Legal conferences 2026: Must-attend events for law firms

As technology advancements reshape daily work, client expectations shift, and practice areas evolve, legal conferences give attorneys a chance to step back from casework, explore what’s new across the profession, and sharpen their competitive advantage. In-person events offer direct exposure to new tools, insights from industry colleagues, and conversations that are difficult to replicate through webinars or written updates alone.

There is no shortage of legal conferences to attend in 2026. From large national gatherings to specialized legal seminars focused on specific practice areas, these events vary widely in terms of focus, audience, and format. This guide highlights this year’s most notable conferences and offers tips for networking, evaluating legal tech, and choosing the events that are the best fit for your firm’s goals.

Why legal conferences matter for law firms in 2026

Law firms are facing sharper competition in 2026, both within their practice areas and from other firms that are quickly adapting to new ways of working. Conferences help lawyers assess how their peers are improving efficiency, client service, and overall operations as technology plays a larger role in legal work. 

Other key benefits of attending legal conferences include:

• CLE credits: Many conferences offer continuing legal education (CLE) credits that help attorneys meet licensing requirements while deepening their understanding of current legal and regulatory developments.

• Legal networking: Having face-to-face conversations with other legal professionals can help build relationships that extend well beyond the event itself.

• Business development: Lawyer conferences bring together potential clients, referral sources, and industry leaders, creating organic opportunities to strengthen professional connections and secure new business.

• Legal tech exploration: Live demos and interactive sessions allow lawyers to learn about new technology, ask questions, and compare options. 

Top legal conferences in the U.S in 2026

Whether you’re looking to expand your network, see new tech in action, or sharpen your approach to practice management, there’s a conference in 2026 that meets your needs. Here are some of the most notable events on this year’s calendar.

Kaleidoscope 2026

Dates and location: September 22–24, 2026, Las Vegas, NV

Details: Presented by 8am^TM, Kaleidoscope is a conference for legal professionals that centers on leadership, innovation, and sustainable firm growth. Sessions explore topics such as legal technology adoption, operational strategy, and data-informed decision-making, offering attendees a unique blend of hands-on learning and candid conversations.

Highlights from Kaleidoscope 2025 included:

• Expert-led sessions on growth strategy, with guidance on when to hire, how to scale, and how to maintain a high-quality client experience as firms expand

• Discussions about the real-world applications of legal AI for small and midsize practices, including ethical considerations, automation opportunities, and responsible use

• Conversations with firm leaders about using data to guide management decisions, featuring tools and strategies that support profitability, performance tracking, and operational clarity

• A keynote from Olympian Gabby Thomas on building resilience in high-pressure environments, emphasizing preparation, long-range planning, and the value of a strong internal culture

ABA TECHSHOW 2026

Dates and location: March 25–28, 2026, Chicago, IL

Details: ABA TECHSHOW is a popular event for legal professionals seeking a deeper understanding of how technology impacts modern legal practice. Attendees can choose from dozens of presentations, workshops, and panel discussions—many eligible for CLE credit—covering topics such as eDiscovery, practice management solutions, cybersecurity, and the expanding role of AI in law. The ABA conference also features an expansive expo floor with more than 100 vendors showcasing the latest legal tech solutions, services, and innovations. 

Legalweek 2026

Dates and location: March 9–12, 2026, New York, NY

Details: Legalweek brings together legal professionals, technologists, and industry leaders to examine how the business and practice of law continue to evolve. The conference covers a broad range of topics, including legal operations, innovation, litigation trends, and emerging technology, making it especially relevant for attorneys involved in firm strategy or leadership. With a mix of educational programming and a large expo hall, Legalweek gives lawyers access to both high-level industry perspectives and new tools shaping the legal profession.

ALA Annual Conference

Dates and location: April 12–15, National Harbor, MD

Details: The ALA Annual Conference is geared toward legal professionals focused on the operational side of running a law firm. Hosted by the Association of Legal Administrators, the event emphasizes management, finance, human resources, and technology within legal organizations. For attorneys and firm leaders involved in decision-making beyond client work, the conference offers focused sessions on improving internal processes, supporting staff, and strengthening long-term firm performance.

AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law

Dates and location: June 17–20, 2026, San Diego, CA

Details: The AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law is one of the largest gatherings of immigration attorneys in the U.S., offering more than 110 CLE-eligible sessions. The event provides a forum for advocates, practitioners, and educators to explore trends in family immigration, litigation strategies, business and employment visas, ethics, and law practice management. With a mix of talks and smaller group discussions, attendees can tailor their experience based on their professional interests and area of focus. The conference also offers opportunities to connect with exhibitors and other attorneys who are navigating changes in immigration policy and enforcement.

ILTACON 2026

Dates and location: August 23–27, 2026, Nashville, TN

Details: ILTACON is a premier legal technology and operations conference for professionals responsible for managing, implementing, and securing technology across their organizations. Hosted by the International Legal Technology Association, the event offers a collaborative setting where law firm IT leaders, legal technologists, and attorneys explore real-world solutions to operational challenges. The agenda includes sessions on infrastructure strategy, information governance, data privacy, AI integration, and cross-platform interoperability. Known for its peer-led sessions and vendor showcases, ILTACON gives attendees the tools to modernize firm operations while maintaining performance and security.

New York State Bar Annual Meeting

Dates and location: January 13–16, 2026, New York, NY

Details: The New York State Bar Annual Meeting hosts legal professionals from across the state for educational presentations, policy discussions, and networking. Programming includes CLE sessions, updates on state-level legal developments, and opportunities to engage with bar leaders and committees. The meeting also features a slate of sessions focused on individual practice areas, including litigation, real estate, family law, employment law, and more.

Heckerling Institute for Estate Planning

Dates and location: January 12–16, 2026, Orlando, FL

Details: The Heckerling Institute for Estate Planning is widely recognized for its depth of content and advanced instruction in estate planning and wealth transfer. Hosted by the University of Miami School of Law, the conference features deep dives into both tax and non-tax planning issues, including specialized tracks on trust planning, business succession, charitable giving, elder law, and litigation strategies that reflect the latest developments in the field.

Florida Bar Convention

Dates and location: June 17–21, 2026, Orlando, FL

Details: The Florida Bar Convention is the state’s largest annual gathering of legal professionals, drawing attorneys, judges, and bar leaders from across Florida. The event features CLE programming, section and committee meetings, and discussions focused on developments in state law, court rules, ethics, and legislative advocacy. Attendees can explore a wide range of topics, from civil litigation and criminal law to cybersecurity, technology in practice, and diversity in the legal system. 

Aderant Momentum Global 2026

Dates and location: May 11–14, 2026, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Details: Aderant Momentum Global focuses on the intersection of legal technology, operations, and financial management within law firms. The conference is designed for attorneys and firm leaders who are involved in decisions regarding practice management systems, billing, and operational efficiency. Through educational sessions and product-focused discussions, Momentum Global provides insight into how technology can support smarter decision-making and more effective firm operations.

TLTF Summit

Dates and location: Late 2026; location TBD

Details: The TLTF Summit is an invitation-only event presented by the LegalTech Fund, bringing together leaders from across the legal innovation ecosystem to discuss funding, scaling, and emerging technologies. Attendees include legal tech executives, VC and private equity firms, managing partners from large law firms, and other legal professionals focused on business transformation. The programming blends market insights with founder stories, product showcases, and roundtable discussions—highlighting trends such as generative AI, legal data infrastructure, and the convergence of legal and financial tech. 

Tips for networking and marketing at legal events

Legal conferences offer a unique advantage when it comes to networking, as they gather the people you want to meet—attorneys, firm leaders, tech providers, and potential collaborators—in an environment designed for professional connection. Unlike email outreach or online events, in-person conversations at legal networking events and law firm marketing seminars tend to be more engaging, more relevant, and more likely to lead to lasting relationships.

What makes these law firm events especially valuable is the range of settings where those conversations happen. Whether you’re attending a session, grabbing coffee, or walking the expo floor, you’ll find natural opportunities to connect in ways that feel authentic and productive.

Some of the most effective networking moments happen in spaces like:

• Roundtables: Topic-driven discussions that promote open exchange among professionals with shared challenges or interests

• Workshops: Interactive sessions where attendees can ask questions, share experiences, and collaborate with presenters and peers

• Expo hall conversations: Informal chats at vendor booths that spark quick introductions and often lead to deeper follow-ups

• Informal gatherings (breakfasts, receptions, meetups): Low-pressure environments that encourage connection outside of structured programming

• Vendor-hosted happy hours and customer events: Social settings where existing relationships can be strengthened and new ones formed

To make the most of these opportunities, it helps to think ahead. The tips below will help you prepare a focused approach to networking—before, during, and after each event.

