Described by attendees as the “must do legal conference of the year”, LawFest, New Zealand’s premier legal innovation and technology event, attracted over 250 legal professionals from across the country, revealing a heightened appetite for change in how legal services are delivered.
LawFest Event Founder and Strategic Adviser of E-Discovery Consulting Andrew King said the number of attendees this year was the highest ever at the event demonstrating there’s a heightened awareness in the legal sector of staying relevant and keeping up with change.
“Lawyers within firms, in-house counsel, legal support, and managers across the sector want to know how to innovate and use technology effectively, so they can deliver services more efficiently, for lower fees, and to better meet the needs of their clients. This year there was far larger appetite for the conversation than ever before.
“In particular, it was great to see so many in-house lawyers attending the event. They are under pressure to find more efficient ways to deliver more for less in their organisation and LawFest 2018 provided a platform for them to explore options to achieve that,” said King.
Keynote speaker Sir Ray Avery, described by attendees as an “inspiring and motivational start to the day”, lead the line-up of over 20 speakers including Mai Chen, Craig Columbus, David Harvey, Caroline Ferguson, Claudia King and many more.
Held in Auckland, the conference connected delegates with New Zealand’s leading legal technology thinkers and industry providers and covered subjects in a legal context including cyber-security, blockchain, AI, tech and law-firm partnerships, innovating as an in-house lawyer, the business of law during changing times, and looking at disruption as ‘normal’.
Senior Associate, Parry Field Lawyers, Steven Moe, also a panellist from one of the four working sessions available at LawFest, enjoyed the diversity of learnings from the day.
“LawFest is a great way to meet other people who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and be challenged as to what the future will bring,” Mr Moe said about the event.
This year the event attracted the greatest number of providers of legal technology, many of which are new players in this quickly evolving industry. LawFest 2018 also created its first ‘innovation zone’ showcasing many new tech businesses just starting out. Delegates had the opportunity to interact with providers into the legal industry throughout the day, as well as network with those from other firms.
King, who has run the successful event for 6 years, was pleased to see delegates, exhibitors and speakers alike, all have something to take away from the one-day event.
“There were so many opportunities for learning through the speakers, the working sessions and the legal sector technology providers. It was great to see so much energy in the room, and so many conversations and questions being exchanged between those in the know, and those that want to know,” said Mr King.
Following the success of this year’s event, LawFest 2019 is set to attract even more legal professionals with an interest in innovation and technology. It will again be held in Auckland, on 21 March 2019, with a limited time 2 for 1 ticket offer for delegates.
The LawFest membership is also an initiative carried on from last year. With a new low entry fee of $99, the membership enables greater access to anyone in New Zealand interested in learning more about innovation and leveraging technology to help deliver legal services. Membership provides exclusive access to the 2018 presentation slides, videos and other regular content.