{"id":26754,"date":"2023-03-15T11:44:16","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T15:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/?p=946167"},"modified":"2023-03-15T11:44:16","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T15:44:16","slug":"events-lawyers-attending-in-person","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/legal-innovation-center\/2023\/03\/15\/events-lawyers-attending-in-person\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Way Overdue’ Or ‘Complete Waste Of Time’? What ATL Readers Think Of The Return To In-Person Events"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LargeNext week, thousands of lawyers and vendors are expected to descend on midtown Manhattan for the annual <\/span>Legalweek <\/span><\/a>conference, to be held in person for the second time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

We wanted to know: after three years of online meetings and virtual happy hours, how do people feel about attending events in person? Do they look forward to the opportunity to travel and mingle in real life or would they rather sit back and stream from the comfort of their own homes?<\/span><\/p>\n

To find out, we surveyed more than 500 people, including attorneys in private practice, in-house counsel, law firm professional staff, legal ops professionals, government lawyers, academics, judges, and a handful of law students.<\/span><\/p>\n

What we learned is that many \u2014 but by no means all \u2014 of you are ready and even excited to go to conferences again. \u201c<\/span>Bring it on!<\/span>\u201d<\/span> urged one respondent. It\u2019ll be \u201c<\/span>good to see real human beings.<\/span>\u201d Some believe a return to in-person events is \u201cway overdue.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"ReadyForLiveEvents2023\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Others are more conflicted, prepared to show up but concerned about the COVID precautions: \u201c<\/span>It\u2019s ok as long as health safety protocols and attendee reminders are in place.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But nearly 25 percent of respondents told us, \u201cNo way.\u201d They \u201cdo not feel comfortable attending live events\u201d yet, viewing them as \u201c<\/span>a public health risk<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another smaller group dismissed the need for in-person events at all, describing them as a \u201cc<\/span>omplete waste of time,<\/span>\u201d especially when \u201c<\/span>virtual options are more accessible and budget friendly.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"PlansToAttendLegalConferences2023\"<\/p>\n

Here is a sample of the feedback we received.<\/span><\/p>\n

Comfortable, happy to get back to it<\/b><\/p>\n