Set clear goals 

Defining clear goals before a conference helps you decide which sessions to attend, who to connect with, and what outcomes you hope to achieve. Whether your priority is to learn about new technology, strengthen referral relationships, or explore growth strategies, goals provide direction and make it easier to evaluate the value of the event afterward.

Schedule meetings in advance when possible

Popular conferences fill calendars quickly, which makes pre-scheduling especially valuable. Booking vendor demos, meetings, or brief check-ins ahead of time increases the chances of having focused conversations without competing demands once the event begins.

Prepare your networking approach

Walking into a conference with a plan makes conversations more productive and less awkward. Preparing a short introduction and a few talking points can help you communicate what you do without overthinking every interaction. 

Here are a few tips that can help you make the most of your networking prep:

• Prepare a clear 30-second introduction: Summarize your role and practice in a way that feels natural and easy to share.

• Identify two or three key talking points: Choose topics that reflect your interests or challenges, so conversations have direction.

• Research attendees and speakers in advance: Reviewing the agenda and speaker list can help identify people you want to meet.

• Ask open-ended questions: Inviting others to share their experiences often leads to more engaging discussions.

• Focus on building relationships, not pitching: Strong connections develop through curiosity and shared perspective, not sales language.

Register for legal networking events

Many of the most valuable conversations happen outside the main sessions. Signing up for workshops, meetups, and smaller networking events creates additional chances to learn and build relationships in more focused settings. These gatherings often encourage more in-depth discussions than larger panels or keynote sessions.

Plan post-event follow-up

The real value of conference networking often shows up after the event ends. Following up promptly with personalized messages helps keep conversations going and reinforces shared interests discussed in person. Thoughtful follow-up can turn brief introductions into ongoing professional relationships.

Evaluating legal tech at conferences

One of the biggest advantages of attending legal conferences is the ability to see technology in action. Instead of relying on product websites or sales pitches, attorneys can test-drive tools for practice management, billing, intake, legal AI, client communication, and more—all in one place. This hands-on experience makes it easier to understand how different solutions align with your firm’s specific needs.

Exploring legal tech in person offers several benefits:

• See live demos and real workflows: Watching how a platform handles tasks in real time reveals details that screenshots and static marketing materials often miss.

• Have detailed conversations with vendors: You can ask direct questions to determine how well a product fits your firm’s size, structure, and workflows.

• Compare tools side by side: Conferences give you the chance to evaluate multiple platforms and observe differences in usability, features, and design.

• Preview new innovations before they go mainstream: Many vendors use these events to announce updates or showcase new capabilities not yet widely released. 

• Learn about time-saving integrations: Talking with product teams can reveal opportunities to adopt integrations that streamline your tech stack. For example, 8am MyCase and 8am LawPay integrate seamlessly to link practice management with billing and payment workflows.

To make the most of these conversations at legal tech conferences, come prepared with specific questions. The right questions can help cut through generic feature lists and reveal which platforms will actually improve how your team works. For example, you might ask:

• How does your platform help save time in daily legal tasks?

• What automation tools are included, and how do they reduce manual work?

• Can you share real examples of firms seeing measurable results with your product?

• How difficult is the data migration process for firms switching systems?

If you're evaluating options at your next legal tech conference, solutions like MyCase and LawPay are worth a closer look. Designed specifically for legal workflows, both solutions focus on improving visibility, streamlining operations, and supporting more efficient, compliant financial management. 

Connect with 8am at Kaleidoscope 2026 

Kaleidoscope is the flagship conference presented by 8am, created for legal professionals who want to grow their firms by taking a fresh approach to innovation, operations, and client service. The event features in-depth educational sessions, interactive workshops, and other programming designed to help you navigate the future of legal tech while improving how your firm functions today.

Attendees get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming next from across the 8am family of solutions, including:

• Direct conversations with teams behind MyCase, LawPay, CasePeer, and DocketWise

• Early previews of product updates and upcoming features

• Opportunities to connect with others who are exploring new ways to solve everyday firm challenges

The 8am team will be in attendance at all of the conferences listed in this guide, and we’re always eager to engage with members of our community. Stop by our booth to ask questions, see live demos, and explore how our tools can support your goals.

For additional information and updates about Kaleidoscope 2026, sign up here.