Technology

alt.legal: How To Get Your LegalTech (Or Chicken And Rice) Game On

If you're dipping your toe into the new, perilous territory of legal technology, chances are that LegalTech could end up leaving you more confused than before you arrived.

By  
on

53rd and 6th. Famous in New York City (primarily for this). But a week ago, the best people in the world converged at the Midtown Hilton, cross-corner from the best chicken and rice in the world. The place was decked out in huge banners, expansive exhibits, and a grip of people wearing tons of free flair.  It was the hottest party in town.

And they called it… LegalTech New York.

Step right up! Data security! Information governance, managed services, and matter management tools! And everywhere you look, basically e-discovery porn: predictive coding, visualizations, destroyers of obscure data types, and promises to slash your discovery costs. This is where the best and the brightest gathered with the meanest and most cutting-edge tools.

I mean, how could ANYONE miss this?

As it turns out, lots of legal professionals (and average humans) miss this every year. Don’t get me wrong, attendance was just fine and the show was overall a success. But who, exactly, is your average LegalTech attendee?

I didn’t ask. But based on my observations — also unusually well-covered here and here — here’s my guide on what LegalTech and other similar conferences are good for.

  • Finger on the pulse: Like most decent tech trade shows, LegalTech is a good place for staying up-to-date on market trends. Although there are competing conferences, this is still where the big players set up fancy suites and booths to unveil the hottest demos and game-changing legal technology. Go see the demos, attend panels, get a billion CLEs. It’s good to see what’s possible, and what trends people care about. This year, the trend really was about security, security, security. And for good reason, let’s not forget.
  • Meet and see some smart people: It’s a good spot to get some CLEs from some heavy hitters and really get some inside knowledge. Lots of folks from Microsoft, Facebook, HP, GSK, and the like. I moderated a crack group of panelists to discuss when to insource or outsource your e-discovery, and I found it highly informative and engaging. My recommendation: meet your peers, not just your clients/vendors.
  • Baby, spark a new flame: I’m not talking about getting your Tinder on (although if that somehow worked for you at LTNY… mad respect for your game.) I’m talking about learning about the cutting edge, the new concepts, and startups. LegalTech had a section dedicated to legal tech startups, many of which we’ve covered here on alt.legal. In the interviews I did above, I emphasized that startups and new market entrants represent a strategic decision to enter a dicey, high-risk, high-reward industry, and that usually means someone thinks there’s some area to grow there.

Sponsored

I know firms and corporations send their attorneys and legal support professionals to LegalTech, hoping to come back with a clear understanding of what tools may be helpful, maybe even to inform a procurement decision if you’re prepared.

However, more likely, you’ll leave with general impressions. LegalTech is a little bit like a Star Trek convention in that sense, an excuse to don Trekkie costumes and self-congratulate the savvy professionals who display their savvy offerings to other savvy professionals. The non-Trekkie, non-savvy (read: normal) legal professional in the U.S. may get a little lost. And isn’t that telling, in its own way?

Yes, for the uninitiated, LegalTech can be overwhelming. As one veteran of LegalTech told me, it’s mostly a reunion to catch up and see old buddies from the industry, maybe explore new job opportunities. And if you’re interested in updated market trends, seeing and interacting with smart people, or learning about the newest thing, LegalTech is your jam. If you’re dipping your toe into the new, perilous territory of legal technology, chances are that LegalTech could end up leaving you more confused than before you arrived.

But hey. If all else fails, at least you’ll get that chicken and rice (or my fave is the chicken/gyro combo on rice with extra white sauce.) Halal Guys, you shall forever be the real star of 53 and 6.

Sponsored

Ed Sohn is a Global Director at Thomson Reuters’ award-winning legal outsourcing company, Pangea3, which employs approximately 1,000 full-time attorneys globally. After five and a half years as a Biglaw litigation associate, Ed spent over two years in New Delhi, India, managing hundreds of Indian attorneys and professionals in delivering high-value managed legal services. He now focuses on developing integrated technology and outsourced legal solutions. You can contact Ed about e-discovery, managed legal services, theology, chess, Star Trek The Next Generation, or the Chicago Bulls at edward.sohn@thomsonreuters.com.

CRM Banner

Topics

, , ,