Research Specialist
Harbor
Salary undisclosed
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Description
Harbor is seeking a Research Specialist to join its Library and Research Department. This is a full-time, fully remote position open to candidates based anywhere in the United States. The Research Specialist will be responsible for delivering high-quality legal research and retrieval services in support of Harbor’s law firm clients. This role requires strong proficiency in electronic research platforms and internal tools to ensure accurate and timely results.
This position has a particular emphasis on intellectual property (IP) research, supporting attorneys and legal teams on matters involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, and related areas. The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated experience in IP research and familiarity with a range of specialized tools, including Darts-IP, LexisNexis TotalPatent One, Derwent Innovation, USPTO databases, Saegis, and other IP resources. Knowledge of global IP filings, prosecution histories, and litigation analytics is highly desirable.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct in-depth legal, business, and other research and reference work, utilizing both legal and non-legal information resources.
- Perform effective reference interviews and synthesize findings into clear, concise, and actionable reports.
- Evaluate diverse information sources for currency, reliability, relevance, and cost-effectiveness; select the most appropriate tools and databases to meet research needs.
- Maintain expertise across a broad range of legal, business, legislative, analytics, and docket resources, including but not limited to: Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg Law, PACER, WK VitalLaw, and Lex Machina.
- Utilize request tracking software to manage, process, and document research tasks efficiently and accurately.
- Stay abreast of developments in the legal research field through continued professional development, including active participation in library associations and related activities.
Qualifications:
- MLS (Master of Library Science) or equivalent experience in legal research within a law firm, academic law library, special library, or research center. J.D. Preferred
- 5-7 years of professional research experience in a private law firm, academic law library, special library, or research-focused organization.
- Strong working knowledge of legal and business information sources, including online database searching, legal research techniques, and business intelligence gathering.
- Demonstrated experience using Lexis, Westlaw, and other core legal research platforms.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple deadlines while maintaining responsiveness and attention to detail.
- Excellent client service orientation combined with strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Highly organized with effective time management skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a service-oriented team environment.
About Us:
Harbor is the preeminent provider of expert services across strategy, legal technology, operations, and intelligence. Our globally integrated team of 900+ strategists, technologists, and specialists navigate alongside our clients – leading law firms, corporations, and their law departments – to provide essential resources and invaluable insights. Anchored in a rich heritage of deep knowledge, steadfast relationships, and mutual respect, our unwavering dedication lies in shaping the future of the legal industry and fostering enduring partnerships within our community and ecosystem.
Harbor is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, national origin, ancestry, age, parental status, disabled status, veteran status, or any other legally protected classification, in accordance with applicable law.
Benefits
- professional development
About this role
Harbor's Research Specialist role sits within its Library and Research Department, serving law firm clients with comprehensive legal research and retrieval support. Working fully remote from anywhere in the U.S., you'd spend your time conducting in-depth research across legal, business, and specialized databases, then synthesizing findings into clear, actionable reports for attorneys and legal teams. The position emphasizes intellectual property research—patents, trademarks, copyrights, and related matters—requiring hands-on proficiency with tools like Darts-IP, LexisNexis TotalPatent One, Derwent Innovation, and USPTO databases alongside core platforms like Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law.
This role demands someone with an MLS or equivalent legal research background, ideally backed by 5-7 years in a law firm, academic law library, or specialized research environment. Beyond technical database skills, you'd need strong reference interview abilities, the judgment to evaluate sources for reliability and cost-effectiveness, and the organizational discipline to manage multiple concurrent requests through tracking software. A J.D. is preferred but not required. Success here hinges on combining deep research expertise with client service orientation—you'd work both independently and as part of a service team, staying current with developments in legal research through professional engagement.
Pay for this role
The employer didn't post a pay range for this role. That usually means pay is set in negotiation, which favors whoever arrives with numbers. Check ranges on comparable Research Specialist postings in your area, and analyze any offer before you accept it.
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