[Editor’s Note: Steve Lastres asked if I could repost this information on the Law Library Society of Washington DC (LLSDC) and the Private Law Libraries’ (PLL) “Showcase: Empowering the Next Generation of Law Firms.” The original post was on the On Firmer Ground Blog, which should be in your RSS Reader, and was co-written by Steven A. Lastres, Director of Library & KM, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Scott Bailey, Director of Research Services, Squire Sanders. – GL]

A group of librarians from The Private Law Librarians Special Interest Section (PLL SIS) of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) and The Law Librarians’ Society of Washington, D.C. (LLSDC) have been brainstorming ways to promote the value of law librarians. The idea is to demonstrate to lawyers, the “C” level and other professionals that work in law firms not just the traditional value to the practice of law, but to show how law librarians can be strategic allies in supporting the business of law.

As a result of a number of conversations and planning sessions, LLSDC and PLL are hosting “Showcase: Empowering the Next Generation of Law Firms.” This exhibit focuses on four targeted strategic areas to enhance law firm administration’s and attorney’s position in a challenging environment with strategic research and management capabilities.

The Showcase provides four exhibit areas focused around:

  1. Budget/Contract Negotiation: Strategically Cutting Costs with Dynamic Research Services Management
  2. Moves/Facilities: Planning and Reducing Library Footprint while Increasing Research Capabilities
  3. Business Development Research: Competitive Intelligence, SWOT and Growing the Firm’s Business
  4. Non-Traditional Strategic Roles: Embedded Researchers, Risk Management Research, Compliance, Legal Project Management & Knowledge Management

Each area will be manned by experienced Library Directors and Managers demonstrating what they are doing strategically in their respective firms to provide top-notch practice support and positively impact the firm’s bottom line.

The Showcase will take place on November 8, 2012 at the law firm of Pepper Hamilton in Washington, DC. Members of the American and DC Bar Associations, the Association of Legal Administrators, Legal Marketing Association, and ARMA are all welcome to attend. To RSVP or obtain more details click on the link below.

http://www.llsdc.org/en/cev/395

In the future this model will be replicated at local chapters of the organizations listed above. Law Librarians understand that in today’s economic climate new approaches are imperative. As a result, LLSDC and PLL are taking a grass-roots approach to move beyond the comfort zone of our libraries to educate our internal clients: lawyers, administrators, and other professionals that work on law firms about our value proposition.

Please spread the word to the local chapters of the organizations that have been invited to the DC Showcase.

Stay tuned!!!