Apply to Be the Library Futures Staff Attorney
Description
Library Futures and the Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy at NYU Law seek a full-time leader for a project exploring how libraries contract with content vendors and publishers. The project includes direct representation of library clients as well as communicating complex legal topics to the larger Library Futures community. This position is most appropriate for lawyers with 1-5 years of experience that includes transactional work, and a passion for the public interest, open access to information, and library rights and will report to both the Executive Director of Library Futures and the Executive Director of the Engelberg Center.
Library Futures is the vanguard nonprofit organization uncovering and confronting the fundamental policy issues that threaten libraries in the digital age. We believe librarians, policymakers, and community leaders deserve a new approach to digital rights so they can protect, advocate for, and advance a brighter digital future for libraries and the communities they serve. Library Futures meets this need with fresh research, visionary policy and advocacy initiatives, and engaging education programs.
The Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy provides a unique environment where scholars can examine the key drivers of innovation as well as the law and policy that best support innovation.
Candidates must be able to work both independently and as part of a team and must possess strong written and oral communication skills. Applicants should also have a commitment to working collaboratively with staff and volunteers, as well as a commitment to community-centered lawyering and practice.
The annual base salary for this position is $100,000.
This position comes with a competitive salary and a generous array of benefits, which include medical, dental, and vision. Further information regarding benefits can be found on the NYU website.
Qualifications
The successful candidate must have:
- Experience and interest in the law of libraries; technology, and information access, broadly defined;
- Experience and interest in library policy and advocacy;
- Experience representing clients in contract negotiations;
- Experience with administrative law;
- Strong negotiation skills;
- Ability to set and adhere to deadlines;
- Excellent communication, writing, and drafting skills;
- Within three hours of Eastern Time Zone;
- Minimum of 1 year of post-J.D. legal experience;
- Membership in the New York Bar (or be qualified to waive in) and
- A commitment to equity, community, and justice
Ideal candidates should have:
- Background in community organizing;
- Openness to or experience in startup nonprofit environments;
- History of participation in open knowledge communities or willingness to learn;
- Interest in and willingness to learn the mechanisms of public policy and advocacy;
- Willingness to travel up to 10% (negotiable) within the United States;
- Familiarity with libraries and their rights under the law;
- Knowledge of and interest in the publishing industry
The role
This position will lead Library Futures’ efforts to better understand and improve terms governing library access to digital collections. This involves providing direct legal support to library clients as part of contract negotiations with vendors and publishers, developing guides and best practices to help the larger library community improve their negotiating posture with regard to digital collections, and advocating for a policy landscape more conducive to reasonable terms for digital collections through public policy and . This role is an integral part of the Library Futures community and small team, and requires flexibility, thoughtfulness, discretion, and a willingness to learn. This means:
- Continuing research on the state of contracts in libraries and other public information settings;
- Risk analysis on contracts;
- Supporting library partners and clients through contract negotiation in pro and low bono settings;
- Drafting model contract language;
- Working with the Library Futures team on community building and nurturing;
- Maintaining client relationships;
- Building a database and research module on negotiation;
- Training librarians as advocates;
- Working with the Library Futures team, interns, and community partners in our issue areas
Priority will be given to applications received before September 30, and the projected start date for this position is November 2026.
In order to apply: Please fill out this form and follow the instructions exactly, including the resume requirement.
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