American Bar Association - ABA TECHSHOW 2027
Event Date
March 3–6, 2027
Location
Chicago, IL
Expected Exhibitors
100
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryABA TECHSHOW is the American Bar Association's flagship legal technology conference and EXPO, produced by the ABA Law Practice Division. It is where lawyers, legal professionals, and technology all come together, and for four days attendees learn about the most useful and practical technologies available through a variety of CLE programming.
The event pairs education with a large exhibition floor. Beyond the educational programs, attendees get access to the EXPO Hall where legal technology vendors demonstrate their products and services, with more than 100 technology vendors to talk and test through. The audience skews heavily toward solo practitioners and small-to-midsize firms, though professionals from firms of all sizes attend.
Even after 40 years, and even at a time when there is a glut of legal technology conferences, TECHSHOW remains one of the best in its programming, especially for lawyers and legal professionals in smaller firms. It is worth attending for practical, hands-on education, continuing legal education (CLE) credit, and direct access to the vendors shaping the future of legal practice.
Show Highlights
Key features of ABA TECHSHOW include:
- CLE programming — three days of continuing legal education sessions covering practical, real-world legal technology.
- Over 65 thought-provoking sessions and memorable keynotes.
- An EXPO Hall with 100+ of the best legal tech vendors offering hands-on demos of the latest legal technology.
- Networking receptions each day and EXPO freebies and swag.
- Startup Alley, spotlighting emerging legal-tech startups selected in part by public voting.
- Taste of TECHSHOW dinners and a conference 5K run.
Recent keynote speakers reflect the show's focus on technology and society. At the 2025 edition, sci-fi novelist and technology activist Cory Doctorow — a special consultant to the Electronic Frontier Foundation and visiting professor at the University of North Carolina — delivered the keynote.
Registration
Registration is handled through the American Bar Association's event platform. To register:
- Visit the official ABA TECHSHOW site (techshow.com) and select Register, which links to the ABA events registration portal.
- Choose your pass type (full conference and EXPO passes and other options are offered through the ABA registration system).
- Complete registration before booking discounted hotel accommodations.
Note that you must be registered for the conference before you can book a room at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. Registering early is recommended to secure lower hotel rates. Specific pass prices and deadlines were not published on the pages reviewed.
History
1986 was the year in which the ABA introduced its conference on legal technology, which has come to be known as the ABA TECHSHOW. The conference is sponsored by the ABA Law Practice Division (formerly the Law Practice Management Section). Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025, TECHSHOW is the second-oldest legal technology conference still running, after only Legalweek, which started in 1982.
The show was long held at downtown Chicago hotels. By its 40th year the conference moved to a new and bigger venue — the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Chicago in the South Loop. ABA TECHSHOW marked 40 years of showcasing the newest legal technology with a record-breaking show in its first year at the McCormick Place Convention Center on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago. The 2027 edition continues at McCormick Place.
Exhibitors
Exhibitor Information
Detailed exhibitor list is being compiled. Check back soon or visit the official show website for the most current information.
Last updated: September 5, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is ABA TECHSHOW 2027?
ABA TECHSHOW 2027 takes place March 3-6, 2027, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The EXPO Hall runs March 3-5, 2027.
Who should attend ABA TECHSHOW?
The conference is designed for lawyers, legal professionals, and law firm staff who want to learn about practical legal technology. It is especially valuable for solo practitioners and small-to-midsize firms, though professionals from firms of all sizes attend.
What does ABA TECHSHOW offer attendees?
Attendees get three days of CLE education with over 65 sessions and keynotes, plus an EXPO Hall featuring more than 100 legal technology vendors offering hands-on demos. Daily networking receptions and features such as Startup Alley round out the program.
How do I register for ABA TECHSHOW?
Registration is handled through the American Bar Association's event portal, accessible via the Register link on techshow.com. You must be registered for the conference before you can book a room at the discounted conference hotel rate.
What is the official hotel and how do I get to the venue?
The official conference hotel is the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, with a special room rate of $229 per night for registered attendees. McCormick Place is reachable by the CTA Green Line Cermak-McCormick Place station (about two blocks away) and by the Metra Electric line, which stops directly inside the South Building, with O'Hare and Midway airports both serving Chicago.
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