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Updated: A first-of-its-kind program at ABA Techshow in March will highlight innovative legal technology startups, and your votes will determine which startups participate.Voting is underway to select the 12 startups that will be invited to exhibit in Techshow’s inaugural “Startup Alley,” a special portion of its exhibition hall to showcase innovative startups. The 12 startups will also face off on Techshow’s opening night in a March Madness-themed bracketed pitch competition to pick the most innovative of the lot.A call for applications to participate in the Startup Alley went out in October. A panel of judges—myself among them—then narrowed the applications to 20 finalists. Now your votes will select the final 12.I am coordinating this competition to pick the 12 startups, with help from Evolve Law and Above the Law. Credit for the concept goes to Techshow Chair Adriana Linares.Leading the competition as of Nov. 30 are Ping with 485 votes; LawTap … [Read more...] about Vote for your favorite legal tech startup to be part of a special ABA Techshow program

ABA Techshow served as a wrap-up of activities that took place during the preceding three days, and underscored the main themes of the conference. Tech for Justice Hackathon+ Veterans event. First place and $5,500 went to Carry On, a project to help victims of military sexual trauma. The service features a chatbot, a system of alerts, forums and real-time chat to connect victims with services and provide them with resources on how to file a report, get help or learn about their symptoms.Taking home second prize and $2,500 was Veterans Will Center, an interactive estate-planning checkup service to determine what probate documents a veteran should have and where to go to get the documents generated free of charge or at a low price.The hackathon also awarded a $1,500 third prize to Vet’s Panic Button, an app that quickly links a suicidal veteran with other veterans willing to help, and a $500 fourth prize to The Service Connection, an online portal for veterans to learn more … [Read more...] about Chatbot to help victims of military sex trauma wins Tech for Justice hackathon event

A man using a mobile phone walks past Google offices in New York on Dec. 17,2018. Executives from Google and Facebook are facing Congress Tuesday, April 8, 2019, to answer questions about their role in the hate crimes and the rise of white nationalism in the U.S. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)Media and guests mingle before a tour on Jan. 9, 2019, of Facebook's new 130,000-square-foot offices, which occupy the top three floors of a 10-story Cambridge, Mass., building. Executives from Google and Facebook are facing Congress Tuesday, April 8, to answer questions about their role in the hate crimes and the rise of white nationalism in the U.S. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) WASHINGTON — A congressional hearing on online hate turned into a vivid demonstration of the problem Tuesday when a YouTube livestream of the proceedings was bombarded with racist and anti-Semitic comments. YouTube disabled the live chat section of the streaming video about 30 minutes into the hearing because of … [Read more...] about Capitol Hill hearing gets vivid dose of online hate firsthand

While the moniker “America’s Techiest Lawyer” may conjure an entity with a quad-core heart, onboard latte maker and a predilection to show up for court in holographic form, it turns out law’s real-life silicon wonders are a bit tamer than that.But not by much.During the past few weeks, the ABA Journal has been on cybersafari for the dukes and duchesses of the digital realm. And while we have no trophy lashed to the hood of our Jeep yet, we do have a much better idea of who we’re looking for—thanks to some expert hunting tips from gifted guides who, on another day, would be considered fair game.Interviews with some well-known names in technology-enhanced law practice led us to a list—a sort of trait-based picture—of what would make an attorney one of the techiest lawyers (Photo Gallery) around.Next time you find yourself with silicon stardust on your sleeve and you spin around to grab a look at law’s next big thing, chances are … [Read more...] about Tracking Techies: Finding the Footprints of America’s Switched-on Lawyers

Podcast TranscriptStephanie Francis Ward: Scroll through Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and you can get a good sense of popular topics, as well as how people feel about them. If you’re a litigator using social media, you might have success suggesting how people should feel about your client’s position. And you can use the platforms to gather more support.I’m Stephanie Francis Ward. And on today’s Asked and Answered, I’m discussing how litigators can do that, with Anthony Johnson, an Arkansas plaintiff personal injury lawyer who used to own a search-engine-optimization and marketing company. Anthony, what do lawyers need to think about before using social media to share a client’s story?Anthony C. Johnson: There’s probably a few things that I think you need to consider, first of all. One, it depends on if you’re sharing the story either during or pre-litigation, there’s issues going on with that. If it’s pre-litigation, of … [Read more...] about How can you use social media responsibly to promote your clients’ cases? (podcast with transcript)