header-logo header-logo

A glimpse into the future

12 May 2017 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7745 / Categories: Opinion , Profession , Technology
printer mail-detail
nlj_7745_comment-smith

Roger Smith reports on the ABA Techshow

In my (albeit limited) experience, Americans do a good conference. They have the numbers; the diversity of experience; and the energy to start at a scarily early hour. The ABA Techshow in March was no exception. Day 1 began with ‘where yoga and technology meet’ at 7am and went on through sessions that included ‘lunch n’ learn’ into ‘affinity’ dinners in the evening. Three days of this must have been pretty exhausting even if you were not an effete European who had flown into Chicago only the day before the opening.

High energy

In a way, the energy of the event was its defining feature. The conference was run by the organising committee which had been taken over by a group of powerful women, led by charismatic consultant and trainer, Adriana Linares, and which included ABA president Linda Grant. They had disqualified as a potential speaker anyone who had addressed the conference in the last five years: that dealt with most of the men. An impressive

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
back-to-top-scroll