2017 Fellowship applications are now open!

This year ALLA Ltd have altered the structure of Fellowships on offer to members to help as many members of the association as possible attend international conferences.

There are three fellowships still available:

• American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Conference - closing date 31 May 2017, 5pm AEST

• New Zealand Law Librarians Association (NZLLA) Conference (Including complimentary registration) - closing date 30 June 2017, 5pm AEST

• International Association of Law Libraries (IALL) Conference - closing date 30 July 2017, 5pm AEST

Decide which conference you would like to go to and complete the application form and send it to fellowships@alla.asn.au prior to the relevant closing date.

More information can be found on the ALLA website.

Over the Horizon – what’s trending in law?

Last week a group of our ALLA NSW members and friends attended Over the Horizon, a seminar by Wolter Kluwer’s Chris Taylor. This event provided an opportunity for Wolters Kluwer to share with us some of the key trends they’ve observed while mapping workflow techniques in law firms.

Their intention is to use this data to find ways of incorporating CCH content into the everyday search practices of lawyers and legal professionals. Information was gathered through contextual design – drawing on a mix of workplace observation, testing and interviews.

It was interesting to hear about the issues concerning our clients, and the trends developing in response. Some of these are outlined below:

• The market is driving change. There has been a move towards efficiency driven innovation, integration and niche disrupters. New methods are being sought to simplify workflow and match legal advisors with those seeking advice.

• There is already an interest in integration and specialisation. We are seeing the emergence of a range of digital technologies/niche disruptors. Examples include:

o   Data visualisation – e.g. Jade Premium, Ravel

o   AI technologies – e.g. Alira

o   Firms developing their own efficiency innovators - e.g. Minter Ellison’s Taskflow

• Legal practitioners tend to be highly specialised. Their research practices vary depending on seniority and practice area. Often these areas overlap, and practitioners will benefit from sharing their knowledge with one another.

• Business Development teams are focused on improving connection and content marketing, forging a battleground for publishers and distributors. With better understanding of social media platforms, firms can enhance the way they promote their services to potential clients. 

Wolters Kluwer provided a valuable insight into the processes our clients use to gather information. For many that attended the session, it also confirmed some trends we have ourselves begun to notice.

ALLA NSW would like to offer a very special thanks to Chris Taylor and Wolters Kluwer for sharing their research, and Herbert Smith Freehills for hosting the event.

Parliamentary Library - internship opportunity for 2 lucky LIS students

The Parliamentary Library is calling on applications for its internship program.

The Internship program provides interns with an opportunity to develop their skills in a well-regarded library with highly professional and experienced staff.

The Internship is open to students who have commenced studying for an ALIA accredited Librarian qualification at an Australian institution. The successful interns will receive:

• experience working in the Australian Parliament 
• interaction with highly skilled librarians and researchers in the Parliamentary Library 
• experience that can be used towards university course credit 
• privileged access to the Parliamentary Library’s collections and facilities.

See the Parliament of Australia website for details on how to apply.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Come join us on the 6th December to celebrate 2016!!

Since it was such a success last year, we will be holding the festivities again at Since I Left You.

Date & Time:
Tuesday 6 December 2016
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm AEDT

Location:
Since I Left You
338 Kent Street
Sydney, NSW 2000

Please RSVP by 1 December 2016. Email your dietary requirements to austlawlib.nsw@gmail.com

Cost: $15 for members and $50 for non-members

Payment: Can be made on the day or as an EFT to the following:
ALLA NSW
BSB:062303
ACC: 28013802

Please include your surname and Xmas in the details.

Hope to see everyone there!!

Review of the ALLA 2016 conference: a "round table" event

Late last month our ALLA NSW members were invited to attend a “round table” to review the ALLA 2016 Conference. This was a great opportunity for those present at the conference to share their experiences and insights with those unable to attend.

The Conference was a success, with attendees noting many key takeaways from the event.

Much fun was had at the Old Melbourne Gaol, the perfect location for an ALLA social event. The library tours also proved popular, with the newly built Docklands library described as a place to visit on your next Melbourne trip.

There were many stand out presentations. Dan Hunter’s Gamification looked at the process of using popular game elements to engage students. He found that the appeal of competitive behaviour helps motivate and compel students to learn. It left many wondering what gaming elements to include in their own legal research training sessions.

Another presentation that garnered much interest was Junior Browne’s discussion on the role the University of the West Indies' Faculty of Law played in the development of law in the Caribbean. The faculty’s collection has become an authority on law in the region, and access to information has greatly improved as a result.

Junior Browne’s presentation stimulated conversation on how to respond to a change in traditional needs of law librarians, so that we can be leading the change rather than merely adjusting to it. As leaders, what industries might we seek to intentionally disrupt to bring about further change?

The event proved a great opportunity for members to get together, share a drink, and think about what really matters to us as librarians in an ever changing, constantly evolving environment.

Be sure to check the ALLA website to join the conversation at future NSW events.

What happened at the 2016 ALLA conference?

Our next event is a "round table" review of the ALLA 2016 Conference Presentations. Come along have a glass of wine and hear from your colleagues and find out what were some of the key "take away" moments from the presentations and workshops.

This event is free to members of the Australian Law Librarians Association (ALLA) and $10 for non-members.

This event may be recorded and the recording distributed to members.

Event to be held at the following time, date and location:
Wednesday, 28 September 2016 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM (AEST)
Family Law Registry
Lionel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts Building
97-99 Goulburn Street (Corner of Castlereagh Street)
Sydney, NSW 2000
Australia

Please RSVP by 5.00pm Tuesday, 27 September.

AGM and ICLR Overview

Please find the official notice, the agenda for the meeting and the minutes from the Ninth Annual General Meeting, held in 2015 available here. The 2016 President’s and Treasurer’s reports will be added shortly and circulated to the ALLA-NSW mailing list.

Following the AGM, Paul Macgrath from Incorporated Council of Law Reporting (ICLR) will provide a short presentation on ICLR, including a Q&A.

Have your say, learn and make a difference to your ALLA division by coming along!

This event may be recorded and the recording distributed to members.

Lunch will be provided.

Please email linh.ly@klgates.com for any dietary requirements.

RSVP by Thursday 18 August 2016 via Eventbrite

WHEN Tuesday, 23 August 2016 from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM (AEST)

WHERE NSW Bar Association - Lower Ground Floor / 174 Phillip Street , Sydney, NSW 2000