I've heard from many iPhone J.D. readers who will be in Chicago for ABA TECHSHOW 2014 this week. This will be my sixth TECHSHOW, and it is always a great opportunity to learn about technology from formal CLE sessions, vendors showing off cutting edge legal technology and (best of all) other attorneys who enjoy using tech. This is the first year that TECHSHOW will have an entire track devoted to the iPad, and even outside of the iPad track I'm sure that there will be a lot of talk about the iPhone and iPad in other sessions. Plus, I expect to see lots of vendors showing off iPhone and iPad related apps and accessories in the exhibit hall.
Who wants free stuff?
I love to meet iPhone J.D. readers at TECHSHOW, and this year I have something special for you when you see me. I've long been a fan of the micro material cloths sold by MOBiLE CLOTH because they do a fantastic job of keeping an iPhone and iPad screen clean. I have one at my desks at work and at home, and I carry them around in my briefcase. MOBiLE CLOTH now makes custom logo cloths, and the company was nice enough to send me dozens of them with iPhone J.D. custom logos to give out to iPhone J.D. readers at TECHSHOW. Just introduce yourself to me as an iPhone J.D. reader and it is yours for free, thanks to MOBiLE CLOTH. (Do me a favor, though, and try not to ask me for them right after I finish one of my presentations because that tends to be a time when there are lots of people trying to ask me questions.) And whether or not you can make it to TECHSHOW this week, for a limited time, MOBiLE CLOTH is offering 25% off & free shipping on any custom package. Just go to mobilecloth.com and use the promo code iPhoneJD when you order. A big thank you to MOBiLE CLOTH for doing something nice for iPhone J.D. readers!
THE SCHEDULE
One of the best — and worst — things about TECHSHOW is that with seven different tracks going on at the same time, plus the exhibit hall, plus the concierge booth where lots of people hang out to chat during the day, there is just too much to choose from at any one time. Here is where you are likely to find me at TECHSHOW, and these are the events that I recommend for iPhone J.D. readers.
Wednesday, March 26:
There are two compelling events at the same time Wednesday night, and I'm not sure which I'm attending yet.
6:00 - 7:00: LexThink.1. A fast-paced event at which 10 speakers each have 6 minutes to give presentations on improving the law. Click here to get free tickets.
6:00 - 7:00: Legal Networking presented by Tom Mighell, at the Apple Store located at 679 North Michigan Avenue.
Thursday, March 27:
This is the day of the iPad track, so you'll find me in Salon A-5 most of the day. All of the sessions are taught by experienced presenters who know a ton about the iPad and iPhone.
9:00 - 10:00: iPad in Action presented by Jim Calloway and Tom Mighell.
10:15 - 11:15: iPad in Trial / iPad for Litigators. This is the first of three iPad-related sessions that I am doing. Judge Hebert Dixon of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and I will provide advice and show off solutions for litigators who use iPads.
11:30 - 12:30: This is probably when I'll start to check out the endless booths at the Expo Hall.
12:45 - 1:45: Luncheon / James I. Keane Memorial Award.
2:00 - 3:00: iGadgets and iGear for the iLawyer. This is my second session. Ben Stevens of The Mac Lawyer and I will team up to discuss some great iPhone and iPad accessories.
4:00 - 5:00: Advanced iPad: Working with Word and So Much More. The timing of this presentation by Brett Burney and Mark Unger could be perfect, because as I noted last week, there are rumors that Microsoft will release Office for the iPad, including a version of Microsoft Word for the iPad, on March 27. I'm sure that Brett and Mark will talk about that if it does happen, plus show off lots of other advanced iPad tips and tricks.
5:00 - 6:30: Welcome Reception – EXPO Hall.
7:00 - ???: Taste of Techshow - iStuff (iPads and iPhones). Brett Burney and I are hosting this Taste of Techshow dinner at Emilio’s Tapas (Sol Y Nieve). (UPDATE: Thanks to WestlawNext for sponsoring our dinner!) The dinner was sold out soon after the ABA started taking reservations, but there is usually a waiting list just in case someone cancels so if you really want to join us, maybe you can still do so. If you can't, there lots of other great Taste of Techshow dinners where you can meet some great people and enjoy a great meal.
Friday, March 28:
8:00 - 10:00. I still haven't decided which sessions I will attend for the two morning sessions. I might even use this time to see more booths at the Expo Hall.
10:00 - 11:30: Concierge Booth. The Concierge Booth is technically the place to go if you have any questions. You can see the conference schedule, sign up for Taste of Techshow dinners, etc. But the Concierge Booth also tends to be the central location where lots of people hang out to talk with others. So whether you have a question or just want to talk about your favorite apps, I'm signed up to be there from 10:00 11:30 on Friday, and I'm likely to be there other times as well.
11:30 - 12:30: Lunch 'N Learn Sessions. There are lots of great sessions where you can also get a free lunch. I'll probably attend the WestlawNext one.
12:45 - 1:45: Keynote by Rick Klau. Klau is now a partner at Google Ventures but few lawyers have been as involved in technology as Klau. For example, Klau is one of the people responsible for Google Scholar. This should be a great keynote — even though it will be tough to top the fantastic Keynote given last year by David Pogue of the New York Times (now of Yahoo Tech).
2:30 - 3:30: I'm trying to decide between two sessions. Lincoln Mead and Nerino Petro of the Utah and Wisconsin State Bars will present Road Tested: Gear, Gadgets & Guides that Smooth the Bumps in the Practice Road, which sounds interesting. But at the same time, there is a session called Lone Wolf: Being the Only Mac in a PC Firm, presented by Randy Juip and Ben Stevens. Even though I use a PC at my office, I do use a Mac when I work at home. More importantly, not only is Stevens a great presenter, but Juip is often one of the funniest, most entertaining presenters at TECHSHOW, so any session that he does is worth seeing.
3:45 - 4:45: Again, I'm trying to decide between two sessions. Bill Latham and Catherine Sanders Reach will present Mobility Killed the PC-Star - Can A Tablet Replace the Attorney's PC? But at the same time, Tom Mighell and Reid Trautz will present Less Paper More Mobility as a part of the Paperless Track.
5:00 - 6:00: 60 Tips in 60 Minutes. This fast-paced session is always full of great legal tech tips.
5:30 - 7:00: Beer for Blawgers. This is always a fun social event, sponsored by Kevin O'Keefe of LexBlog. You won't see it on the official TECHSHOW schedule, but it should be in the Hilson's Lakeside Green Lounge.
8:00 - 9:30: I might sign up for a Taste of Techshow dinner this night, but if not I'll probably attend Cocktails and Comedy.
Saturday, March 29:
8:30 - 10:00. Nixon's Watergate Abuses: The Hackings That Forever Changed Legal Ethics, presented by John Dean, who was White House counsel to President Nixon.
10:15 - 11:15: 60 Apps in 60 Minutes. The room was packed when we did this presentation in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Now it is back and better than ever. This year, my co-presenters are Reid Trautz (Reid and I did the first two in 2010 and 2011), Brett Burney (Brett joined me for the 2012 version, along with Josh Barrett, who at the time published Tablet Legal) and Ohio litigator Chad Burton.
11:30 - 12:30: 60 Sites in 60 Minutes.
Finally, if this will be your first TECHSHOW, or if you just want a refresher, New York attorney Niki Black has a great All You Need to Know post with details for preparing for, and getting the most out of TECHSHOW. Also, Tim Baran of Rocket Matter wrote this post with tips for attending TECHSHOW. The ABA itself has this guide for first-time attendees. And Reid Trautz has a post recommending apps to use during TECHSHOW.
See you in the Windy City!
