Welcome from the Conference Chair

Dear friends and colleagues,

On behalf of the 2018 Regional Legal Management Conference Committee, I encourage you to consider attending one of our fall Regional Conferences. The committee is hard at work creating a high-level innovative educational experience for you. The East Conference (Regions 1, 2, 3) will take place in Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton from Thursday, September 13, through Saturday, September 15. As for the West (Regions 4, 5, 6), we will convene at the Hilton Austin from Thursday, October 18, to Saturday, October 20. Each conference will feature the same speakers and largely follow the same schedule, beginning midday Thursday and closing Saturday at 1 p.m.  

Can’t make the conference designated for your region? Never fear — both conferences are open to all and centrally located in two fabulous cities, so you’re welcome in either Chicago or Austin. This might be your chance to expand your horizons and meet new ALA professionals from around the country.

ALA is making education more convenient than ever by kicking off the Advanced Financial Administration for Legal Management Professionals Conference on the day before the Regional Conferences begin at the same venues. In Chicago, this advanced workshop begins on the afternoon of September 12 and continues until midday on September 13; in Austin, it begins on the afternoon of October 17 and ends at midday on October 18.

Alternatively, if you are new to legal management, consider the Law Firm Management Essentials Certificate Program scheduled for September 12‒13 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. Afterward, you can join us for the Regional Conference.

Your conference experience would not be complete without the chance to network with your fellow attendees and peruse the products and services displayed by our valuable business partners in the Exhibit Hall. The Exhibit Hall offers a quick break between conference sessions and is an educational opportunity in itself. You will find the latest in innovative technology and support services of all kinds, most of which are specifically geared to the legal industry. And, of course, there are networking opportunities galore at the various receptions and coffee/dessert breaks with your peers, the speakers and the experts among our business partners.

ALA’s Regional Conferences strive to maximize the education and networking you can enjoy while minimizing the time you’re away from the office. Here’s the heart of our message: Be prepared to be educated, entertained, challenged and busy! Expect to learn a lot and make new connections. We guarantee that our timely content and quality speakers will help you hit the ground running when you return to your office on Monday morning, newly energized with resources and ideas that you can put into practice right away.  

We sincerely hope that you will join us this fall!  

Kathryn Vidal, CLM, SHRM-CP

2018 Regional Legal Management Conferences

Committee Chair