ARK Group’s Law Firm Libraries conference brings together legal librarians and law firm professionals working in research, information services, and knowledge management, to learn the latest developments and emerging opportunities for the law firm library. With much to learn and discuss in the current landscape, Law Firm Libraries will create a safe, intimate atmosphere to arm attendees with best practices to raise the stature of their firm, win business, and get ahead in their career.
Discover strategies to manage increasing costs, innovative ideas for recruitment and retention, and effective ways to leverage AI in your library. Law Firm Libraries is the only in-person event focused solely on law firm libraries, making it the ideal investment for your professional growth and the success of your library services.
Key Themes on the Agenda:
Tackling Budget Challenges
Capitalizing on Generative AI (and Steering Clear of the Pitfalls)
Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent
Wednesday – November 6, 2024
8:00 AM5:00 PM
Registration Desk Open
8:00 AM9:00 AM
Networking Continental Breakfast
8:00 AM6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
9:00 AM9:10 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
John J. DiGilio, Firmwide Director of Library Services
Sidley Austin
9:10 AM10:00 AM
Keynote Address: Reaching the Next Generation of Law Librarians
- Examine trends and data demonstrating the need to bolster the profession of law librarianship
- Identify barriers to accessing a career in law librarianship
- Explore creative approaches to expanding and diversifying the profession
Jennifer Bedier, Law Library Fellows Program Manager and Professor of Practice
University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
10:00 AM10:50 AM
Budgeting Strategies in This Era of Dramatic Cost Increases
- Discuss the large increases in vendor pricing and how to manage them
- Consider whether you have library products or licenses that could be eliminated to realize savings
- Evaluate what cuts can be reasonably made to keep your budget under control
Nathan Rosen, Manager of Research and Knowledge Services
Herrick, Feinstein
Lindsey Carpino, Legal Content Services Manager
BakerHostetler
10:50 AM11:10 AM
Networking Break
11:10 AM12:10 PM
Mastering Vendor Negotiation and Management
- Learn techniques to negotiate the best possible vendor contracts for your firm
- Understand the key terms and conditions to include in vendor contracts
- Get tips for building effective relationships with vendors, while also monitoring and evaluating their performance
Tania Danielson, Director of Research and Intelligence
Sheppard Mullin
Tina Dumas, Senior Knowledge Management Manager
Nossaman
12:10 PM1:10 PM
Networking Lunch
1:10 PM1:55 PM
Evaluating and Implementing Generative AI Tools
- Hear real-life stories from law firm libraries that have implemented generative artificial intelligence (AI), and the lessons they’ve learned along the way
- Get tips for evaluating gen AI products for the library, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and not getting swept up by the hype
- Explore the available tools and how to keep vendors honest about their products’ true capabilities
- Learn about prompt engineering and other techniques that will help you get the most from AI tools
John J. DiGilio, Firmwide Director of Library Services
Sidley Austin
Maureen Rossi, Director of Library & Research Services
Troutman Pepper
1:55 PM2:55 PM
Attorney Training for AI Tools and Other Technology
- Learn new strategies for enticing attorneys to spend valuable time trying and learning new and existing technology tools
- Get tips for making sure attorneys and others understand the value and potential pitfalls of generative AI
- Explore ways to relay how the upfront time investment will pay off in increased efficiencies later
Jillian Eaton, Director of Knowledge Management and Research
Baker Donelson
Jessica King, Director of Library Services
Perkins Coie
Andrea Guldalian, Director of Library & Research Services
Duane Morris
2:55 PM3:15 PM
Networking Break
3:15 PM4:00 PM
Leveraging APIs to Take Your Data to the Next Level
- Understand how application programming interfaces (APIs) can be used by law firms and how to incorporate them
- Explore how APIs can improve efficiencies in your workflows
- Hear how law firms are using APIs and what data points they are leveraging
Scott Winter, Consultant
Mount Insights
Sara Miro, Managing Attorney and Director of Knowledge
Sullivan & Cromwell
4:00 PM4:50 PM
Competitive Intelligence Best Practices
- Understand the library’s role in competitive intelligence (CI), even if the CI function is in a different department
- Explore how generative AI is being used in creative ways to improve competitive intelligence
- Get tips for analyzing and presenting your CI in user-friendly ways that will give your firm the edge
Moderator:
Amy Dietrich, Director of Research & Competitive Intelligence
Paul, Weiss
Louise Tsang, Associate Director of Competitive Intelligence & Corporate Data Management
Cooley
Grant Keyes, Competitive Intelligence Manager
Haynes Boone
Luke Yingling, Founder & CEO
Rhetoric
4:50 PM5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
John J. DiGilio, Firmwide Director of Library Services
Sidley Austin
5:00 PM6:00 PM
Networking Cocktail Reception
Join us for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and face-to-face networking with peers.
