It’s Thanksgiving again. A time to stuff ourselves, watch some serious football (well, some football anyway), and be thankful. It got me thinking: what do I, as a blogger on legal technology and innovation, have to be thankful for this year (beyond, of course, my tech toys lol).

 

So, here are my top 10 things I’m thankful for this year:

 

  1. I’m thankful that so much money is now flowing into legal tech. There’s a ton of money being invested in start-ups and existing legal tech companies. I’m happy for my friends in the legal tech community who are finally reaping some just rewards for all their hard work and entrepreneurship. And it’s creating excitement in the field I haven’t seen before.

 

  1. While I’m certainly not thankful for the pandemic, I am grateful and enthused to see how quickly lawyers moved to technology. Technology that enabled them to continue working and even thrive in ways which no one would have thought possible pre-pandemic.

 

  1. I’m thankful there is an explosion of legal work that needs to be done and that associates, for once, are in a bargaining position for their services. It’s about time law firms, and irascible partners create and maintain  better and more hospitable workplaces. They better if they want to get and maintain talent.

 

  1. I’m thankful for remote work gaining a foothold in the legal industry in ways that will probably never disappear. Remote work creates opportunities for every individual lawyer to work where and when best suits their needs. There’s a lot to be said for freedom and autonomy.I’m grateful for the friendships and insights I have gained

 

I’m grateful for the friendships and insights I have gained

 

  1. I’m thankful for the opportunities the virtual world has created. The online world has given me the opportunity to forge personal relationships and contacts I would never have had but for the pandemic. I’m grateful for the friendships and insights I have gained from participating in such groups as Bob Ambrogi’s LegalTech Weekly Roundtable (in which I’m thankful to have been invited to participate) and Ari Kaplan’s virtual lunch.

 

  1. On the other side of the coin, I’m thankful for the vaccine that has made in-person conferences a thing again. Yes, the virtual world has offered a lot, but the real world does as well. I’m thankful for being able to travel to and participate in these conferences.

 

  1. I’m thankful to participate to serve as Chair-Elect of the Law Practice Division of the American Bar Association this year. I’m grateful for the 20,000 some odd robust Division members. I’m thankful and proud of all the programs and content the Division offers. The Division produces content that helps practitioners, particularly solos and those in small firms. I’m equally thankful for the opportunity to chair the Law Practice Management Committee of the Kentucky Bar Association which serves my state’s legal professionals.

 

  1. I’m thankful for my blog, TechLaw Crossroads, and its loyal readers. They give me a reason to get up every day and hopefully meet my goal of posting content at least once a week.

 

  1. I’m thankful for data and data analytics. Im glad not only for the information and analysis data has brought to litigators, but also because it shines a light on our profession and its lack of progress with diversity, equity, and inclusion. But for data and studies such as those offered by LexisNexis’ CounselLink of which I recently wrote, among others, we wouldn’t know what’s really going on behind all the platitudes and talk of law firms and in-house legal departments. The numbers revealed by these studies are depressing, but by shining the light on them, perhaps change will come.

 

  1. I’m thankful for all the legal tech entrepreneurs and movers and shakers I have had the opportunity to interview and write about on my blog over the last year. You guys inspire me and motivate me more than you will ever know. Thank you.

 

I’m thankful I get up most mornings looking forward to the day and enthusiastic about my work.

 

So that’s my legal tech top ten things I’m grateful for. But on a personal note, despite challenges, I am thankful for so much this year. I’m grateful for, and proud of my two kids. I’m thankful for two grandsons that are the apple of my eye. I’m grateful for reasonably good health and the chance to do and see more than I ever thought I would. I’m thankful I found new hobby with photography. I’m thankful I get up most mornings looking forward to the day and enthusiastic about my work. I’m thankful I have a woman who loves me, who is my best friend, and who knows me better than I know myself.

 

Hard to ask for much more. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.