{"id":111594,"date":"2025-03-24T10:02:51","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T18:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/03\/24\/10-lessons-from-sxsw-that-apply-to-legal\/"},"modified":"2025-03-24T10:02:51","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T18:02:51","slug":"10-lessons-from-sxsw-that-apply-to-legal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/03\/24\/10-lessons-from-sxsw-that-apply-to-legal\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Lessons From SXSW That Apply To Legal"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
(Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In my initial article<\/a> about SXSW 2025<\/a>, I talked about why it\u2019s important for lawyers. While there was a limited legally related track, that\u2019s certainly NOT why I spent over a week in Austin. I go because I believe conferences like SXSW and CES offer insights into where our profession is headed\u2014or should be.<\/p>\n

As you can tell from my posts about SXSW, that was the case. So, in no particular order, here are the lessons learned.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We all need social contact and human interaction to be happy and productive<\/strong>. That would suggest that return to office mandates should be good. That may be accurate, but not if the return does not provide time and space for those contacts and interactions to happen. Having legal professionals return to the office just to be there won\u2019t get it. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our privacy is under siege from all directions.<\/strong> What little privacy we have is being lost. Legal professionals need to understand the threats for the sake of their clients and themselves. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you are going to give a presentation about Gen AI to a bunch of lawyers, don\u2019t just talk-show.<\/strong> Demonstrate what the tools can do. Show how Gen AI can help them and improve their day-to-day lives. Skip the computer speak and overcomplicated diagrams. Don\u2019t make Gen AI sound too complicated to ever be useful. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The future for legal isn\u2019t just about adopting new and shiny technology tools<\/strong>. It\u2019s about strategically applying technology to solve real day-to-day problems. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When you look at the future and legal technology one thing is clear: don\u2019t fixate on the obstacles<\/strong>. (Obstacles are like the proverbial stone in your shoe). \u00a0When looking at adopting a technology or innovative approach, look more at what changes will occur as a result of the technology. And ask a lot of what-if questions about the changes that may occur. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The attitudes and values of those in rural America provide an insight into what it will take to solve the dearth of lawyers in small towns<\/strong>. I used to think tech alone could solve the lawyer shortage in rural America. It turns out it\u2019s not that simple. Turns out we probably can\u2019t that do due to rural folks\u2019 strong community value system. If you\u2019re not physically there, you ain\u2019t part of the community. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you use tech to help you persuade, you need to first concentrate on the story, not the tech<\/strong>. You need to help your audience feel like they have experienced something. You have to establish an emotional connection. And you have to make it personal. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We live in interesting times<\/strong>. Like all of us, SXSW is dealing with change. The Austin Convention Center, home to most SXSW events, is being torn down after this year\u2019s conference and won\u2019t be available for the next three years. Meanwhile, many of the themes this year, like climate change and DEI, are under attack. But SXSW didn\u2019t throw up its hands. It accepted that change is inevitable and understood that adaptation is key. It\u2019s true for SXSW. It\u2019s true for legal. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We can learn from each other<\/strong>. Everywhere I went, people across different disciplines were talking, making connections, and sharing ideas. Finding out how something one discipline did or knew could be used in another. SXSW opens up the doors to new perspectives and ideas.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Last but not least, the energy<\/strong>. Bring together some 300,000 bright, enthusiastic, and inspiring people and that energy rubs off. Just when my \u201cP doom\u201d score was steadily rising, SXSW gave me renewed optimism and hope.<\/p>\n

So, what did I take away from a week in Austin? Optimism. A belief that despite everything, we still have a chance as a species to do great things. We do as legal professions. We do as people.<\/p>\n

Thanks, SXSW, for the inspiration. Thanks for having me.<\/p>\n

\n

Stephen Embry is a lawyer, speaker, blogger and writer. He publishes\u00a0TechLaw Crossroads<\/a>, a blog devoted to the examination of the tension between technology, the law, and the practice of law<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

