There’s nothing quite like AALL week. Over four exciting days in Cleveland, our team had the opportunity to reconnect with longtime customers, meet new faces, showcase the latest innovations coming to HeinOnline, and hear firsthand how law librarians are shaping the future of legal research. From standing-room-only booth conversations and live product demonstrations to exclusive focus groups and another unforgettable Pub Trivia night, the week was filled with meaningful conversations, fresh ideas, and plenty of memorable moments.
Here’s a look back at everything that made AALL 2026 such an incredible experience.
What’s New in HeinOnline
AALL 2026 was the perfect opportunity to showcase not only where HeinOnline is headed, but also the exciting collections and developments that have already arrived.
Throughout the conference, attendees explored some of our newest additions to the platform, including:
ABA Law Library Collection: Books & Practice Materials Archive
ABA Law Library Collection: Books & Practice Materials Archive was released a month before AALL and it was a highlight at our booth. This growing collection preserves decades of American Bar Association books, practice guides, handbooks, and other professional resources in a fully searchable digital format. Attendees were excited to explore this unique archive and learn how it expands access to trusted ABA publications, making valuable practice materials easier to discover, research, and use within HeinOnline.
LexBlog Library
Conference attendees also had the opportunity to discover LexBlog Library, a collection of practitioner-authored legal blogs and commentary. Updated every 30 minutes via RSS feeds, content from thousands of attorneys, law firms, and legal professionals, LexBlog Library gives researchers access to timely perspectives on emerging legal issues and developing trends, all seamlessly integrated into the HeinOnline research experience. The collection complements traditional legal research by connecting users with current, practice-focused insights alongside primary and secondary sources.
Environmental Law and Policy
Released early this year, Environmental Law and Policy drew significant attention from attendees interested in researching one of today’s most dynamic and interdisciplinary areas of law. This comprehensive collection brings together domestic and international primary sources, historical materials, and scholarly content spanning topics such as climate change, natural resources, energy, environmental justice, and sustainability. The database provides researchers with a centralized resource for tracing the evolution of environmental law and policy across jurisdictions and over time.
A First Look at What’s Next
In addition to showcasing our newest collections, AALL 2026 gave attendees an exclusive glimpse into what’s next for HeinOnline. From upcoming research tools to new AI-powered capabilities, visitors were among the first to preview innovations designed to enhance the research experience while staying true to the trusted platform they know.
Hein Scholar
Hein Scholar is Hein’s forthcoming law review submission and editorial management platform. It brings article submissions, editorial workflows, collaboration, and AI-assisted manuscript review into a single, purpose-built platform designed to modernize the publication process while providing a powerful, intuitive, and cost-effective alternative.
AI Search
AI Search is a new search experience coming to HeinOnline that complements HeinOnline’s traditional search capabilities. Using natural language, it helps researchers discover the most relevant materials, uncover connections across HeinOnline’s extensive collection, and explore legal scholarship in ways that are faster, more intuitive, and more insightful.
Missed a Demo? Catch Up Here!
Couldn’t make it to one of our demos? You can browse and download all of our AALL 2026 presentation slides below.
Booth Buzz & Big Giveaways
There was no shortage of excitement at the HeinOnline booth.
One of the biggest hits of the weekend was our pair of exclusive AALL 2026 t-shirts. Designed just for this year’s conference, both shirt designs were crowd favorites, with attendees eager to stop by, pick their favorite, and add a limited-edition HeinOnline tee to their collection.
Between demonstrations, attendees also tested their legal knowledge in our Librarian Showdown, which was a fun and interactive way to test their trivia skills while competing for prizes. The competition was fierce, the crowd was engaged, and each winning contestant walked away with a $50 Visa gift card.
The fun continued with the conference-wide Vendor Bingo game, giving attendees another reason to explore the exhibit hall and connect with participating exhibitors. Players who completed their bingo cards were entered for a chance to win an iPad Pro, and we loved welcoming so many new and familiar faces to the booth as they stopped by to mark their cards, learn about HeinOnline, and join in the excitement.
Exclusive Focus Groups
A new addition to our AALL experience this year was a series of exclusive focus groups, allowing attendees to preview upcoming products before their public release and help shape these products through direct feedback.
Hosted in small, interactive sessions, the focus groups brought together law librarians, experienced HeinOnline users, and members of the HeinOnline team for thoughtful discussions about two exciting initiatives currently in development: Hein Scholar, our forthcoming law review submission and editorial management platform, and AI Search, our next-generation natural language search experience. Participants explored each product, shared insights from their own workflows, and offered candid feedback on features, functionality, and user experience.
The conversations were engaging, insightful, and invaluable. As we continue developing these new tools, input from the legal information community remains central to our process. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated and shared their expertise. Your feedback will help shape the future of legal research and publishing at HeinOnline.
Thanks for Joining Our Second Annual Pub Trivia!
On Sunday evening, we traded legal research for a little friendly competition at our Second Annual Pub Trivia Night.
Hosted by the always-entertaining Scott Vanderlin of the University of Chicago, the evening brought together librarians with challenging trivia, plenty of laughs, and just the right amount of competitive spirit. Teams put their knowledge to the test across a variety of categories, making for a lively night of camaraderie and memorable moments.
Thank you to everyone who joined us. We had an incredible time and are already looking forward to making next year’s Pub Trivia even bigger and better!
Looking Forward to AALL 2027
As another incredible AALL Annual Meeting comes to a close, we’re returning home inspired by the conversations, ideas, and connections that made this year’s conference so memorable. Whether you stopped by our booth, attended a live demo, participated in a focus group, or joined us for Pub Trivia, thank you for being part of an unforgettable conference.
The feedback, questions, and insights we received throughout the conference will continue to shape the future of HeinOnline as we develop new products, expand our collections, and enhance the research experience for our users around the world.
We’re already looking forward to reconnecting with the legal information community at AALL 2027. Until then, stay tuned for more exciting announcements, upcoming product releases, and continued innovation from the HeinOnline team. We’ll see you next year!
