AALL eLEARNING: Body Of Knowledge

AALL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

WE’RE LEADERS IN LEGAL INFORMATION. The AALL Body of Knowledge (BoK)—designed to serve as a blueprint for career development—defines the domains, competencies, and skills today’s legal information professionals need for success.

DOMAINS: core content areas of expertise

COMPETENCIES: key knowledge areas required for proficiency in each domain

SKILLS: actions demonstrating the required knowledge and experience to appropriately practice the competency

WE STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME. As the profession evolves, so must the BoK. The BoK is future-focused and sets the stage for continued development; regular reviews and updates will maintain the BoK’s relevance as shifts in the profession and industry occur.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE (BOK) COMPETENCIES SELF-ASSESSMENT

AALL's Body of Knowledge (BOK) Competencies Self-Assessment will help you gauge not only where there is alignment with the BoK, but also where opportunities exist for improvement and enhancement. This tool is self-scored with no right or wrong answers. Use the results to make a professional development plan and complete the competencies tool at desired intervals to measure growth over time. Receive a curated list of AALL educational resources based on your individual responses.

DOMAINS / COMPETENCIES + SKILLS

PROFESSIONALISM + LEADERSHIP AT EVERY LEVEL

Committing to lifelong learning and professional accountability that cultivates communication and collaboration and fosters immediate and long-term goals.

COMPETENCIES + SKILLS

COMMUNICATION

Listen actively, respectfully, and meaningfully.
Develop professional speaking and writing skills.
Communicate with clarity and confidence.
Master nonverbal skills, cultural sensitivity, and emotional intelligence.

DECISION MAKING

Define problems, challenges, and opportunities.
Identify options and solutions.
Assess impact and risk of possible solutions.
Develop flexibility to change direction as needed.
Implement solutions and maintain accountability.

STRATEGIC PROBLEM SOLVING

Seek opportunities for creative thinking and solutions.
Experiment with different strategic models.
Develop a future-focused outlook.
Break down silos and barriers.
Engage stakeholders and explore multiple perspectives.

COLLABORATION + TEAM BUILDING

Establish a vision.
Cultivate open communication and knowledge sharing.
Foster the development of leadership qualities within teams.
Keep collaborative initiatives moving forward.
Expand definitions of success and recognize contributions.

ETHICS

Adhere to professional standards, guidelines, and rules.
Ensure integrity, accountability, and fairness throughout the organization.
Cultivate an atmosphere of civility.
Develop trust and transparent decision making.

CONTINUOUS LEARNING + PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Perform routine self-evaluation and assess gaps in knowledge.
Pursue varied opportunities for professional learning.
Formulate a professional learning plan.

RESEARCH + ANALYSIS

Expertise in harnessing, interpreting, and leveraging legal knowledge and data to create a competitive edge that solves real-world problems and satisfies stakeholders.

COMPETENCIES + SKILLS

KNOWLEDGE OF LAW + LEGAL SYSTEMS

Develop basic understanding of relevant legal systems and areas of law.
Demonstrate ability to identify jurisdiction and legal issues.
Analyze the interrelationship of primary legal materials.
Develop expertise in core subjects needed to support the organization.

KNOWLEDGE + NAVIGATION OF INFORMATION SOURCES

Construct and apply research plans.
Identify and locate relevant primary and secondary legal authority across subject areas.
Differentiate among information sources for relevance, authority, and currency.
Choose the most efficient and cost-effective legal and nonlegal information sources.
Employ varied finding tools and research methods.
Keep pace with new tools and content.

CRITICAL EVALUATION + SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION

Analyze information and identify the most relevant content.
Organize information into logical sequence.
Identify and address gaps in information.
Integrate findings and analysis into high-quality work product.

ETHICAL USE OF INFORMATION

Comply with all confidentiality and security requirements.
Adhere to and advocate for professional and legal guidelines regarding legitimate uses of information.
Appraise and communicate source authenticity and reliability.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Ensuring and facilitating timely access to relevant legal information fosters sound legal arguments and wise legal decisions while mitigating loss and risk.

COMPETENCIES + SKILLS

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

Formulate a collection development policy.
Select high-quality, relevant resources.
Plan expenditures managed to budget priorities.
Manage the acquisitions workflow.
Perform collection evaluations and analyses.
Evaluate and negotiate vendor contracts and licenses.
Develop and implement resource sharing arrangements.
Appraise and implement acquisition technologies and systems.

ORGANIZATION + ACCESS

Organize library resources appropriately for user access.
Catalog all types of library resources.
Ensure consistency of metadata classifications.
Design library systems and services to provide optimal access to resources.
Evaluate and deploy library systems, discovery layers, and other access systems.

PRESERVATION + RETENTION

Implement appropriate techniques for preservation and conservation, including policies and procedures for digitization of library resources.
Establish and follow policies for collection retention and withdrawal of materials.
Evaluate and implement best practices for special collections.
Plan disaster recovery strategies.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Create organizational knowledge management policies and procedures.
Identify and implement knowledge management technologies and strategies.
Link library resources and organizational resources using tools such as enterprise search.
Establish and manage an institutional repository and digital archives.

