ABA TechShow : Kudos to guys who make it go

We’re two days in to the 3 day ABA TechShow in Chicago. It’s one of my favorite conferences of the year – feels like old home week having come for 16 years. A big thanks to all those who make it possible:

• Tom Mighell and Reid Trautz, the program chairs this year. They’ll deny they had anything to do with running the thing, but go shake their hand and thank them.
• The presenters and exhibitors. There’s learning all around. The best exhibitors bring and teach technology, they’re not trying to sell you something. Lawyers freely teach technology at all levels, knowing that innovation has not been adopted equally.
• Lawyer volunteers from all over the country manning booths and the like to help attendees to get the most out of the show.
• Members of the LPM section of ABA.
• Hilton hotel personnel.
• Chicagoans all over downtown who make this city one of the special places in the world to do business while feeling right at home the whole time. Is there a city that matches Chicago’s cab drivers and restaurant servers who serve as raving fans and ambassadors of their town?
• Sponsors, many of whom pick up dinner and bar bills. ;)
• Lawyers attending from all over the country. People seem pretty intent on learning how to harness technology to improve their lives and the lives of their clients

Only one request for next year. WiFi. The lack of widely available Internet reach has limited bloggers, people like LXBN which was going to do some live Skype interviews via an iPad, and exhibitors who cannot show some of the kick ass mobile apps and the like they’ve built. 36 things you are doing great, 1 not so great. That’s made for what I see as growing attendance at a time when other shows are struggling. I’ve spent more time off site meeting with law firms and other companies than at the conference, but it’s time to get back there for to Beer for Bloggers sponsored by the ABA Journal, LexBlog, and LXBN.