LTNY: T-Minus 12 h

       

I've just navigated the chaos that is the LegalTech vendor floor (see photos, click each for larger images) and, after more than a decade watching these shows take shape on both coasts, I still marvel at how this mess morphs into the polished event that will emerge in a few hours.  It's going to be a great show for the vendors.  I can't predict the traffic won't be off in sheer numbers of warm bodies, but those who come will have budgets to buy that were nowhere to be seen last year.  Everyone tightened belts, but those compelled to do more with less now face doing more with less...that's now a year or two past its prime.  The fear factor has dissipated (even obscene Wall St. bonuses are back and Ford's turned a profit), so the checkbooks are coming out.  

Speaking of money, don't let cost keep you away.  Big firm or solo, lawyer or lit support--LegalTech has something for you.  The hustle and bustle of the vendor floor is free (if you register before midnight) and the keynotes and super sessions are also free, free, free.  Even if you just show up unregistered, you can get someone to waive the fifty dollar fee.  Though the chotchkes aren't any better this year, one vendor (Kiersted / Systems) is giving away a car, and you can surely grab enough mints and chocolate to last until Halloween.  Heck, come just to see the EDRM Model in Japanese at the Ji2 booth!

I'll be speaking three times this year: on Monday at 3:30pm for "Ask the E-Discovery Doctors," joined by the duly and dually celebrated George Socha and Ralph Losey, and on Tuesday at 10:30am for "In-house or Outsource EDD" with Scott Cohen, Marilyn Caldwell and Mike Troisi, and again on Tuesday at 4:15pm for "Managing Litigation on a Tight Budget," with Michelle Mahoney and Duane Lites.  Hope to see you!