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    Post ABA TECHSHOW: What You Missed

    by SimpleLaw on
    ABA TECHSHOW

    The ABA TECHSHOW 2024 was a good event. As usual, there were lots of opportunities to earn some great CLE credits, network, and enjoy some nice evenings out, sponsored by various companies. And, as usual, the EXPO hall was a great place to learn about new providers and connect with existing. If you weren't able to make it in person, below are some highlights. Consider this your 'attendee summary'. And of course, we hope to see you at ABA TECHSHOW 2025.

    Most Buzz: AI

    There were many AI providers at the event, and several speakers on the subject. In our discussion with our counterparts, while it sounds great, the use case is really focused on content. First, idea generation. If your firm creates content like a blog, just entering 'what should I write about for this specific topic?' or even 'what topics are important for this type of law? The second application of AI is to generate the outline. Remember, AI is not entirely reliable. Be sure to approach any suggested content with a critical eye. Those 'hallucinations' happen. Finally, once the outline looks good, AI can write the content. Remember, this is never, ever, your final product. Keep that highly critical eye. Triple vett any references. And, as always, adjust to YOUR voice. No one wants to read 'computer' voice.

    If you aren't creating content, well, now is a great time to start. Attracting potential clients is one great benefit of content creation. It is also helpful to connect with other law firms to build out that referral network. Take a look at Co-Pilot from Microsoft and ChatGPT from Google. Some websites are offering built in AI for content creation, too. Be sure to vett them before using them. And, as always, keep that critical eye.

    Middle Buzz: Networking

    This year, frankly, the Expo Hall was decidedly quieter than in years past. Now, that may be due to location on the floor, who the exhibitor is, and time of day. Overall, it felt like attendance was down. However, for those that were there, the opportunity to attend various evening gatherings seemed quite popular. 

    Whatever the impetus to attend the gatherings, the opportunity to truly build a network was clear. For in-person events, this is a real game changer. Sure, you can get CLE credit online. And you can even build that network in your local community. But do you? We are all so busy with work itself that the seemingly 'extra' stuff like networking can quickly fall off that priority list. With in-person events, the opportunity is built in. We always meet new people, both other providers as well as legal professionals. Our favorite? Meeting our users in-person. There is something about that in-person connection, regardless of the role. 

    Low Buzz: Giveaways

    Ok, seriously, what is the right move here? There were some fun giveaways. Some useful stuff, too. But this year, we didn't see the same level of request for items as in the past. Is it time to stop the trade show 'goody bag'? Better to just raffle off cash? We seriously want to know what you think. Don't get me wrong. We came with our cord organizer giveaway. And we gave most away. But it wasn't the same 'vibe' as in years past. 

    As always, TECHSHOW is a great event. We really enjoy making those personal connections in person, seeing folks from partner providers, and meeting new ones. We are so impressed by the level of entrepreneurship in our industry. And like them, we are always looking for ways to make our software even better. Did you attend TECHSHOW? What did you think? We hope to see you there next year!

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