The post 10 Lessons From SXSW That Apply To Legal<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
(Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In my initial article<\/a> about SXSW 2025<\/a>, I talked about why it\u2019s important for lawyers. While there was a limited legally related track, that\u2019s certainly NOT why I spent over a week in Austin. I go because I believe conferences like SXSW and CES offer insights into where our profession is headed\u2014or should be.<\/p>\n

As you can tell from my posts about SXSW, that was the case. So, in no particular order, here are the lessons learned.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We all need social contact and human interaction to be happy and productive<\/strong>. That would suggest that return to office mandates should be good. That may be accurate, but not if the return does not provide time and space for those contacts and interactions to happen. Having legal professionals return to the office just to be there won\u2019t get it. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our privacy is under siege from all directions.<\/strong> What little privacy we have is being lost. Legal professionals need to understand the threats for the sake of their clients and themselves. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you are going to give a presentation about Gen AI to a bunch of lawyers, don\u2019t just talk-show.<\/strong> Demonstrate what the tools can do. Show how Gen AI can help them and improve their day-to-day lives. Skip the computer speak and overcomplicated diagrams. Don\u2019t make Gen AI sound too complicated to ever be useful. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The future for legal isn\u2019t just about adopting new and shiny technology tools<\/strong>. It\u2019s about strategically applying technology to solve real day-to-day problems. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When you look at the future and legal technology one thing is clear: don\u2019t fixate on the obstacles<\/strong>. (Obstacles are like the proverbial stone in your shoe). \u00a0When looking at adopting a technology or innovative approach, look more at what changes will occur as a result of the technology. And ask a lot of what-if questions about the changes that may occur. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The attitudes and values of those in rural America provide an insight into what it will take to solve the dearth of lawyers in small towns<\/strong>. I used to think tech alone could solve the lawyer shortage in rural America. It turns out it\u2019s not that simple. Turns out we probably can\u2019t that do due to rural folks\u2019 strong community value system. If you\u2019re not physically there, you ain\u2019t part of the community. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you use tech to help you persuade, you need to first concentrate on the story, not the tech<\/strong>. You need to help your audience feel like they have experienced something. You have to establish an emotional connection. And you have to make it personal. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We live in interesting times<\/strong>. Like all of us, SXSW is dealing with change. The Austin Convention Center, home to most SXSW events, is being torn down after this year\u2019s conference and won\u2019t be available for the next three years. Meanwhile, many of the themes this year, like climate change and DEI, are under attack. But SXSW didn\u2019t throw up its hands. It accepted that change is inevitable and understood that adaptation is key. It\u2019s true for SXSW. It\u2019s true for legal. Here\u2019s my post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We can learn from each other<\/strong>. Everywhere I went, people across different disciplines were talking, making connections, and sharing ideas. Finding out how something one discipline did or knew could be used in another. SXSW opens up the doors to new perspectives and ideas.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Last but not least, the energy<\/strong>. Bring together some 300,000 bright, enthusiastic, and inspiring people and that energy rubs off. Just when my \u201cP doom\u201d score was steadily rising, SXSW gave me renewed optimism and hope.<\/p>\n

So, what did I take away from a week in Austin? Optimism. A belief that despite everything, we still have a chance as a species to do great things. We do as legal professions. We do as people.<\/p>\n

Thanks, SXSW, for the inspiration. Thanks for having me.<\/p>\n

\n

Stephen Embry is a lawyer, speaker, blogger and writer. He publishes\u00a0TechLaw Crossroads<\/a>, a blog devoted to the examination of the tension between technology, the law, and the practice of law<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images) In my initial article about SXSW 2025, I talked about why it\u2019s important for lawyers. While there was a limited legally related track, that\u2019s certainly NOT why I spent over a week in Austin. I go because I believe conferences like SXSW and CES offer insights […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":111595,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SXSW-GettyImages-2201521857-hVLHnE.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}