Description

UMKC is the urban law school of the University of Missouri System and is located on a beautifully landscaped campus in the Country Club Plaza area of Kansas City, Missouri. It is the only law school in a diverse and vibrant metropolitan area of more than two million people and offers courses leading to J.D., LL.M., or M.L.S. degrees for approximately 500 students. It benefits from its metropolitan location, a university with opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, a dedicated faculty and staff, and strong community and alumni support.

The Leon E. Bloch Law Library at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law seeks an Instructional and Reference Librarian. This position will provide reference and research services to the law school students, faculty, and the surrounding community and will be an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to further their skills in teaching legal research through both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Additional responsibilities will include developing skills to support and manage the library’s digital resources.

The successful candidate will be service and growth oriented. Candidates must have strong teamwork skills to be effective when collaborating with colleagues in the law library, law school faculty and staff, and UMKC campus partners. As a public university, the UMKC Law Library serves a diverse group of students, faculty, members of the bench and bar, and patrons from the surrounding community.

Librarians at the University of Missouri Kansas City Law Library are full-time 12-month ranked non-tenure track faculty. Faculty librarians receive comprehensive benefits including funding for professional development to support attendance at academic conferences.

Responsibilities: 

• Provide reference and research support for students, faculty, and patrons from the surrounding community
• Deliver legal research instruction to students in the JD program
• Develop legal research instructional materials to support LLM and MLS programs, and upper-level courses with research and writing requirements
• Develop expertise in digital resource management, including the Law Library’s databases, institutional repositories, and digital exhibits
• Develop and maintain legal research guides to support students and faculty
• Participate in strategic planning for the Law Library
• Cultivate strong working relationships with Law School students, faculty, and staff, UMKC library staff and faculty, and the wider law library professional community.
• Serve on Law School, library, or other committees as appointed
• Participate in professional organizations in support of law librarianship as a profession
• Pursue professional development opportunities to stay informed of current and emerging trends in law librarianship
•  Other duties as assigned

Application materials:

For consideration, you must apply online at www.umkc.edu/hr/careers/, click on Academic Positions (Job Opening ID 60354). Applications will be reviewed beginning August 10, 2026.

Please combine all application materials (Cover letter, curriculum vitae, three references with current contact information) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as your resume attachments.  Limit document name to 50 characters and do not include any special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). Maximum size limit is 11MB.

• If you are experiencing technical problems during application, please email [email protected].
• For questions about the position, please contact [email protected] including the Job Identification number 59558 and name of the position.
• Reasonable accommodations may be requested during the application and recruitment process. If you need an accommodation, please contact the Office of Equity and Title IX at (816) 235-1323. 

Higher education transcripts will be required for candidates advancing as finalists. Candidates will receive prior notification if references will be contacted. A Criminal Background Check is required prior to hire.

Community Information:

Kansas City offers the best of both worlds—a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city’s rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home. Of course, one of Kansas City’s biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor. UMKC’s campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action. Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours.

To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com. 

Requirements

• JD from an ABA accredited law school, or professional experience demonstrating legal research expertise in a law firm, court, government, or academic law library setting; and
• MLIS from an ALA accredited program, or current enrollment in an ALA-accredited program with an anticipated completion date.