Find Your Niche
Smaller in size and less formal in structure than special interest sections, 黑料社caucuses connect members with more focused areas of interest.
Don鈥檛 see your particular interest below? We may have a special interest section for you.
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Caucuses have leadership and other volunteer聽positions that are a great聽way to get involved and grow professionally while expanding your network.
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Caucus memberships聽are聽open to all members at no charge.
Explore Our Caucuses
Animal Law Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The 黑料社Animal Law Caucus was formed in 2010 to support the efforts of law librarians, academics,聽and practitioners in the research, teaching, scholarship, and practice of animal law. Its purpose is to recognize and further the ongoing work of 黑料社members in this growing area of law.
The Animal Law Caucus is a legal resource for non-human, animal related humane issues, which arise from and have an effect upon our legal system. Members:
- monitor and provide comment on relevant legislation and policy-making decisions at various levels of government;
- offer legal education programs on animal law;
- compile and provide access via the website to relevant statutes, court decisions, and administrative determinations and reports and
- raise the profile of the field of animal law.
Contact
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
A major focus of 黑料社is to advance the law librarian profession and support the professional growth of our members. In a relatively short time, artificial intelligence (AI) has already had a profound impact on the legal industry and our members, across all library types. This caucus will further promote knowledge sharing amongst 黑料社members in all library types, leveraging the existing expertise and awareness of many members. It will also provide a forum for all 黑料社members to connect, share and learn about AI as it continues to impact the legal profession.
Contact
Emily R. Florio
Director of Knowledge Research & Resources
DLA Piper
Emily.florio@us.dlapiper.comAsian American Law Librarians Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The object of the AALLC shall be: to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on, and to represent its members’ interests and concerns within the 黑料社 of Law Libraries (AALL). It shall promote law librarianship; promote the study of Asian law; develop and increase the effectiveness of Asian American law librarians; foster cooperation among Asian American members of the profession; and provide for the further continuing education of Asian American law librarians.
Contact
Christine Park
Reference Librarian
Harvard Law School Library
cpark@law.harvard.eduBaseball Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
To provide a forum for legal information professionals to connect, share, and learn about baseball within 黑料社nationally, regionally, and locally. All members are welcome, from seasoned fans to members new to the sport.
Contact
Stephanie Grace
slgrace@ucdavis.eduBusiness and Corporate Research Instruction Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The Business and Corporate Research Instruction Caucus is a collective of law librarians formed in 2020 to promote and facilitate quality instruction in researching business and corporate information.聽 As there is more demand for law librarians to teach business and corporate research to upper-division law students, law librarians need a forum for developing ideas and sharing instruction experiences. To this end, we work together to:
- Discuss and explore pedagogy related to teaching business and corporate research;
- Explore best practices that will benefit instructors in their teaching;
- Encourage caucus members to share successes and failures to benefit and inform caucus members;
- Engage in other activities that serve the mission of the caucus.
Contact
Iantha Haight
Howard W. Hunter Law Library
Brigham Young University
haighti@law.byu.eduCaregivers Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The purpose of this caucus is to provide a forum for members to discuss, advocate, and provide support on issues of interest to those holding down a job while struggling with raising a family, helping aging parents, childcare and/or other challenges that arise as librarians try to balance career with family obligations. You don’t need to be a parent to join.
CONTACT
Genevieve Zook
Reference & Instructional Services Librarian
University of Wisconsin
zook@wisc.eduClinical Services Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The Clinical Services Caucus promotes an exchange of ideas, developments, and best practices
between law librarians who support legal clinics. This caucus convenes a virtual structured discussion
each quarter to discuss a preassigned article, webinar, podcast, or other media item related to clinical
services. In between meet ups, the caucus serves as an active forum for the exchange of news,
experiences, events, and technology impacting how libraries work with legal clinics.Contact
Lisa Winkler
Clinical Services Law Librarian
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Pritzker Legal Research Center
lisa.winkler@law.northwestern.eduEducating and Diversifying the Next Generation Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
A forum for 黑料社members who are interested in diversifying our profession and educating the next generation of law librarians. We will strategize how to break down barriers to the profession, create pipelines of diverse students to law librarianship, and recruit and train LIS professors, including practicing law librarians. The caucus will support and promote the goals that 黑料社is currently developing in this area.
Objectives
- LIS Education:聽share syllabi, collaborate on course development, and explore options to provide support, financial and otherwise, within our organizations for staff who want to pursue MLS degrees.
- Professional Development:聽keep abreast of literature, trends, conferences and other opportunities for continued learning.
- Recruit LIS Professors:聽recruit and train law librarians who would like to teach in LIS programs.
