Author archives

Elaine Billingslea Dockens received her MSLS from Syracuse University and a JD from Boalt Hall, University of California. Elaine has worked as a law firm librarian since 1988. She has worked for five law firms, plus one year in a state law library and a couple of semesters as a weekend reference librarian in a law school. She is a member of SLA’s Legal Division.

For the New Law Firm Librarian: A Conversation Between Two Veterans

Elaine Billingslea Dockens and Karen Krupka, each of whom has over 20 years of law librarian experience, discuss the field of law librarianship, and key issues and factors that new law librarians are likely to encounter as they enter this unique, and still vital profession.

Subjects: Features, Law Firm Marketing, Law Librarians, Legal Research, Libraries & Librarians, Library Marketing, Training

Access to Social Websites in The Legal Environment – Fall 2009 – Part 1: Survey of Law Librarians in Selected Firms, County/State Law Libraries and Law Schools.

To ascertain the current use of social websites/media in law firms, a survey was conducted among Law Librarians entitled Computer Use in Your Organization. In addition to the responses from law firm Law Librarians, several Law Librarians from law schools and county/state government law libraries also responded as did an independent Law Librarian. The opinions of Law Librarians was sought since they are typically among the first professionals in the legal environment to explore, use and recommend new computer innovations and trends useful to attorneys, judges and legal scholars regarding information gathering, information sharing, electronic legal research and current awareness. Part 1 of the Survey details the responses of fifty-six Law Librarians regarding computer use in their organizations. Part 2 will review the responses and take a close look at the implications of the responses and what, if any, patterns can be predicted for 2010.

Subjects: Features, Legal Technology, Technology Trends

Vendor Pitfalls in Negotiating Large Multi-Year Contracts – or How to Lose a Million Dollar Contract

A veteran of several decades of vendor negotiations for law firm online and print contracts, law librarian Elaine Billingslea Dockens’ thoughtful, detailed and illustrative pathfinder is an asset to all engaged parties whose goal is to obtain a contract that is appropriately balanced, in cost and content, to meet the specific organizational requirements.

Subjects: Features