Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
20/20 Vision for Library Services
Steve Wingert, CLMPresident, Association of Legal Administrators
Executive Director, Marshall, Gerstein & Borun
20/20 Vision for Library Services
Perceptions or Reality?Past - Legal Research, Collection ManagementPresent – Legal Research, Collection
Management, Expanded Research, Administrative Support, Client Support
Future – Core role in administrative team involving all of the above; multi-faceted service. Collaborative participant.
20/20 Vision for Library Services
Today“We’re asked to chase down information
related to business development, about as often as we’re asked to chase down obscure technical references.”
Todd Hillmer, Director Library ServicesMarshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP
20/20 Vision for Library Services
Today• Increasingly incorporated into all aspects of
law firm/department business.• More involved in overall firm initiatives.– Business Development and Marketing– Finance/Business Support– Strategic Planning
20/20 Vision for Library Services
Today• Business Development – Marketing– Competitive Intelligence - Conducting research on
client competitors; other law firms; legal events– Client Intelligence– Industry data– Market Trends– Monitoring News Alerts– Electronic
20/20 Vision for Library Services
Today• Finance/Business Management– New Client Intake• Info on potential clients
– Financial Collections: • Tracking down contacts and addresses• Financial histories
– Management of contracts
20/20 Vision for Library Services
Future Opportunities/Value• Embedded in practice groups.• Full member of client teams.• Member or lead in process improvement initiatives.• Full member of the management discussion and the
decision making.• Mining Information: LinkedIn, websites, blogs, twitter.• Develop technology based methods/places for content
management.• Researching/creating/managing electronic library for
legal video, webcasts – what is happening where.
20/20 Vision for Library Services
Future Opportunities/Value• Knowledge management – great opportunity to increase visibility and
contribute to the value chain by getting involved with knowledge management initiatives early, if not even spearheading them.
– Creating libraries of KM content.– Serving as the central resource for content.
20/20 Vision for Library Services
How can you get administration support?• Take the offensive – don’t sit back and wait.• Establish advocates for your services.• Make sure you are part of administrative/client work teams or
projects.• Watch, learn, listen: Identify what others need and present it to
them, before they might even ask for it.• Offer to take the lead on an initiatives – e.g. process
improvement.• Educate on what you have to offer. – not just the attorneys and
paralegals, but your administrative peers and management.
20/20 Vision for Library Services
• Collaboration, Expanded Contributions and Service = Value• Create the Perceptions
and the Reality
20/20 Vision for Library Services
Steven D. Wingert, CLMExecutive DirectorMarshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP233 S. Wacker DriveChicago, IL [email protected]
