About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

14 PLL Persp. 1 (2002-2003)

handle is hein.lbr/aaplper0014 and id is 1 raw text is: =PLL PERSPECTIVES THE QUARTERLY OF THE PRIVATE LAW LIBRARIES SIS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES Volume 14 Issue 1 GETTING A DOSE OF VITAMIN 'C' AT THE AALL CONFERENCE by Linda Jean Schneider Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Philadelphia, PA Creating the Connections was a very appropriate theme not only for the AALL Meeting this year, but also for those of us seeking to benefit from a re-examination of the other Big C's prevalent in our profession today: Contracts, Copyright Compliance, Communities of praCtiCe (the ubiquitous KM topic), Cost reCovery, and Coordination of Co-Workers in the increasingly-demanding legal environment. The major difficulty was Choosing from the available selections, while fitting in sufficient time for surveying exhibits, participating in focus and user groups, and networking with Colleagues from near and far. Naturally, Orlando's Orange County Convention Center was an excellent location for imbibing Vitamin C, whether in Orange Juice or a Daiquiri! The first session of the well-attended PLL programs, Performance Management: Making the Connection Between You and Your Staff, Challenged the attendees to re-think the very basics of personnel management. Retention 'Evangelist' Bob Rosner urged the audience to apply his Credo of Revealing Information/Energizing your Staff/ (using a variety of) Tools (to)/Invest in your staff/Now. RETAIN! He reviewed the changing dynamics of the current work environment, as well as of the legal profession. Rosner's 12 Steps to Better Bossing feature exacting Dos and Don'ts, that resonate with the need to face the challenges head-on, and to make plans for effective staff development. He emphasizes the need to vary leadership styles in response to divergent personality styles and to prevent stagnation. Rosner continued his Retention Evangelization at the PLL Luncheon, and provided more of his insights into The Working Wounded. More information on his presentations and publications is available at www.retentionevangelist.com or www.workingwounded.com, which won a Forbes.com Best of the Web Favorite award. In a tightly-focussed afternoon session, Linda Will and William Kwiatkowski analyzed the all-too-frequent hectic and demanding scenarios occurring behind the scenes as law firms contemplate major Changes and Challenges in Law Firm Mergers: A Roadmap Through the Minefield. The two speakers were former Colleagues, so they were able to build on each other's Comments, due to their familiarity with their respective interests and strengths. Bill delved into the Theory of the Growth/IMerger Process, while Linda discussed the specific Contributions of the Library Staff during the transition phase. The first 'Point of Attack' for most firms is to identify and understand the strategic needs of the firm, which are not necessarily growth for growth's sake, appearances to the contrary. The objectives may be to add specific practice groups or target acknowledged experts in specific sub- practices. Although it may seem arbitrary, frequently the geographic expansion may come about as a result of client proximity, rather than any aspirations toward Empire Building. The next step is that of evaluation and due diligence as a Merger Committee determines the financials and the possible client synergy that could result. As the Powers that Be calculate what they call a Pro Forma, the whole must equal MORE than the sum of its parts in order for it to work. The Implementation Phase, or integration of firm Cultures, wherein it is hoped that most of the initial expectations are met, can take a very long time, and this Cooperation is key to the survival of the merger. Linda Will spoke of the need for immediate action on the part of the Library/Research Department as soon as the decision to merge has been finalized. An almost instantaneous needs assessment must take place, where the user population is surveyed. Any resulting staffing changes should be handled promptly and professionally. Her statement that current AALL standards recommend 10 Staff members for every 190 attorneys drew admiring gasps from much of the audience. And Ms. Will states an effective case for that ratio. She makes a major distinction between those who manage the Machines (IT) and the Scholarship (Library/Research) of the firm. Linda offered a Laundry List of focus points during the transition. These include staffing, print Collection, possible pricing options for acquisitions, on-line resources training and password management, Copyright Concerns, growth, Care and Feeding of the Catalog, and the needs for Consonance and Continuity with regard to the budget stated in the Pro Forma, while Complying with the new Costs and procedures. Lots of ammunition for this daunting Challenge! Continued on Page 4 I-,1 PILL PERSPIl IEC TI S 1 F L 2 2 1 FALL 2002

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most