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10 Reasons to Attend the MSBA's Sixth Annual Mid-Year Technology
Showcase
By John Anderson
January, 2000
1. It is at a convenient time. You can attend either Friday, March 2 or
Saturday, March 3, 2001 or both days. The times are 8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
2. It is being held at a new but still convenient location. The seminar
will be held at the Maritime Technology and Training Center which is
convenient to many attorneys in the state and is easily accessible to
those in the outlying counties.
3. It is VERY reasonably priced and cannot get a better value for your
education dollar. The cost for Friday is $65.00 and for Saturday, $85.00.
If you attend both days, the cost is only $135.00. To make it an even
greater value, you can send one person from your firm on Friday and a
different person on Saturday for the cost of $135.00. This fee includes
all materials, continental breakfast and lunch both days and all break.
4. You will have the opportunity to see over 35 legal technology
vendors. In addition, you may come either day to only visit the vendors
for the very low cost of $20.00.
5. Friday and Saturday programs are designed to present completely
different types of programs. This will allow members to attend one or both
days.
Friday is devoted to topics related to Technology and Security. The
keynote speaker is an expert in Network and Internet Security and will
give an overview on what all firms should consider for both their firms
and their clients. There will also be an exciting Endnote speech. We have
tentative acceptance from U.S. Representative Constance Morella, who
represents the Montgomery County area and chairs a sub-committee on
Technology for the Committee on Science. Her sub-committee had hearings
last spring on the issues related to viruses. She will discuss what is
being discussed in Congress on technology and security.
As always, Saturday is devoted to nuts and bolts sessions designed to
allow members use the information back at their offices on Monday or make
important decisions. Tracks will include:
Applications To Make it Hum - Tips and tricks for choosing and
using software
Litigation - Technology to help litigators improve efficiency and
win cases
New and Late Breaking - These are topics that the legal
professionals need to know are coming
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - This track deals with some of the
"dark" sides of technology and what you need to do to protect
your technology and how technology can have negative effects.
People Make it Click - These sessions deal with all personnel and
people issues involved with how technology is used in the office and the
difficulties that may result.
Tips, Tips and More Tips - These sessions are designed to give
attendees practical and useful advice that can be used when you get back
to the office on Monday.
Ask The Experts - Each session will have a topic and a group of
"experts" available to answer any questions that have been
keeping you up at night. It's like getting consulting advice for free.
There will be two outstanding plenary sessions on Saturday. One will be
about Myth vs Reality in Technology Security and the endnote speech will
be on How to Move to a Paperless Office.
6. New this year will be raffles each our by vendors and a hands on
computer lab.
7. You will have the opportunity to see how some of Maryland's most
tech savvy attorneys use technology to help them with their clients and in
the way they practice and run their firms.
8. If you come prepared with your most vexing questions and problems,
you will have the opportunity to have them answered. The speakers and
vendors will be available all day to answer your most nagging problems.
9. You will receive program materials of over 600 pages that you can
refer to throughout the year.
10. Attending will keep you ahead of your competition.
Brochures will be mailed in early January. If you have not received a
brochure, please call and request one. You may also get detailed
information on the MSBA's website at http://www.msba.org.
PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to use website technology to its fullest to
cut down on the excess use of paper and reduce the cost of postage,
detailed descriptions of all sessions are listed on the MSBA's Website.
Listed in the brochure will be the detailed description of the keynote
speeches, description of the various Tracks, the titles and times of all
breakout sessions and names of speakers. Also listed are the names of all
vendors as of January 1, 2001. You may also use the brochure to register
or you may register on-line.
Please go to the MSBA website for the detailed descriptions of all
breakout sessions and the most up to date list of all vendors. As more
vendors come on board they will be added. In addition, any last minute
changes will be listed on the website.
10 TIPS ON TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE
1. Remember there is only so much information that can be put in a
small brochure. If you are not certain about the particular topic, please
call for more explanation. This is especially true for technology
programs.
2. It is important to be realistic about what you can and cannot learn
in a limited amount of time. Remember that no technology program is going
to teach you all you need to know.
3. If you can learn one or two new ideas that will help you practice
law more efficiently, then a program is worthwhile.
4. Be an active attendee. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Most
speakers are more than willing to speak after the sessions if you need
more time. If a speaker says, "Call me if you have more
questions," take him/her up on the offer.
5. Speak with other attendees. The programs we present are designed to
provide time and opportunity to speak with others who are in attendance to
discuss common issues and problems. There is as much to be learned form
each other as from speakers.
6. Realize that no matter how hard planners try, sometimes there is a
speaker who is not as good as we would hope. Try to get the most out of
the session by asking questions you specifically want answered.
7. Realize that sometimes no matter how prepared we think we are for
all contingencies, sometimes technology will not work.
8. ALWAYS TAKE TIME TO COMPLETE THE EVALUATION. This is just as
important if you thought it was great or if you thought it was terrible.
If there is something with which you were especially unhappy or
dissatisfied, it is even more important to sign the evaluation.
9. Make suggestions for future programs, topics or speakers.
10. Once you get back to the office, take some time to review some of
the information that you learned and determine how it can be implemented
in your practice. Take time to review some of the materials which were
distributed at the program.
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