LINCOLN'S INN LIBRARY
We are recruiting a Library & Archives Assistant to join the Library & Archives Department at Lincoln's Inn Library. This is a permanent role.
Salary: £28,500 pa
Basic hours are 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, including lunch. Once the Library Assistant has reached the requisite level of knowledge and experience he/she will take on evening duties once a week. Working hours for evening duty days are 11am – 7pm.
A season ticket loan and a free lunch are provided.
Please apply by sending a covering letter and current CV.
Applications without a covering letter will not be considered.
Closing date: Monday 13th October 2025
Lincoln's Inn Library represents a core service for barristers, providing the accurate and up-to-date legal information that practitioners need for their work in and out of court. It also supports students studying for the Bar exams, and - through its extensive historical collections - the wider scholarly community. The Library holds about 170,000 volumes in hard copy and subscribes to an extensive range of databases. The coverage of its holdings extends to a range of Commonwealth jurisdictions as well as to English legal materials.
The Inn's Archives contain the earliest written records of any Inn of Court and the minutes of the Inn's governing body extend in an unbroken sequence from 1422.
The Library & Archives Department has a permanent staff of nine. More information on the Library & Archives and on Lincoln's Inn itself will be found on the Inn's website at
The post involves a wide variety of duties: a detailed job description is overleaf. With a significant proportion of the working week at the enquiry desk, the Library & Archives Assistant has a high level of responsibility for maintaining the Library's reputation for quality of service. Good IT literacy is needed.
Although we encourage applications from people with some experience of Library work, we will provide training on all aspects of the role, so this is desirable rather than essential. Essential requirements for the role are attention to detail, an enthusiasm to learn and exemplary customer service skills. An extensive training programme, involving one-to-one tuition, practical exercises, visits to other libraries, and attendance on external courses, is provided.
Job Description
Job Title:
Library & Archives Assistant
Department:
Library & Archives
Reporting to:
The Librarian
Post Objectives
The post holder will be responsible for providing a range of reader services to a professional standard while obtaining experience in standard library duties. They will also assist the Archivist & Records Manager with administrative tasks and project work.
Comprehensive training will be provided in the use of legal and other information sources.
Main Duties
1.To undertake enquiry desk duties, which will involve:
* issuing books for use in the library and for loan,
* dealing with general enquiries in person, via email and on the telephone,
* giving a tour of the library to new students.
2.Providing assistance with Library acquisitions specifically checking in serial parts and claiming missing parts.
3.As part of the Library's distance service, be responsible for handling requests for material to be sent to barristers practising outside London which will include photocopying and emailing materials.
4.Carry out regular stock checking and maintenance of the list of missing books.
5.Preparing the monthly batches of material going for, and returning from, binding.
6.Maintaining the files of law reports from the daily newspapers.
7.Updating contents lists of current Bills, Acts and Parliamentary Papers.
8.The opportunity to lead historical tours of the Inn for members of the public and visitors.
9.Updating Library notices and guides.
10.Assisting the Archivist and Records Manager with administrative tasks including but not restricted to: listing of archive material; answering biographical enquiries; rehousing material into appropriate archival storage; updating and documenting of records and any other related work.
11.Occasional other duties commensurate with level and experience may be required.
Person Specification
All applicants must be educated to degree level. In addition, the following criteria will be used to shortlist applicants for interview.
1. Commitment to a career in librarianship, archives or information work.
2. Potential aptitude for library and information work demonstrated by relevant examples drawn from university course work or work experience.
3. Considered reasons for applying for this particular post.
4. Good attention to detail.
5. Good IT skills, including as a minimum, familiarity with Word, Excel, email and the internet.
6. Be able to demonstrate a high level of discretion and confidentiality in dealing with sensitive information.
7. Be service-focussed with a desire to make a positive contribution.
8. Have proven initiative, be flexible and self-motivated, with the ability to create and develop working relationships at all operational levels.
9. Able to demonstrate an understanding of library and information work and what it involves.
10. A basic understanding of the legal profession as it relates to the range of information services provided by the Inn's library.
11. Ability to communicate at all levels face to face and by telephone.
12. Excellent organisation skills with the ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
13. Able to use initiative and work with minimal supervision.
14. Able to work as part of a team to achieve goals.
Benefits
What's in it for you?
There are lots of great reasons to work at Lincoln's Inn, including:
* Generous annual leave entitlement; 30+ days including closure periods over Christmas and Easter.
* An excellent free lunch
* A 40-hour working week including paid breaks
* Hybrid working (depending on role)
* Overtime paid for Operational roles
* Private Medical Insurance
* A non-contributory 10% Stakeholder Pension Scheme
* Interest-free Season Ticket/Bicycle loan
* Membership of the British & Irish Association of Law Librarians and CILIP
* Enhanced Maternity and Paternity and Shared Parental Leave
* Great annual training and continual development support
* Bicycle stands and shower facilities
* Great annual training and continual development support
* Death in Service benefit; 6 x your annual salary
* Free Eye tests and free chiropody
* Access to a confidential Employment Assistance Programme
* Plenty of social events, such as staff parties, quiz nights etc.
* Employment Membership shopping discounts
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is committed to ensuring both its members and staff members are treated with dignity and respect throughout their careers. We promote values of trust, transparency, and respect for all through robust policies and procedures.