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ABA Techshow wrap-up, NE Ohio connection
RICHARD WEINER
Technology for Lawyers
Published: August 7, 2015
Bret Burney is a Chagrin Falls, Ohio-based legal technology consultant who just completed a stint as the director of the 2015 ABA Techshow, held recently in Chicago. This column is a continuation of that discussion.
Lessons learned:
The 2015 Techshow emphasized discussion on Model Rule 1.1, which went into effect in February, 2013, and which states that attorneys need to be technologically up-to-date. The ABA’s wrap-up column on the Techshow concluded that many, if not most, lawyers are far from compliant with this rule, which opens them up to all kinds of ethical complaints and malpractice suits.
Burney was involved in Techshow since 2002, and said that he learned (at least) three things about how to run a legal technology show from his leadership positions in that annual event.
First, Burney said that people giving presentations have to approach it like an educational seminar. “The presentations need to be like a CLE, and not like a sales pitch,” he said, even if the presentation is begin given by a vendor.
Second, Burney said that the real power of a legal technology show is in the networking possibilities, particularly between vendors and IT folks, and that it was important to have the vendors all available in the same space.
Third, he said that the speakers should make themselves available to the participants, and that Techshow was very good at making that happen.
Burney has a very clear-eyed view of the current state of legal technology. He said that his firm, “focuses on every aspect of litigation support and e-discovery support.” He also has a particular interest in the creation of the paperless office.
Burney Consulting (find at http://burneyconsultants.com) works with lawyers on security, workflow, creating paperless offices, document collection, litigation holds, document management, data management, e-discovery, and many other of the issues that this column has covered for 15 years or whatever.
He also is one of the few consulting firms that is versed in the application of Apple products to the legal environment, giving seminars in the Mac and the law world to law firms and government agencies, including the SEC, all around the country.