Law Technology Today From the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center
Dan Berlin, President of Software Technology, Inc., the maker of Tabs3 and PracticeMaster, has attended every single ABA TECHSHOW to date. The company decided to sit down with Dan and get some insight on how ABA TECHSHOW and legal technology have changed in the past 30 years.
Why did you attend the first ABA TECHSHOW in 1986?
Dan Berlin: We participated in the first year of ABA TECHSHOW because we were already advertisers with what is now the Law Practice Division. We were looking to grow our company, so we wanted to attend any legal conference possible. That first year they had a meeting in Boston and Dallas, and both shows were highly attended with a lot of exhibitors—it was an overall success.
How has ABA TECHSHOW changed?
DB: A big change I’ve noticed over the past 30 years is the kind of vendors that attend ABA TECHSHOW. In the late 80s, there were close to 100 different companies that offered time and billing software, with many attending the show. That number has greatly decreased due to acquisitions or companies that went out of business. There’s also a wider variety of vendors today. With the constant emergence of new technology, the number of exhibitors fluctuates, and the makeup of who exhibits changes.
Many different types of products, services, and companies have come and gone. However, a lot of the major players that were there 20+ years ago are still here, us being one of them. We’re proud to be one of the few originals that were there 30 years ago, never missing a show and still going strong.
How has ABA TECHSHOW stayed the same?
DB: Something that has been really good for ABA TECHSHOW, and for us, is that it continuously attracts members of LP along with other tech savvy attorneys. These professionals are looking for cutting-edge technology, and they want to find the software and services that will help them be the most efficient in their practice. Plus, ABA TECHSHOW always attracts the top industry consultants.
I think one of the smartest things ABA TECHSHOW has done is continue to have it run by LP members, many of them practicing attorneys or high-end consultants. ABA TECHSHOW remains revolutionary by the speakers they bring in and the sessions they offer.
How has legal technology changed?
DB: Technology for law firms is ever changing. Our main objective is the same as it was 30 years ago, and as it will be 30 years from now: to use the latest technology to help attorneys practice law and run their firm as efficiently as possible. As operating systems and technologies advance, we will make sure the state-of-the-art opportunities are there for our clients. Sometimes we set the pace, while other times we adapt to changing technology. We are constantly looking to provide better and new features, like the mobility offered with Tabs3 Connect. In 30 years, things have changed so much. You have to understand, we went from running software on an 8-bit operating system on a word processor, using floppy discs, to being able to pull out our phone to enter in time. Everything in between is part of our journey, and we’re looking forward to continuing this journey with ABA for decades to come. Personally, in ten years I’m looking forward to attending the 40th anniversary of ABA TECHSHOW!
Dan Berlin (pictured right) standing in a Tabs3 Software trade show booth in the 90s.
About Software Technology, Inc.
Software Technology, Inc. (STI), the maker of Tabs3 and PracticeMaster software, has been at the forefront of developing software for law firms for over 35 years. Tabs3 is one of the most widely used legal-specific time and billing products in the United States and has been an industry leader since its introduction in 1979. Tabs3 is designed to seamlessly integrate with PracticeMaster, a leader in practice management software. Among its many features, PracticeMaster provides an easy way for firms to create a firm-wide calendar, search for conflicts of interest, organize case and contact information, and manage email and documents. For more information, call (402) 419-2200, email sales@tabs3.com, or visit Tabs3.com.
