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GRA Hiring Resources

Reference GRA Application Materials

Please note that both scholarship and non-scholarship students are eligible for this position.

A Reference GRA’s primary duty is to answer research-related questions while at the Law Library’s Reference Desk. GRAs are also required to complete library projects, such as creating topical research guides, grading Research Methods in Law homework, making bulletin boards, conducting research for law librarians, and writing blog posts for The Blackacre Times.

Reference GRAs are expected to assist many different types of library users, including: law students, undergraduate students, paralegals, attorneys, law and undergraduate faculty, and self-represented litigants. While the law library does provide research assistance to all of these library users, we cannot and do not offer legal advice. Rather, we direct users to resources which may provide an answer and instruct them on how to use the resource to find that answer.

Reference GRAs should be well-versed in the various types of legal resources, both print and electronic, as well as when to best use each of these tools. GRAs need to have excellent customer service skills, patience, quick thinking, and to offer a response in a timely manner. Reference GRAs often work without a supervisor present, and must be able to keep themselves on task and provide written reports to a supervisor. They should also be detail-oriented. Previous experience in a library or similar setting is a plus.

Reference GRAs work 10 hours per week (while classes are in session). GRAs should expect to complete some, if not most, of their work on evenings and weekends. For this, GRAs receive the following compensation:

  • Summer: ½ tuition waiver and $500 stipend
  • Fall/Spring: ½ tuition waiver and $1,000 stipend

The library is currently hiring one reference GRAs for the Spring 2019. To apply for the position, please send a resume and cover letter to Patrick Parsons at pparsons@gsu.edu by November 20.  Make sure to include that you are applying for the reference GRA position in the subject line, and appropriately tailor your cover letter and resume to the position. Please note that our current open position is for Tues/Thursday 6-8, Saturdays 1-6.​

Research GRA Application Materials

Law Library Research GRAs perform research for College of Law faculty under the supervision of the Coordinator of Faculty Services. Faculty requests for research come into the library to the Coordinator of Faculty Services, who then assigns research projects to the Research GRAs. Research GRAs work on projects requiring interdisciplinary research, including research in medical, historical, and business sources. Examples of research projects completed by Law Library Research GRAs include compiling 50-state surveys on a particular area of law, finding statistics using U.S. census data, and locating articles discussing a particular historical event. Research GRAs may also be assigned projects that support the Law Library's faculty services.

Research GRAs must be able to use print and online sources effectively in a number of disciplines, including databases such as GIL, PubMed, Bloomberg Law, LexisNexis, Westlaw, Web of Science, HeinOnline, and EBSCO and ProQuest databases. Research GRAs must be detail-oriented, able to think creatively to solve research problems, and able to communicate and organize research results effectively. Research GRAs must be able to work in a collaborative team environment to complete research assignments

Research GRAs work 10 hours per week while classes are in session. Work must be completed in the library between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Research GRAs receive the following compensation:

  • Fall and Spring semesters: ½ tuition waiver and a $1,000 stipend
  • Summer semester: ½ tuition waiver and a $500 stipend

There are no research GRA positions open at this time.

Law Library Special Projects GRA

Please note that only scholarship students are eligible for this position.

Law Library GRAs work on special projects that support the services provided by the College of Law Library. In Fall 2020, the Law Library GRAs will work editing caption files for material housed in the Law Library’s institutional repository, as well as work on other Outreach and Research projects. This position reports to Cassandra Patterson, the law librarian supervising the employees.

Law Library GRAs must be capable of quickly learning new software, self-regulated, and detail-oriented.

Law Library GRAs work 10 hours per week while classes are in session. Work may be completed either in the Library or off-site. This position is only open to Academic Scholar GRAs. Students must have a Scholarship Letter to be eligible for this position.

The library is currently hiring three Law Library GRAs for Fall 2020. To apply for the position, please send a resume and cover letter to Cassandra Patterson at cpatterson31@gsu.edu. Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. Open until filled. Make sure to include that you are applying for the Law Library GRA position in the subject line, and appropriately tailor your cover letter and resume to the position.

Digital Services GRA

Please note that only scholarship students are eligible for this position.

The Digital Services GRA’s primary duty is to maintain and contribute to the Law Library’s digital platform. The GRA is also required to complete library projects, such as creating topical research guides, conducting research, writing blog posts for The Blackacre Times, and performing website maintenance. The GRA may also be assigned projects that support the Law Library's faculty services. 

The GRA is expected to be familiar with technology and comfortable with basic website design and editing, as well as with Microsoft Office products. The GRA must be able to use print and online sources effectively in a number of disciplines, including databases such as GIL, PubMed, LexisNexis, Westlaw, Web of Science, HeinOnline, and EBSCO and ProQuest databases. The ideal candidate must be detail-oriented, able to think creatively to solve research problems, and able to communicate and organize research results effectively. The GRA is also expected to be a self-starter as assignments are often performed independently and without supervision.

The GRA is expected to work ten hours a week while classes are in session. Some work can be done remotely. is position is only open to Academic Scholar GRAs. Students must have a Scholarship Letter to be eligible for this position.

The library is currently hiring one Digital Services GRA for Spring 2020. To apply for the position, please send a resume and cover letter to Gerard Fowke at gfowke@gsu.edu. Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. Open until filled. Make sure to include that you are applying for the Digital Services GRA position in the subject line, and appropriately tailor your cover letter and resume to the position.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the State of Georgia, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. Georgia State University College of Law and the authors of the works contained on this website do not assume or accept any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, currentness, or comprehensiveness of the content on this website. The content on this website does not in any manner constitute the issuance of legal advice or counsel. The information on this website is intended to provide resources that may aid the research of the topics presented, and are in no way a comprehensive list of sources one should consult on the topics presented. Please note that case law, statutory law, and administrative law may be modified and/or overturned. Additionally, because the laws vary between jurisdictions, the laws referred to herein may or may not be applicable to the law within the reader’s jurisdiction.