---
title: 'Research Specialist, Legal Knowledge and Research Services at Harbor'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/research-specialist-legal-knowledge-and-research-services-harbor-united-states-02520ae9m2v7'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-06'
---

# Research Specialist, Legal Knowledge and Research Services at Harbor

- **Company:** Harbor
- **Location:** United States
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-11-05
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-06
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/harborglobal/jobs/5286803007

## Job description

Harbor seeks a Research Specialist, Legal Knowledge and Research Services to join the Library and Research department. The Research Specialist provides advanced legal research, strategic guidance, and high-impact client support as part of Harbor’s Knowledge and Research Services team. This role is suited for an experienced research professional who brings deep subject matter expertise, strong project ownership, and the ability to deliver sophisticated written and verbal work product. The Specialist serves as a trusted resource across complex legal and business research matters, contributes to departmental innovation and knowledge management, and supports exceptional service delivery to clients and internal stakeholders.

The Specialist is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, demonstrate deep knowledge of legal research methodologies and related service areas, and contribute to the development of scalable research processes, documentation, and best practices that improve research quality, consistency, efficiency, and long-term client value. This is a full-time, fully remote position that can be worked from anywhere in US or Canada. This position will cover the hours of 2 PM - 11 PM ET (with some flexibility).

Responsibilities:

- Serve as a go-to subject matter expert in one or more specialized legal research areas, regularly leading complex research initiatives from intake through completion and delivering clear, actionable, client-ready results.
- Lead complex client-facing and internal research projects, including scoping requests, developing research plans, managing deadlines, and ensuring work product aligns with client expectations and Harbor’s quality standards.
- Act as a trusted subject matter lead for client work by building and maintaining strong internal and external relationships, engaging effectively across library, research, and intelligence services, and adapting deliverables to client needs.
- Demonstrate strategic client ownership by proactively understanding client goals, anticipating research and service needs, and aligning deliverables, recommendations, and follow-through with long-term client success and Harbor’s broader service strategy.
- Model Harbor values with peers, team members, clients, and across work product by promoting collaboration, inclusion, respectful communication, knowledge sharing, and strong ownership of client outcomes.
- Serve as a resource and mentor to colleagues, particularly junior analysts and researchers, by sharing expertise, contributing to shared knowledge spaces, and supporting team learning and best practices.
- Pilot new research tools, advanced platforms, and emerging methodologies; provide strategic input on research workflows, service delivery models, and process improvement initiatives.
- Define and maintain a clear specialty research portfolio of templates and deliverables that demonstrates enterprise-level influence, advances reusable service capabilities, and supports scalable, consistent delivery across clients, teams, and research service areas.
- Advise on improvements to departmental research approaches and knowledge management documentation, including the evaluation, adoption, and effective use of emerging research technologies.
- Own end-to-end workflow processes for complex projects and client requests, balancing competing priorities and deadlines while ensuring timely, accurate, efficient, and high-quality delivery.
- Identify opportunities to optimize the format, delivery, and overall effectiveness of work product, aligning recommendations with client expectations, departmental goals, and Harbor’s strategic priorities.
- Craft high-impact written deliverables, including research summaries, analyses, and other client-ready work product, and assist with client-facing or internal presentations, trainings, and written communications.
- Communicate complex concepts, findings, and recommendations clearly and persuasively across a variety of formats, adapting tone, structure, and level of detail to suit the audience and purpose.
- Pursue professional growth opportunities, such as certifications, webinars, advanced tool training, and stretch assignments, while remaining open to new challenges and unfamiliar subject matter.

Qualifications:

- MLS and/or demonstrated relevant professional research experience in a private law firm or academic law library, special library, or research center
- 4-6 years’ experience providing research in a private law firm, academic law library or special library or research center
- Experience with legal and business information resources, online database searching, business research and legal research practice and procedures
- Experience using Lexis, Westlaw, and other standard legal research databases
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with strong working knowledge of Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- Responsiveness and demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize competing deadlines
- Client service orientation combined with excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong organizational and time management skills with demonstrated attention to detail
- Ability to work in a collaborative, service-oriented team, yet also independently with minimal supervision

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.

## About Harbor

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Harbor Global is a globally integrated legal technology and consulting services firm that helps law firms and corporate law departments achieve breakthrough outcomes through strategy, technology, operations, and intelligence.
- **Entity Type**: Private (bootstrapped; no public funding rounds disclosed)
- **Headquarters**: Chicago, Illinois, United States (primary hub; major offices also in Moncton, Manila, London, and Sydney)
- **Founded**: Not publicly available
- **Founders**: Not publicly available

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Legal Technology and Consulting Services
- **Target customers**: B2B – leading law firms, corporations, and their in-house legal departments
- **Mission**: To be a globally integrated organization where colleagues, clients, and partners can thrive, with an ambitious commitment to client success.

## Products & Services
- **Legal Technology + Operations**: Advisory, implementation, and operational support for legal technology systems and workflows.
- **Research + Intelligence**: Expert solutions in research, library, and information management to address complex information challenges.
- **Vendor Governance + Sourcing**: Vendor management and sourcing solutions to minimize risks and optimize controls and compliance.
- **Strategy + Transformation**: Combining industry insights with strategy, technology, and business consulting to help clients set and execute their direction.
- **Harbor Labs**: Legal engineering solutions that help enterprises use advanced technology to accelerate the speed of business.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Over 900 industry experts globally (team of ~800–900 employees, as stated on the company website)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not publicly available
- **Growth Signals**: Currently listing 30 open roles on Greenhouse (July 2025/2026); expansion of Data & AI Strategy leadership (Senior Director, Senior Manager); global remote-first hiring across US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Philippines.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Multidisciplinary integration**: Teams are organized into specialist groups aligned with key client functions, enabling seamless collaboration across legal, technology, operations, and intelligence.
- **Remote-first culture**: A significant portion of the 800+ team works from home, supported by offices and co-located workspaces – a model that attracts top talent globally.
- **Deep domain expertise**: A "deep bench" of experts spanning legal technology, sourcing, research, and transformation, allowing tailored solutions for complex legal challenges.

## Strategic Focus
- **Data & AI**: Recent hires for Senior Director and Senior Manager of Data & AI Strategy signal a push to embed AI and data analytics into client solutions.
- **Client relationship expansion**: Emphasis on building lasting connections and fostering community within the legal industry.
- **Global growth**: Continued expansion of remote teams and office hubs in key jurisdictions (US, Canada, UK, Australia, Philippines).

## Why Work Here
- **Flexible work environment**: Remote-first culture with the option to work from home, co-located workspaces, or on-site with clients. Offices available in major hubs.
- **Comprehensive benefits**: Medical, dental, vision, mental health support, life insurance, disability, wellness benefits, retirement savings with employer matching, flexible PTO, parental leave, and statutory holidays.
- **Career development**: Training and development programs, employee assistance, and a clear interview process that may include behavioral, case-study, or technical interviews.
- **Culture**: Values-driven organization focused on client success, inclusive community, resilient connections, and collaboration. Described as a place where employees can "work amongst the stars."

## Sources
1. [harborglobal.com](https://harborglobal.com/)
2. [harborglobal.com/careers/about-harbor](https://harborglobal.com/careers/about-harbor/)
3. [harborglobal.com/careers/for-applicants](https://harborglobal.com/careers/for-applicants/)
4. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/harborglobal](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/harborglobal)
5. [harborglobal.com/careers](https://harborglobal.com/careers/)

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