Reasons to Participate in Legal Conferences in 2025
Continuing the tradition of integrating lessons from thousands of lawyers into our law school curriculum, Barbara L. Ruhl of Northwestern Law School has completed updating our Legal Conference Calendar for 2025.
There are several benefits to attending a legal conference.
Plus, lawyers always walk away with something useful:
• Automatic Mentor – When you go to a conference or seminar, and sit with other attendees, after a while, you’ll begin to know some of them better. You can always ask them if it would be ok if you ask them to be your mentor.
• Accidental Mentor – Sometimes, mentors pop up out of nowhere. In my practice, I had a guy call me out of the blue and ask me to mentor him, and I didn’t even know him! But I enjoyed his company so much that I took him on as a mentee.
• Stimulus – The material being taught is going to be the latest and greatest. If you are in an area of law that is moving too slowly for you, there is no doubt that one of the presenters will be ahead of you, and you can listen to their take on things that can motivate you to move faster .
• Networking – Your business will grow with each new contact you make.
• Reuniting – Some of your best friends will be at the conferences. This event allows you to reunite with colleagues that you haven’t seen in years.
• New Ideas – It’s nice to go offsite every once in a while. Cooperative activities at a conference are sure to generate a few good ideas.
• Cross-Pollination – Many lawyers focus within a narrow range of services when a broader view of their industry reveals, "fusion opportunities" that will allow them to serve their clients at a higher level.
• New Point of View – There are many lawyers who are looking at the problems you are facing right now. Often they have come up with solutions. And they are willing to share those solutions with you.
• New Clients – At least one of the people sitting at your table would benefit from your services.
• Clarity – Sometimes, locations offsite are magical and can help you gain clarity about your firm’s vision and mission.
• Family – The bonding between the lawyers is often celebrated at the conferences. That’s important too.
Legal Conferences Scheduled for 2025
Noteworthy legal conferences scheduled for 2025 include:
Alabama Defense Lawyers Association – 54th Annual Meeting
Montgomery, AL
March 5, 2025
In addition to annual seminars on new legal trends and developments, the ADLA Annual Meeting includes networking events, social gatherings, and a formal dinner.
American Bar Association – Techshow
Chicago, IL
March 26, 2025
This annual exhibition and conference is described by the American Bar Association as "the longest-running legal tech expo in the country," presenting more than 30 education sessions and over 16 hours of networking opportunities.
International Association of Defense Counsel – 2025 Annual Meeting
New York, NY
June 20-28, 2025
Pursuant to its By-Laws, the International Association of Defense Counsel holds an Annual Meeting in June of odd-numbered years. This is the 56th Annual Meeting.
International Association of Privacy Professionals – Global Privacy Summit
Washington, DC
April 14-16, 2025
As described on its website, the Global Privacy Summit is "the largest gathering of privacy professionals in the world, working across industries, geographies, and functions." It features two keynote addresses and multiple breakout sessions on privacy law and practice.
Topics Gaining Traction at 2025 Legal Conferences
As legal professionals prepare for the year 2025, some of the most prominent topics set to dominate the agenda at legal conferences around the world include the growing impact of artificial intelligence in the practice of law, the continued refinement of data privacy legislation, and shifts in global regulations likely to impact cross border business.
Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Industry
With the increasing integration of technology into every aspect of the legal industry, discussions surrounding the role of AI and machine learning across all areas of the law will be well represented. Legal conferences will highlight the integration of these technologies in the way lawyers conduct their work, based on the use of advanced document review software, and the emergence of systems designed for legal contract review and negotiation. Reactions among legal professionals are expected to include a lively debate on the ethical ramifications of using AI in the courtroom, as well as the future of traditional client-lawyer relationships if AI takes on a more participatory role in the legal process.
Data Privacy Laws
As lawmakers around the world grapple with the challenges presented by big data storage and information sharing, the scope of privacy legislation continues to evolve. New discussion around the implementation of existing legislation such as the European General Privacy Regulations (GDPR) as well as updates on its enforcement will be among the most well-attended conference sessions in 2025. Meanwhile, critical discussion on the topic of privacy litigation will include the proportionality of recent lawsuits targeting internet search engines, and in particular, the topic of what constitutes a proper basis to claim data privacy problems between the U.S. and foreign internet users.
Global Regulatory Changes
With economic ties between the U.S. and the Asia-Pacific region rapidly intensifying, legal professionals can expect a full agenda of discussion on the future state of cross-border business. A pivotal focus on the similarities and differences between U.S. and Asian regulatory frameworks in 2015 will be accompanied by more practical discussion of the status of antitrust litigation in China, status of the "Made in China" government plan and the manner by which U.S. technology companies will adapt to Western standards.
Perks of Attending Virtual vs. In-Person Legal Conferences
The convenience of virtual conferences can be alluring for those on a tight budget, or with limited time away from work, but the experience is often seen as a poor substitute to the in-person event. For starters, you can’t shake hands at a virtual conference, or do the stern power handshake (or with a hug) if you’ve actually made a significant impression on that person in previous encounters. You can’t sit side by side with your biggest client. You can’t have a quiet drink in the corner of the social event.