- Support and collaborate with AALL聽as they execute their related Pillar of the forthcoming 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.
- Engage in other activities that serve the purpose of the Caucus
Membership
Any 黑料社member interested in collaborating with colleagues to explore ways we can break down barriers to the profession, create pipelines of diverse students to law librarianship, and recruit and train LIS professors.
Contact
Carissa J. Vogel
Law Library Director
University of Iowa Law Library
carissa-vogel@uiowa.eduEmpirical Research Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The Empirical Research Caucus was organized in January 2011 to:
- encourage law librarians to expand their knowledge of trends in empirical research, empirical research methods, and multidisciplinary resources related to legal topics and research.
- facilitate librarian instructional efforts to increase information literacy in regards to empirical research
- encourage law librarians to engage in research and publication regarding empirical evaluation of patron services, patron literacy, and other related topics such as law and society
- maintain a listing of publications by librarians on conducting empirical research or reporting empirical research
- partner with 黑料社Special Interest Sections, including ALL-SIS, PLL-SIS, and CS-SIS, to support and publicize programming and professional development opportunities addressing empirical research and the organization and administration of empirical research support programs
- provide a forum for sharing knowledge related to empirical research including development and archiving of data, availability of existing data, and requirements for institutional review boards.
Contact
Alissa Black-Dorward
Fordham University School of Law
blackdorward@law.fordham.eduEncore Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The purposes of the Encore Caucus are:
- To provide a forum for 黑料社members who are approaching the end of their careers or who are already retired, to continue long-time connections with colleagues, with the AALL, and with their profession;
- To create a vibrant and strong network for effective communications among Encore Caucus members, to share common interests and to further their personal and professional activities;
- To represent the interests of Encore Caucus members within the Association and to support the continued involvement of Encore Caucus members with 黑料社educational and advocacy activities;
- To promote the skills, expertise, and knowledge of retired members;
- To assist in mentoring and advising of 黑料社newer members and to collaborate, as needed and appropriate, with all 黑料社members; and
- To serve as resources and sources of expertise for the 黑料社and its chapters and special interest sections.
Contact
Sarah (Sally) Holterhoff
sally.holterhoff@valpo.eduEnvironment and Climate Change Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The Environment and Climate Change Caucus provides a forum for 黑料社members working on issues of the environment and climate change鈥攁mong the most urgent challenges of our time. Our broad scope encompasses environmental law and climate change topics related to teaching and course design, provision of services, scholarship, professional development, and service to the profession and society. We also welcome perspectives on environmental justice, international and comparative law, and climate justice for the Global South. The caucus plans to host workshops and programs on topics of interest and serves as an active forum for the exchange of relevant news, information, experiences, and materials.
Contact
Nicholas F. Stump
nicholas.stump@mail.wvu.eduFederal Law Librarians Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
To promote collaboration, resource sharing, and best practices among federal law librarians.
Contact
Jennifer L. McMahan
Deputy Director, Library Staff
US Department of Justice
jennifer.mcmahan@usdoj.govFirst-Gen Professionals Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
To connect and support all 黑料社members who are the first in their families to cross a threshold into a professional career, including, but not limited to, those who:
- are the first in their families to attend or complete an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree program;
- come from a low-income or working-class background; or
- are the first in their families to become a U.S. citizen or immigrate to the United States.
Specifically, the objectives of the caucus are to:
- Provide a forum in which first-gen professionals can network and share experiences;
- Coordinate mentorships between members;
- Promote law librarianship as a career for first-generation professionals and participate in AALL鈥檚 recruitment efforts;
- Promote professional development for first-gen professionals; and
- Represent the interests and concerns of first-generation professionals within the 黑料社community and the profession of law librarianship.
Contact
Rachel Evans
Metadata Services & Special Collections Librarian
University of Georgia Law Library
rsevans@uga.eduJewish Law Librarian Caucus 聽 /聽
Purpose
The objective of the Jewish Law Librarians Caucus shall be to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on Jewish and Israeli law聽and to represent its members’ interests and concerns within the 黑料社 of Law Libraries. It shall promote law librarianship; promote the study of Jewish and Israeli law; develop and increase the effectiveness of Jewish law librarians; foster cooperation among Jewish members of the profession; and provide for the further continuing education of Jewish law librarians.
Contact
Shira Megerman
Associate Director of Instruction, Research, and Reference
University of Maryland School of Law
smegerman@law.umaryland.eduLatinx Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on issues of interest and concern to Latino law librarians and to represent them within AALL. To promote law librarianship and further the continuing education of Latino law librarians, and to develop and increase their visibility within AALL. To foster cooperation among Latino members of the profession. To recruit and mentor Latinos to the profession.
