Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal Research Blogs -> The BIALL Blog

Legal Research

: The BIALL Blog

Your starter for 10

Jackie Fishleigh new BIALL President faces 10 questions from the BIALL Blogger, do post a response or question directly to Jackie by adding a comment. A nice and easy question first off...

(1) What is your background and how did you get into Law Librarianship?

JF - As a teenager I had a a passion for languages and went on to major in German with Italian and Russian subsidiaries at Birmingham University. This tied in nicely with my Wanderlust (oops I've slipped into German..!) because I got to spend a wonderful year studying in Munich. When it came to careers I took a "Cascaid" aptitude test (still going - I've checked google!) and Library and Information work came top along with journalism and the diplomatic service. I took up a library assistant post in the law library at Birmingham University (convenient or what!) My first manager was Mary Blake, a founder of BIALL back in 1969 and still current BIALL archivist. I started looking into post-graduate courses and was very taken with the brochure sent by Newcastle Polytechnic, even though it was a long way from home - I'm from Surrey. Going Up North was one of the best decisions I ever made because I had a ball in the North East (a region I still love) and emerged with a distinction and later converted this to a Masters, as Newcastle was one of the first polys to get approval for awarding MAs. My qualifications led me straight into the prestigious City law firm Slaughter and May,...

(2) Why did you decide to put yourself forward for the post of BIALL President and is it living up to expectations?

JF - I have been involved with BIALL for many years as a member, Vice-Chair and then Chair of the fore-runner to the Awards and Bursaries Committee. I have also been elected twice to Council and was elected Vice-Chair of BIALL last year. I was elected (unopposed) as President in April. I decided a few years ago that I wanted to be President and devised a path to get there. I am passionate about BIALL and think it is one of the most dynamic and inclusive professional associations in the UK and Ireland. I feel that with my enthusiasm, experience and commitment I am well placed to lead it. A Belbin test (which looks at roles in teams) showed me to be a natural Chair and Completer Finisher!

...now it gets tougher...

(3) How would you describe yourself in three words?

JF - Friendly, constructive, resilient

(4) You've just completed a 5k for the charity Cancer Research, what was your motivation behind this and will you be doing anymore?

JF - It was in memory of my friend and BIALL Council Member Zosia Carson who died of a rare and agressive form of cancer last December. I visited Zosia in University College Hospital last November and she was incredibly excited that her chemotherapy nurse was doing the New York marathon. BIALL had already made donation and held the Cheese and Wine Party to raise money for the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, Surrey where she died. But hospices are when everything has failed and Zosia was such a positive person I wanted to do something to support research to prevent cancers in the first place. I also thought it would do me good to "get fit". It worked! I loved training at the gym and lost half a stone. Yes I am going to try and beat my Epsom Downs time (42 minutes) on the treadmill this Wednesday! In due course I may do a 10K but hopefully somewhere flat!!

(5) A new BIALL president and a new BIALL year, what are your priorities for the forthcoming year and for your term as President?

JF - Well I'd like to point out that BIALL is not just about me and what I think! We have over 800 members and it's everybody's association. The structure has been rather hierarchical in the past and I'd like to try and flatten it a bit so that ideas are generated more easily from the grassroots, via the Committees. We will have a Brainstorming at the combined Strategy and Finance/Council meeting in October, where I hope we can examine our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. You can't beat a good old SWOT analysis now and again! Any ideas are welcome. Obviously as President I will lead this debate but I want to make it as open as possible. Already we have some promising ideas emerging (we had a Council meeting last Friday which I chaired).

(6) The BIALL Conference in Dublin finished just over 3 weeks ago, for anyone who didn't attend, what 3 reasons would you give for attending the Manchester Conference in 2009?

JF - It is a marvellous opportunity to increase one's professional awareness and broaden one's horizons. I didn't attend the Conference for a few years and then returned in 2004 when it was held in Edinburgh. It was like breathing in oxygen...
Networking - obviously. LIS workers are the best networkers around and do it even better face-to-face over a drink!

Manchester itself! Somebody told me recently that it was now the UK's "Second City". Obviously with my roots in Birmingham (I was born in Warwickshire) I still see Brum in this role but... it is certainly a fantastic city. Our venue for the Conference is the brand new University Place, which is one of the most exciting developments in the conference world. On a personal note my brother has a PhD, my boyfriend a degree and my uncle was a lecturer - all at Manchester University! Manchester was the setting for possibly the best ever TV comedy drama "Cold Feet" with James Nesbitt and Helen Baxendale.

(7) Given that the BIALL Conference was held in Ireland, how well do you feel that BIALL represents the regions outside of London?

JF - This is a tough one and close to my heart. As you can see I have lived in different parts of the UK and have a great affection for many regions. I love Ireland, Scotland... and Wales obviously. And have visited all within the past year! I sometimes feel the regions outside London are neglected. The Professional Development Committee have tried to address this and some popular courses such as Legal Reference Materials and Training the Trainer are being held in the regions. Unfortunately other recent events held in Edinburgh and York have not been so well attended. It is vital that any regional events are easily accessible by transport and that member from the regions help organise them and act as local liaison and better still if regional members join the Committee. If local members can host events this keeps down overheads.

(8) BIALL, possibly the worst sounding abbreviation in the history of abbreviations, are there any plans to change the name of our association?

JF - Yes, it's cumbersome and perhaps dated but well recognised within our sector. Both the name and the logo are in the mix for discussion at the Brainstorming in October!

(9) I'm an "ordinary" BIALL member, why should I become involved with the work BIALL does?

JF - It's a very efficient way of increasing your professional awareness and a fantastic opportunity to network. Networking can sometimes be viewed as a fairly shallow activity. Not so in BIALL where lifelong friendships are made...

(10) A nice easy one to finish with, what is your favourite colour and why?

JF - That's easy - fuchsia! which is actually "on trend" this season (yes, I watch "Mary, Queen of Shops"...) I wore one of my fuchsia blouses to the House of Lords St Patrick's Day reception which I attended on behalf of BIALL with Jennefer and Angela (See p. 10 of CILIP Update May issue). The ribbon on my Race for Life medal is fuchsia and it's sitting on my desk as I write...also fuschia is an exuberant colour and I like a bit of exuberance now and then!

Thanks to Jackie for very kindly answering our questions. Hopefully we will see Jackie pounding the streets of London in search of another PB very soon!

Full post as published by The BIALL Blog on July 04, 2008 (boomark / email).