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Management Assistance Program

Join Us at ABA TECHSHOW 2025

By Jim Calloway and Julie Bays

ABA TECHSHOW 2025 will be held April 2-5 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago. This is a new venue that will allow for an expanded expo hall with even more exhibitors. This year, OBA members can receive a discount on registration by using the code EP2507 when registering.

Given the rapid rise of artificial intelligence tools in the last few years and how these tools are now being incorporated into the software we use daily, this year is a great year to attend TECHSHOW. “Tackling AI’s Complex Legal and Ethical Implications” is one session we predict will be popular.

This year, TECHSHOW features a strong Oklahoma connection. OBA Practice Management Advisor Julie Bays is the co-chair, and several other speakers have Oklahoma ties. Kenton Brice, director of the Donald E. Pray Law Library at the OU College of Law, will be presenting “Defining Technology Competence in the Age of Generative AI,” as well as the cutting-edge program “Practicing Law in an Augmented Reality.” Julie Bays will be teaming up with Microsoft’s Ben M. Schorr, who many of you met at our summer 2024 AI conference, for “Taking Flight with Copilot.” Jim Calloway will present “Setting Tech Priorities for a Small Law Firm” with Reid Trautz, senior director at the American Immigration Lawyers Association Practice and Professionalism Center.

TECHSHOW 2025 features many experts in legal technology with fascinating content. One such session is “Navigating AI-Generated Evidence Including Deep Fakes,” presented by Professor Maura R. Grossman and Judge Scott Schlegel. Judge Schlegel, renowned for his insight into technology’s role in the legal system, has extensively discussed the challenges posed by AI-generated evidence and the ethical considerations of AI in judicial decision-making.

Another compelling session is “Legal Technology Regulation: Lessons Learned in Cloud Technology Innovation,” led by Jack Newton, CEO of Clio. Mr. Newton, a pioneer in cloud-based legal practice management, will share his experiences and insights into the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding legal technology, offering valuable lessons for practitioners navigating this dynamic field.

Ms. Bays and Mr. Calloway also appreciate the coincidence that Mr. Calloway was chair of TECHSHOW 2005, and Ms. Bays is co-chairing TECHSHOW 2025. This seems to verify the old saying that history doesn’t exactly repeat itself, but it does rhyme.

There is much more than AI advancement and ethics at TECHSHOW. This year’s TECHSHOW is honored to feature Cory Doctorow as the keynote speaker. Mr. Doctorow is a renowned science fiction author, journalist and technology activist, celebrated for his insightful commentary on the intersection of technology and society. As a special consultant to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, he has been a steadfast advocate for digital rights and freedoms. He explores themes of digital rights management, file sharing and post-scarcity economics, resonating deeply with contemporary technological challenges. Attendees can anticipate a thought-provoking keynote address that delves into the evolving landscape of technology and its broader societal implications.

Barron K. Henley, a TECHSHOW planning board member and consultant with Affinity Consulting, will likely once again have a packed house for his observations and customizations about Microsoft Word, a tool most lawyers use daily. Have you ever wondered why Microsoft Word frequently requires multiple steps to do a common task? The answer is that Microsoft built it that way! I defy anyone who uses Word to sit through Mr. Henley’s program for the first time without bursting into laughter several times. But then he follows up by showing how to “fix” the issues. More than once, I’ve heard a member of the audience comment out loud, “And I thought it was me!”

There are also many litigation-oriented presentations at this year’s TECHSHOW, including one that will be very interesting to solo practitioners: “Trial With an iPad.” This is a two-part session. We also note the “AI Litigation: Harnessing Generative AI for Trials” session is excellent for litigators.

As mentioned, TECHSHOW is in April this year instead of the usual March setting. So we are hoping for some nice spring Chicago weather. Unlike most conferences, where you may only get to hear and interact with a speaker while they’re at the podium, TECHSHOW has, for many years, featured an event called “Taste of TECHSHOW,” where attendees are encouraged to sign up for a dinner with some of the speakers. It is great fun, and you get to dine with other TECHSHOW attendees who share similar interests.

This year, TECHSHOW celebrates its 40th anniversary, a remarkable milestone in legal technology innovation and education. To commemorate this occasion, Friday night will feature an ’80s-style birthday party, inviting attendees to don their favorite retro outfits and relive the era when TECHSHOW was born. On Saturday morning, the celebration continues with a special presentation from past chairs of TECHSHOW, “40 Tech Tips in 40 Years.” This session promises to blend valuable insights with humor as presenters reflect on the evolution of technology, poke fun at some outdated tools and perhaps even roast a few former chairs for their memorable contributions – or missteps – over the decades. Visit www.techshow.com to register and for the latest updates and details about ABA TECHSHOW 2025. Don’t forget to use your discount code, EP2507, when registering.

Mr. Calloway is the OBA Management Assistance Program director. Need a quick answer to a tech problem or help solving a management dilemma? Contact him at 405-416-7008, 800-522-8060 or jimc@okbar.org. It’s a free member benefit.

Ms. Bays is the OBA practice management advisor, aiding attorneys in using technology and other tools to efficiently manage their offices.

Originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal — February, 2025 — Vol. 96, No. 2

 

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