Thursday – November 7, 2024
8:00 AM11:00 AM
Registration Desk Open
8:00 AM9:00 AM
Networking Continental Breakfast
8:00 AM12:50 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
9:00 AM9:10 AM
Welcome Remarks & Day One Takeaways
John J. DiGilio, Firmwide Director of Library Services
Sidley Austin
9:10 AM10:00 AM
Elevating the Position of the Library in Your Law Firm
- Get tips for promoting the library’s various services and educating attorneys and others about your staff’s areas of expertise
- Discuss how to proactively provide solutions before they are even requested
- Explore education and training options to upskill your library staff and keep them at the top of their game
Tiffany Jenkins, Senior Research & Practice Liaison Services Manager
Troutman Pepper
Geoffrey Valentine, Director of Library Services
Ropes & Gray
10:00 AM10:45 AM
Fostering Firmwide Collaboration
- Consider meaningful ways the library can collaborate with other departments in the law firm
- Learn how to break down the territorial mentality and work together to provide better service with increased efficiency
- Discuss tools that can help facilitate cross-departmental collaboration
Jack Dorr, Specialist, Research & Knowledge
Foley & Lardner
Leanna Simon, Director, Research & Knowledge Management
Honigman
Lee Bernstein, Senior Library Manager
Haynes Boone
10:45 AM11:05 AM
Networking Break
11:05 AM11:50 AM
Recruitment and Retention Strategies for the Library
- Learn new ways to find staff amid the shortage of law librarians and the transformation of law libraries in the digital age
- Understand the importance of training on the job
- Discover how to motivate and increase job satisfaction for the next generation of law librarians
Patrick Flanagan, Legal Research Services Manager
BakerHostetler
Kara Mack, Director of Research Services
Goodwin
Tanya Livshits, Manager Research
DLA Piper
11:50 PM12:50 PM
Networking Lunch
12:50 PM1:35 PM
Proven Tips and Techniques for Effective Library Staff Management
- Hear lessons learned from new and seasoned library managers, especially in today’s remote and hybrid workplace
- Discover insights for working with and managing a multigenerational workforce
- Explore how to balance managing staff while also handling your own workload
Jill Strand, Director, Research & Knowledge Services
Fish & Richardson
Chad Gilman, Manager of Research & Knowledge Services
Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
Michelle Trovillo, Director of Information Resources
BakerHostetler
1:35 PM2:20 PM
Analyzing Library Metrics to Improve Services and Decision-Making
- Discuss how law firms monitor their usage of library resources
- Examine techniques for analyzing metrics to identify trends in legal research and information needs
- Get tips for leveraging data to improve your resources and demonstrate the value of the library
Christine Bowersox, Supervisor, Operations & Research Services
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Andrea Hunt, Senior Research Systems & Operations Manager
Troutman Pepper
Julie Jones, Electronic Resources Manager
Jones Day
2:20 PM2:30 PM
Closing Remarks
John J. DiGilio, Firmwide Director of Library Services
Sidley Austin