All those personal details make up a large part of the value of attending an in-person conference, and are things virtual attendees simply can’t replicate, no matter how sophisticated the platforms.
Having said all that, this isn’t to say that online events don’t have their advantages, too. Here are some of the pros and cons of attending legal conferences in-person vs. virtually in 2025.
For those people with limited budgets, and in-person attendance isn’t an option, many virtual events are simply either free or half the costs of attending in-person events. However, for larger firms and organizations, this probably isn’t a primary consideration for deciding to attend.
For one-off events, in-person attendance and participation is still likely to win out, as it’s usually about meeting clients for the first time, and having the kind of direct person-to-person interaction that reminds you of the value of what you are offering to your clients through your skills and expertise .
There remains a perception, rightly or wrongly, that virtual attendance is less professional, and less serious, than attending in person. If you want to meet new clients, you might go to a trade show – you’re not going to do so by booking a hotel room and attending via webcam. Similarly, in-person attendance remains important for lawyers for the very same reasons.
The main advantage of attending virtual conferences is that you can attend the sessions on-demand, both during and after the event. In-person attendees will tell you that time is always the enemy, and that they simply can’t attend as many sessions as they would like. This is especially true at the bigger events, like ILTACON, and ABA TECHSHOW. For the benefit of the attendee, many of the big conferences have simulcasted their main sessions at later points in time, meaning people can choose to review them when it fits their schedule, rather than when the conference organizers say it fits.
Also, for virtual conferences in 2025, you can expect there to be at least some augmented reality and artificial intelligence elements that will allow you to attend some interesting and new digital features, such as avatars, in addition to the usual panel discussion and Q&A sessions.
Finally, for those with disabilities or on mobility issues, or with childcare commitments, virtual attendance offers an easier accessibility option, and can only be a positive development for those who pursue the option.
How to Find the Right Legal Conference for You
There are a few considerations that will dictate the final choice of which conference you will be attending. The first is the relevance to your practice area. Now, most lawyers are not party in choosing the conferences their firm sends them to, so this may be an issue that generally needs to be discussed with management when planning the following year. However, if you do have the ability and opportunity to choose, or even suggest to management, the optimal conference for your practice area, you can save the firm money and provide for a better experience. If you are in litigation and the conference focuses on corporate law, you will likely be disappointed in what you get out of it. Make sure that the conference is relevant to your practice, and if not, suggest a better option.
With relevance, it is also worth checking the speakers and sessions on offer. Are they people you have heard of? People who practice in your area or industry? People who walk the walk and not just talk the talk? You should try and attend conferences where you can rub shoulders with some prominent figures. There is a great deal to learn from the best in your industry.
Also, how many speakers will be attending? A conference that features a different speaker every hour or two is another way to ensure that you get a good experience—if one speaker is underwhelming, chances are the next one will be terrific. But if you’re stuck in a long session with somebody who is not engaging, you could quickly lose confidence in the conference.
Lastly, you should consider the professional development opportunities offered by the conference. Often there are pre-conference workshops, post-conference networking receptions and free lunches. While some of these might not seem like much, you should pay attention to the full picture from start to end. You shouldn’t just be looking at where you are going to learn the most, but where you are going to have the best chance to meet other professionals and expand your network.
Remember, in 2025, you will not only be doing what you do now. The most opportunities and potential will be in the future. You should aim to get you and your professional persona at the right conferences so that when it comes time for hiring, promoting or selecting a professional for a project, people know who you are and what you do. This is how you build a profile for yourself—and this is how 2025 can be your best year yet.
Maximizing Your Experience with Legal Conferences
Attending legal conferences in 2025 can be a great way for legal professionals to network, learn about the latest trends, and get inspired. Here are some tips to help you maximize the benefits of attending legal conferences in 2025:
Network effectively: Before the conference, research potential attendees and speakers to identify key contacts you want to connect with. Introduce yourself to them at the conference and follow up with a personalized email afterwards to reinforce the connection.
Take notes: During speaker presentations, take notes to capture key points and insights. Consider using a note-taking app on your phone or tablet to keep your notes organized and accessible for future reference.
Engage with speakers: After a presentation, try to engage with the speaker to ask questions and share your thoughts on their topic. This can help you build a rapport with experts in your field and show your support for their work.
Explore networking opportunities: Conferences often have networking events such as receptions , dinners, and breakout sessions. Attend as many of these events as possible to meet new people and expand your network.
Stay active on social media: Many conferences have active social media feeds where attendees share their insights and experiences. Participate by posting your own thoughts and sharing interesting content from other attendees.
Take advantage of conference materials: Review the conference agenda ahead of time and mark the sessions that are most relevant to you. Take notes during each session to help you retain the information and refer back to it later.
Take care of yourself: Conferences can be physically and mentally demanding, so make sure to take breaks, hydrate, and eat healthy meals to keep yourself energized and focused.