Contact
Elaine Tornes Blanco
Librarian Asst. Professor
University of Miami School of Law Library
etornes@law.miami.eduLaw Repositories Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The Law Repositories Caucus is a platform-neutral group that supports law repository coordinators by providing a community for sharing information and resources. The caucus provides leadership and guidance on repository issues by looking both in and outside of the law library community to disseminate repository innovation and promote the future of repository work. It also provides professional development opportunities for the law repository community.
Contact
Yan Yu
Notre Dame Law School
yyu7@nd.eduMindfulness in Law Librarianship Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The Mindfulness in Law Librarianship Caucus was formed in 2013 to support the efforts of law librarians, academics and practitioners in the research, teaching, scholarship, and practice of mindfulness in law. Its purpose is to recognize and further the ongoing work of 黑料社members that improves the quality of life of all individuals in the legal profession. Members:
- compile and disseminate relevant resources and programs supporting mindfulness in legal education and practice;
- offer education programs on mindfulness in legal education and practice; and
- raise the profile of how libraries contribute to mindfulness in legal education and practice.
Contact
Kyle K. Courtney Esq.
Copyright Advisor
Harvard University
kyle_courtney@harvard.eduNative Peoples Law Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The aim of the Native Peoples Law Caucus is to provide a forum in which Native law and other issues that impact Indigenous Peoples worldwide can be discussed, ideas shared, information exchanged, and education offered. The Caucus encourages and facilitates the analysis, cataloging, collection, dissemination, management, organization, and preservation of Native law in accordance with cultural tradition.
Contact
Amber Kennedy Madole
Law Librarian, Research Services, Indigenous Law and Policy, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law
University of Southern California Law Library
amadole@law.usc.eduNeurodiversity Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The Neurodiversity Caucus provides a forum for 黑料社members who are impacted by or interested in neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Caucus (“ND Caucus”) will encourage the sharing of news, strategies, struggles, successes, tips, and encouragement for 黑料社members who:
- identify as neurodivergent
- teach neurodivergent students
- support neurodivergent children or other family members
- work with neurodivergent colleagues
- supervise neurodivergent employees
- serve neurodivergent patrons
- want to learn more about neurodivergence
The ND Caucus will generate educational materials and opportunities for the larger 黑料社membership to learn more about supporting, accommodating, and understanding neurodivergent people in their lives. The caucus will also serve as a source of expertise and experience to 黑料社members and will bring together those affected by neurodivergence to support each other both personally and professionally.
Contact
Geraldine Kalim
Reference & Instructional Services Librarian
University of Baltimore Law Library
gkalim@ubalt.eduNext Generation Bar Exam Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The Next Gen Bar Exam Caucus provides a forum for 黑料社members discussion on the ways to implement and equip students with the right tools and skills to be prepared for the NextGen bar exam. The caucus will discuss critical research and analytical skill sets relevant to the practice of law, how these proficiencies could be assessed, and how these skills should be included in law school curricula.
Contact
Ashley Arrington
ashley.arrington@ttu.eduPublishing Initiative Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
Inspire and motivate law librarians to write articles for legal publications that are read by practicing attorneys, legal administrators, law professors, judges and others in organizations that employ 黑料社members. Encourage publishing as a way of promoting individual law librarians and the profession.
Contact
Jan Bissett
Arthur Neef Law Library
Wayne State University
ag3508@wayne.eduResearch Crits 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The Research Crits Caucus is a collective of law librarians, legal scholars, and legal information professionals dedicated to studying, promoting, and practicing critical approaches to legal information, legal research, and law librarianship, including but not limited to Critical Legal Research (CLR) and critical legal information literacy.
Contact
Julie Graves Krishnaswami
Associate Law Librarian for Research Instruction
Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Library
julie.krishnaswami@yale.eduSolo and Small Library Team Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
The purpose of this caucus is to provide additional support and camaraderie to librarians working as a solo librarian or who are part of a small team. A small team is defined as a library staff of three or less, but this organization is open to all who identify as being part of a small team. The challenges faced by small and solo librarian teams can be different than those with more support at bigger institutions. This caucus seeks to encourage idea sharing and assistance to those who might be in need of research assistance, problem solving, and discussion of challenges.
CONTACT
Allie Penn
Manager of Library & Research Services
Dickinson-Wright PLLC
apenn@dickinson-wright.comTeaching Legal Technology Caucus 聽 /聽聽
Purpose
Librarians interested in teaching legal technology in law schools and other settings. Any technology interest and skill level is welcome, the intended focus will be inclusive of any current or future technology used in legal practice.
Contact
Michael J. Robak
Library Director
University of St. Thomas
michael.robak@stthomas.edu