Between the educational sessions, plethora of exhibitors, and informal receptions and gatherings, Legaltech New York can be exhilarating yet overwhelming for a first-time attendee. But with just a little preparation, you can make the most out of this unforgettable experience.
With two weeks until the conference begins, now is the time to create your strategy for maximizing your time in New York. The following 20 tips will help you take advantage of everything there is to offer while maintaining your sanity.
Set goals. The most important step you can take before you arrive is to determine what you want to learn. Keep in mind that you probably won’t be able to accomplish all of your goals, so prioritize one or two.
Do your homework. Make sure you know which vendors your firm or organization uses, and ask other lawyers, IT, and staff for their thoughts on their performance. Assess their strengths and weaknesses, and identify any questions that you and your team would like answered. While at the conference, you will have access to vendor representatives who can talk you through problems and address gaps in their service.
Strategize your vendor approach. Don’t wait until you’re in the wilds of the expo hall to decide which booths to visit. With more than 170 exhibitors, it’s essential to choose your targets in advance. This way, you can make sure they align with your needs, and you’ll have enough time to learn about their products and solutions. Don’t forget to collect sales literature and business cards (and swag!) so you can follow up.
Schedule product demos. Legaltech offers a wonderful opportunity to experience new software and tools firsthand. Given the time required for the demos, try to set these sessions up in advance, if possible.
Choose your educational sessions in advance. Study the track schedule carefully and calendar all three days before you arrive. Don’t limit yourself to just one track, as there is often subject-matter crossover between tracks.
Have a back-up plan. You’ll often find that multiple interesting sessions are scheduled at the same time, so keep your backups in mind in case the one you select doesn’t live up to your expectations. Sit in an aisle seat so you can make a quick escape if necessary. Your time is too short to spend in a session that doesn’t meet your needs.
Go to the keynote panels. With so much going on, it may be tempting to skip the general sessions, but this year’s lineup promises to be exciting. More importantly, these sessions are what most attendees will be talking about, given the incredible list of speakers.
Chat with the presenters. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the presenters. Many will hang around after their session for in-depth discussions.
Divide and conquer. If you’re attending Legaltech as part of a team, strategize as a team so you can cover the most ground. Debrief at the end of each day, reconfiguring your plans as necessary.
Talk to as many other attendees as possible. Some of your best resources at Legaltech will be your peers. Make time to meet them at lunch, in the expo hall, before and after sessions, or even in the elevator. Find out about their best practices and chosen tools and techniques. You never know who might be facing similar challenges or have creative solutions to your problems.
Put yourself on the A-list. Many receptions are private, though some are mentioned in the Legaltech brochure and are open to all registered attendees. Don’t be afraid to ask potential or existing vendors whether they are hosting an event.
Take notes. Whether on the back of a business card, in a voice memo, or on your tablet, record what you’ve learned. You’ll be bombarded with information, and it will be difficult to sort it out by the time you leave.
Follow the conference on social media. Stay on top of developments and alert others to your learning by posting updates on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Use the conference hashtag, #LTNY16, to join in the conversation and build connections with other attendees.
Orient yourself. Either the night before or morning of, make sure you understand the lay of the land. Know where all the sessions that you plan to attend are, as well as their backups, so you can walk around efficiently.
Bring extra business cards. You will meet more people than you expect, and you’ll want to keep in touch with many of them. Exchange cards and connect on social media, so you can make plans to meet again next year.
Dress comfortably. The days are long, and you’ll spend a lot of time on your feet. Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers in case the temperature varies from room to room.
Leave extra time for the unexpected. In years past, attendees have had to wait for hotel elevators for 15 to 20 minutes at peak times of the day. Plan accordingly.
Get some fresh air. If you need to take a break, the Hilton is near a number of other attractions: for example, you can stroll half a block to the Museum of Modern Art or half a mile to Central Park.
Get enough sleep. Each day is action-packed, and you won’t want to snooze through a session. Parties can go late into the night, but know your limits.
Reflect. While Legaltech is still fresh in your mind, create a list of to-dos so you can continue the conversations you began during the conference. Set new goals based on what you discovered, and share what you learned with the rest of your team.
Coming to Legaltech with a focused plan of attack will help you tame the chaos and ensure that you not only survive but thrive.
Amy Juers is the CEO and founder of Edge Legal Marketing.
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