Legal Marketing Association Annual Conference – For the 17th Time

I’ll be in Las Vegas for the Legal Marketing Association Annual Conference Tuesday and Wednesday.

This will mark my seventeenth LMA Annual Conference. Would have been my 19th conference, but for the pandemic, which has touched us all.

LMA Annual is a good conference run by some hard working members of LMA, who also work on the side in some demanding legal marketing, business development and communications jobs.

The conference, like most legal conferences, is a mix of education, company exhibitions and parties.

The education is quite good.

Unlike some legal conferences, the sessions are not a pay for play or vendor driven.

The sessions are tailored to what the committee sees of need, both by timely topics and where attendees may be in their careers.

The attendees are mostly legal marketing professionals in law firms.

I have seen some excellent programming where veteran legal professionals give back by helping younger professionals facing the demands and rigors of working in law firms – in the case of many, large law firms.

The number of exhibitor’s will be no where near as many as ALM’s Legalweek, ABA TechShow, ILTA, AALL and the like. I’d have to guess there just isn’t as much money in the space.

What exhibitor’s lack in number here though, they make for it in intimate long term relationships with attendees.

We’ve known each other for a long time. As a result, relationships are personal and professional. I expect I’ll be asking ”How’s your family doing?” more than ”How’s business?”

Like conferences in New York and Chicago over the last few weeks, I am sure there is going to be a bit of reunion feeling for most.

Unlike other business travelers, attendees are not regularly traveling for work. Going to LMA Annual for the learning, time away and camaraderie is much needed.

Two years away was probably too long for most folks.

As much as I am no fan of Las Vegas, I’ll enjoy seeing some friends there this week.

Thanks to LMA Annual’s co-chairs, Jennifer Johnson of Calibrate Legal and Deborah Ruffins of Perkins Coie for leading the way.