American Bar Association TechShow 2009 Preview

Mar 23rd, 2009 | By Rex Gradeless | Category: Attorney Gadgets, Courtroom Technology, Featured, Lead Article, Web 2.0

Hilton Chicago | April 2-4, 2009

Highlights for ABA TECHSHOW 2009 Next Week!

We promise you will thoroughly enjoy this year’s event, which is right around the corner. Below are a few highlights we would like to share with you to help you plan your stay in Chicago and ensure you have the best ABA TECHSHOW experience ever.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS – The End of Lawyers?: Rethinking the Nature of Legal Services

In these difficult economic times, we are especially pleased to have Richard Susskind, distinguished legal thinker and author of The End of Lawyers?: Rethinking the Nature of Legal Services, as our keynote speaker. If you are wondering what the future holds for lawyers in general and for your practice in particular, and you’d like to be prepared to meet and even thrive despite the challenges the future – and advancing legal technology – will bring, you can’t afford to miss this seminal presentation.

NEW SESSION! ALL aTWITTER ABOUT ABA TECHSHOW
You asked for it and we heard you. So we’ve just added a session entitled All aTwitter About TECHSHOW: What’s the Buzz About Microblogging? The first Face-to-Face roundtable session on Thursday morning, led by Dominic Jaar, Tom Mighell and Catherine Sanders Reach, will tell you everything you’ll need to know to tweet your way through ABA TECHSHOW, tweet up with your friends, and not miss a thing.

JAMES I. KEANE AWARD PRESENTATION

Immediately following the keynote address on Thursday, The 2009 James I. Keane Award for excellence in e-lawyering will be presented to Stephanie Kimbro of Kimbro Legal Services for her development and use of Web-based technology to deliver legal services. Click here to learn more about Ms. Kimbro and her virtual law office.

ABA TECHSHOW is not just about CLE, however. It’s also a great opportunity for meeting and networking with other lawyers and legal technology professionals, as well has having some fun!

ABA TECHSHOW AFTER DARK
ABA TECHSHOW’s opening party on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom will give you a great opportunity to meet and network with the TECHSHOW Planning Board, Faculty and your fellow attendees while enjoying music, food and drink, and a chance to win exciting door prizes. Additional tickets for guests are available for purchase at the Conference Registration desk.

TASTE OF ABA TECHSHOW
On Friday evening, our Planning Board, faculty and other legal technology experts will lead topical dinners, to be held at some of the fine restaurants around Chicago. Speakers and legal technology experts will lead the discussions. You select the restaurant and topic of your choice at the Conference Concierge Desk. The dinners are Dutch-treat. Space is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to sign up early!

TECHSHOW Conference Concierge
The Conference Concierge and Tech Help Desk are located on the Lower Level near the entrance to the Legal Expo. If you have any questions about which sessions to attend or how to get the most from ABA TECHSHOW, this is the place to have your questions answered. Sign up for the Taste of ABA TECHSHOW dinners, receive technical help, and meet Planning Board and faculty members you’ve always wanted to get to know at the Conference Concierge desk.

REGISTRATION, BADGE AND CONFERENCE CONCIERGE
All pre-registered, onsite registration, exhibitors and expo hall only attendees should register at the Registration Desk found on the Lower Level of the Hilton Chicago. Registration hours are as follows:

Wednesday, April 1 – 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 2 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, April 3 – 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 4 – 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

You will receive your name badge and registration materials at the Registration Desk. Name badges are required to enter sessions and the Expo Hall.

EXPO HOURS, CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION SESSIONS, and PASSPORT TO PRIZES
Visit over 100 technology vendors in the Expo. The Expo Hall will be located in the Southeast and Southwest Halls on the Lower Level. The Expo Hall hours are as follows:

Thursday, April 2 – 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, April 3 – 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Be sure to use your Passport to Prizes found in your registration bag to become eligible to win fabulous prizes! The drawing takes place on Friday, April 3, at 4:00 p.m.

The educational sessions will be held in the Continental Ballrooms on the Lobby Level and the Northwest Hall on the Lower Level. More than 50 sessions in 15 topical tracks will allow you to customize your ABA TECHSHOW experience. In addition, there will be Vendor Track Sessions in the Expo Hall. For a complete description of all sessions, visit www.techshow.com/sessions/index.shtml.

BOOK BUCKS AND FREE USB DRIVE
Don’t forget to use your book bucks worth $10 toward any LPM publication purchase at the ABA Law Practice Management Section booth located at booth #100 in the Expo Hall. Also, included with your registration is a coupon good for one free 2 GB USB drive. Exchange your coupon for the USB drive at the LPM Booth.

Other ABA TECHSHOW highlights include: