Director/Assistant Professor of Law, Commonwealth Law School

Widener Law Commonwealth seeks a Law Library Director who will provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all aspects of the Law Library. The Director will advance the mission of the Law School by ensuring that the Library effectively supports the instructional, scholarly, and research needs of faculty and students.

This is a tenure-track faculty position. The Director is expected to meet the Law School’s standards for tenure, including excellence in teaching, sustained scholarly achievement, and meaningful service to the institution and profession.  The Director will further lead or assist in leading Bar Success efforts at the Law School.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):

Essential Responsibilities:

I. Administration and Strategic Leadership

• Provide vision and leadership for the Law Library consistent with the mission of the Law School.
• Develop and implement strategic plans for collections, research services, technology, space, and access.
• Oversee development and revision of Library policies and procedures.
• Prepare, manage, and monitor the Library budget; coordinate fiscal planning with the Dean and administrative leadership.
• Ensure compliance with ABA accreditation standards relating to library and research services.
• Lead in Bar Success efforts at the Law School or assist the Director of Bar Success in supporting law students in bar exam preparation.

II. Teaching Responsibilities

• Teach legal research and other courses consistent with Law School curricular needs.
• Collaborate with Legal Methods faculty to provide research instruction for first-year students.
• Demonstrate excellence in classroom instruction, course development, and student mentorship.
• Teaching load will be commensurate with administrative responsibilities and consistent with faculty policies.

III. Scholarly Expectations

• Maintain an active and sustained program of scholarly research and publication.
• Produce high-quality legal scholarship appropriate to tenure standards of the Law School.
• Contribute meaningfully to the intellectual life of the faculty.
• Scholarship may focus on law, legal research, legal information systems, pedagogy, or related fields consistent with the candidate’s expertise and institutional mission.

IV. Service and Institutional Engagement

• Participate fully in faculty governance and committee service.
• Represent the Law Library within the Law School, University, and broader legal and information communities.
• Promote professional development and contribute to national legal and library organizations where appropriate.

V. Management and Supervision

• Supervise and evaluate Library personnel and Bar Success personnel.
• Promote staff development and foster a collaborative service culture.
• Oversee collection development and resource acquisition.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):

Required:

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Demonstrated ability to teach effectively in a law school environment.
• Evidence of scholarly potential consistent with tenure-track expectations.
• Strong administrative, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred:

• Record of scholarly publication.
• Experience with ABA accreditation standards.
• Leadership in professional legal or library organizations.
• Experience in an academic law library with progressively responsible leadership.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL HOURS:

• Widener Law Commonwealth enrolls students in an Evening Division program. Evening Division classes are scheduled in the evening between the hours of 5:25pm and 10:05pm.  All faculty agree to teach courses in the Evening Division.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.

U.S. work authorization is required. 

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.

EOE M/F/V/D