INFORMATION GOVERNANCE + RISK MANAGEMENT

Identify and utilize the basic principles of information governance, including developing expertise in enterprise and life cycle management of information.
Develop and maintain knowledge of intellectual property rights, rights management, privacy, and other legal issues.
Assess reasonable risks to the collection and protect its security, integrity, and authenticity against internal and external threats.
Utilize technology to create efficient use and governance of information.

TEACHING + TRAINING

Developing, delivering, and assessing learning opportunities that prepare students, lawyers, and others for workplace excellence.

COMPETENCIES + SKILLS

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN + PLANNING

Demonstrate a working knowledge of planning in an instructional environment.
Establish learning outcomes, training parameters, and assessment in compliance with organization policies and legal requirements.
Develop assessments that are rigorous and accommodate different learning styles.
Cultivate an atmosphere of experimentation and positivity in learning environments.
Utilize current technologies to enhance learning.

PRESENTATION + DELIVERY

Hone speaking skills, including vocal control, body language, pacing, and organization.
Understand and employ a variety of teaching methods, including presentation styles, delivery, and visual aids.
Nurture cultural sensitivity to topics and styles of delivery.
Utilize current and developing technologies to aid in the delivery of information.

ASSESSMENT + METRICS

Demonstrate a working knowledge of assessment techniques and data collection.
Develop formative and summative assessments.
Revise instruction based on feedback.
Use current technologies to analyze and present collected assessment data.
Track trends and the development of new techniques for assessment and data collection.

MARKETING + OUTREACH

Illustrating value through effective communications, creating value through services, and building value through strategic partnerships.

COMPETENCIES + SKILLS

PROMOTION OF VALUE

Create a vision for the organization based on its values and help others see its importance and their role in it.
Develop strong presentation skills, including persuasive and confident speech, meaningful visual aids, and use of appropriate technologies.
Build strong relationships and rapport with key stakeholders.
Use assessment metrics to evaluate use and services, and deliver key metrics to stakeholders to show return on investment (ROI).

USER EXPERIENCE

Identify the needs and preferences of users.
Analyze all aspects of a user’s interaction with the organization and its services.
Create promotional opportunities where targeted users will naturally encounter them.
Solicit and incorporate feedback.

PARTNERSHIPS + COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

Promote the role of law libraries and legal information within the larger community.
Coordinate and share services to achieve the best institution-wide solution.
Identify opportunities to establish or enhance partnerships and community relationships.
Coordinate individual efforts with national and local professional organizations.

ADVOCACY

Champion new ways to share legal information expertise and promote services both inside and outside the organization.
Work to secure access to justice through ensuring reliable, long-term access to authentic legal resources.
Engage in outreach to local, state, and national lawmakers and propose policy solutions to legal information issues.
Promote legal information services to those in need.

MANAGEMENT + BUSINESS ACUMEN

Aligning organizational strategic goals with departmental goals, managing resources, and evaluating progress.

COMPETENCIES + SKILLS

VISION + STRATEGIC PLANNING

Demonstrate strategic planning processes and best practices.
Formulate a strategic plan framework including vision, mission, and goals.
Prepare an operational plan for implementing strategic plan goals.
Measure achievement of strategic plan goals and alter as needed.

BUDGETING + PROCUREMENT

Use generally accepted accounting principles.
Monitor budget allocations, expenditures, fund balances, and related financial activities.
Perform cost analyses and return on investment (ROI) calculations to determine resource allocation.
Track national cost and spending trends related to library and information resources.
Establish efficient and legally compliant procurement guidelines.
Demonstrate bargaining and contract negotiation skills.

FUNDING + DEVELOPMENT

Maintain knowledge of and pursue internal and external funding opportunities.
Compile annual budget requests using past financial records, detailed rationales, future needs, and economic indices.
Advocate for institutional support to ensure maintenance and growth of the library.
Establish effective networks and partnerships for resource sharing, collaboration, and consortial purchases.
Monitor national trends in library funding and market price fluctuations.

BENCHMARKING + DATA ANALYSIS

Deliver key metrics of business operations, user analytics, and ROI to stakeholders.
Select and use appropriate data analysis tools and methods including visualization, text analysis, and statistical modeling.
Identify and apply analytics to business issues.
Create and communicate effective analytical and benchmarking reports.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Develop hiring expertise including recruitment tactics and interview skills.
Implement policies and procedures that comply with federal and state employment law.
Create training programs that empower employees to fulfill daily job functions, advance to other positions, and adapt to institutional changes and industry shifts.
Demonstrate supervisory best practices including fostering teamwork and clearly communicating goals and expectations.
Evaluate organizational structure and workflows to maximize efficiency and job performance.
Design a staffing succession plan.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Describe fundamental project management processes, methodologies, and tools.
Analyze project requirements and develop a clear statement of the project’s scope.
Plan, organize, and manage resources to successfully complete specific project objectives within a specified time frame.
Establish effective team structure and delegate areas of responsibility appropriately.
Monitor project progress, control risks, and realign project parameters if needed.
Communicate project information to stakeholders in clear written and verbal formats.

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Apply industry standards for design, facilities, and space management.
Implement inventory control policies and procedures.
Evaluate and monitor building infrastructure systems.
Develop emergency preparedness and business continuity plans.
Establish security policies that align with those of the parent organization.
Monitor national trends in library facilities, emergency preparedness, and security.