End-user engagement is a critical success factor for knowledge management (KM) initiatives in legal practice, yet it remains one of the most persistent challenges faced by knowledge professionals. Drawing on interviews with legal industry practitioners and observations from recent BIALL sessions, this article by Clare Bilobrk examines the barriers to effective engagement with KM tools and proposes practical strategies for overcoming them. The analysis combines theoretical frameworks, including organisational silos, with actionable recommendations. A concluding LEXICON distils key principles into a mnemonic model, offering legal information managers a framework for embedding KM tools into daily workflows, building trust and sustaining a culture of knowledge-sharing.

Nominative reports are a vital part of legal history, providing the foundation for case law documentation before the advent of standardised legal reporting. Compiled by barristers, judges and legal scholars, these reports offer unique insights into the evolution of legal precedent and judicial reasoning across the globe. In 2024, HeinOnline introduced the first comprehensive digital collection of all published nominative reports, transforming access to these historical legal records.

Here Lauren Mattiuzzo, a seasoned professional with over 20 years at HeinOnline, examines the significance of these reports, their challenges in legal research, and how HeinOnline’s digital tools improve accessibility and usability. As a key marketing leader and head of the HeinOnline support team, Lauren helps drive initiatives that empower researchers.

Between 2022 and 2024, LexisNexis migrated its customers with subscriptions to LexisLibrary and/or LexisPSL to the new Lexis+ UK platform. In order to assess the overall migration experience, identify challenges faced during the migration and suggest areas for improvement, the BIALL Supplier Liaison Group (SLG) conducted a survey in mid-2024 to gather feedback from members on their experiences of the project. During the summer of 2024, the SLG committee members analysed the results of the survey and put together the report, referenced in this article, that was circulated to BIALL members in October 2024. Lauren Cummings, Ann O’Sullivan and Andrew Thatcher wrote this piece based on the survey results, the report and the subsequent meeting with LexisNexis.

In this article, based on his presentation at the Birmingham Conference – hence the title – Greg Bennett runs through his analysis of job adverts for librarians over the six months preceding the Conference. The purpose of this was to gauge the proportion of those adverts where the criteria involved expertise that currently only law librarians can offer. He then considers the longevity of those very criteria; that is, whether those that currently require the expert knowledge of a law librarian could be replaceable by artificial intelligence (AI), or some other process or other people. Finally, he suggests areas of strength for the future for law librarians, encouraging those involved in the legal information profession to emphasise these strengths in their roles.

This study, authored by Dr Fahimeh Abedi, Prof. Tim Miller and Prof. Atif Ahmad, explores the skills gaps lawyers face when advising on emerging technologies in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Using an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach, the authors conducted qualitative interviews with 26 in-house lawyers and a broader quantitative survey revealed key challenges, including complex legislation, unclear regulatory frameworks and ethical concerns in data use. Findings highlight a significant gap in technological literacy within the legal profession, emphasising the need for improved knowledge, skills and ethical awareness. This research provides a roadmap for equipping legal professionals for responsible leadership in a technology-driven future, offering significant insights for policymakers and regulators.

It’s long been easier to set up a company in the UK than it is to open a bank account. That convenience has turned us into a magnet for fraudsters, shell companies and money laundering schemes. Now, finally, the door is starting to close. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 is about to overhaul one of the most porous systems in Europe. At its heart is mandatory identity verification for company directors and people with significant control. No more hiding behind nominee directors or fictitious names. You’ll need to prove who you are before you get past the starting line.

That’s a seismic shift. But with added scrutiny comes added complexity – especially for firms used to handling company secretarial filings in-house. Enter Authorised Corporate Service Providers. ACSPs like ProSec are now stepping into the space, handling verification and filings on behalf of law firms and their clients. What was once a light admin task is fast becoming a regulated process that requires precision, expertise and trust.

These changes will reshape the market. Some firms may struggle with the increased compliance burden, while others may see this as an opportunity to specialise and grow. This reform isn’t just welcome – it’s essential. But success depends on more than legislation. We need clear guidance, proper enforcement and reliable partners to keep the system clean.

Here ProSec CEO Max Gower explains some of the key changes brought about by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, and the implications of it for those working in the corporate space.

As law libraries evolve in response to digital transformation and emerging technologies, understanding the legal frameworks of copyright and licensing becomes increasingly critical. This article by Jas Breslin outlines the basic principles of copyright and licensing, and how these interact in the daily operations of legal information services. It also addresses the growing impact of generative AI on copyright and licensing, highlighting the emerging challenges. The article aims to equip law librarians with the basic knowledge needed to navigate this complex and rapidly changing landscape.

Serena Dederding at The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) explores how UK law firms can adopt generative AI to enhance productivity while managing associated copyright risks.

In the latest in our series reviewing archived copies of Legal Information Management and The Law Librarian – as the journal was once known – LIM’s co-editors leaf through the issues published in 1985.

Language is a powerful tool in legal research, but its influence is often underestimated. From the diplomatic fallout of the Ems Dispatch, to the varied terminology used to describe a person bringing a claim, in this article Holly Mottram examines how subtle variations in terminology have significantly altered global events and have a day-to-day impact on legal research outcomes. Several practical strategies are proposed to enhance research accuracy– focused contextual questioning, taking time at the beginning of a research task for keyword planning, and careful usage of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist the process. Ultimately, this paper argues that legal information professionals must remain vigilant and intentional in their language use if they wish to meet the needs of the requestor, and that their practices should evolve and adapt to not only account for changes in language, but changes in technology. Words matter– not just in theory, but in every day legal research.

In this article Sam Lloyd, Executive Director of CRO Corporate Services Limited, outlines the evolution of corporate information service provision during his career, including significant events, personal achievements and the influences that have shaped the industry.

In the latest in our series reviewing archived copies of Legal Information Management and The Law Librarian – as the journal was once known – LIM’s co-editors leaf through the three issues published in 1975.

This research paper, written by Dr Nagalakshmi Tripuraneni, PhD Scholar, VIT-AP University, India and Dr Benarji Chakka, Dean and Professor of Law, VIT-AP University, India, looks at the laws that define and deal with ecocide in European Union law. It focuses on whether the current laws are enough to shield the environment from serious harm and ecological damage. By examining various types of data, including legal texts, case studies, and real examples of environmental harm in the EU, the study shows that there are notable weaknesses in the current legal rules that make it hard to protect the environment effectively. The results suggest that while some EU regulations do address environmental matters, they often do not have the strength needed to tackle the challenges of ecocide properly. This research highlights the need to see ecocide as its own legal concept in EU law, arguing that formally recognising it could improve responsibility for environmental damage. The implications of these findings go beyond just legal issues, indicating that a better understanding and enforcement of ecocide could result in improved health outcomes by reducing environmental damage, which is increasingly connected to public health problems. This research adds to the discussion on environmental justice and legal changes in the EU, calling for a fundamental change that prioritises ecological health, influencing both policy creation and healthcare practice in relation to environmental health.