We’re about to get schooled.
The Relativity Academic Partner Program awarded 11 lucky (and hard-working) law and paralegal students with scholarships to Relativity Fest, the annual conference designed to educate and connect the e-discovery community. The recipients, representing eight schools across the United States, will join us in Chicago October 9-11 with a VIP pass to all the hands-on workshops, industry networking, and notable speakers they can handle.
The goal of the scholarship program is to open conference access and remove barriers for the next generation of attorneys and paralegals. In addition to specially tailored sessions for members of the Academic Partner Program, scholarship recipients can choose their own educational adventure, building their agendas from sessions like the annual Judicial Panel, The Hybrid Expert: Leveraging the Power of Lawyer-Technologies in e-Discovery, and Brexit and Beyond: International Issues and Cross-border e-Discovery. Not to mention mingling with you.
What are some of the winners most looking forward to at Relativity Fest? They shared their excitement with The Relativity Blog.
Megan Van Pelt, Indiana University Mauer School of Law
“I hope to gain a technological edge and awareness that will set me apart from other incoming lawyers. This conference will better prepare me for the lawyering of tomorrow, and I want to take full advantage.”
Alexa Santangelo, Community College of Philadelphia
“Attending this event is not only helpful to my knowledge as a student, but also to my professional growth. Being able to learn about legal technology and innovation with kCura will not only help me understand the information within my legal studies, but my profession, as well. The event is a great way to immerse myself in the field and see where technology is taking the legal profession in the coming years. I am very eager to meet legal students and professionals from all over the country and learn from their backgrounds and insight. Relativity Fest is taking place in a city I have never previously visited—I am excited to attend as well as see Chicago for the first time!”
Cecilia Tesdahl, Loyola University
"I am looking forward to learning more about Relativity and the best ways to use it in my work as a mergers and acquisitions clearance assistant. Our group sometimes has to review a large amount of documents from our clients in relation to Hart-Scott-Rodino filings. My firm already uses Relativity, and I am excited to learn the program and learn about the best tools to use in document review. I am excited to see all that Relativity is capable of."
Elizabeth Garcia, Phoenix College
“I am elated to attend Relativity Fest and gain knowledge about e-discovery and meet myriad professionals in the field. I am looking forward to learning from all the sessions at the conference, but also by networking with people in the legal and technology field. It will be truly interesting to listen and talk to others in the legal field with various legal backgrounds.”
William Warner, Loyola University
“There are so many things I am looking forward to as I attend my first Relativity Fest. The Judicial Panel caught my attention. I am curious to hear the judges’ perspective on e-discovery and the issues they have faced in federal court. Since I am studying to be a paralegal, there are also several sessions geared to us: one of the sessions will deal with the paralegal being the point person at your firm for e-discovery issues. I am also looking forward to meeting the other scholarship winners attending Relativity Fest. I hope to make new friendships and build some lifelong connections with other students interested in the field of e-discovery.”
Eric Iverson, University of Minnesota Law School
“I am most looking forward to learning how I can more effectively use technology to help my practice. As a litigator, I am excited to learn how I can use e-discovery tools to advance my cases and help my clients achieve the best possible results.”
Tessa Cody, George Washington University
“I am looking forward to listening to the different speakers, learning more about e-discovery, and bringing back tips and tricks for my colleagues and coworkers.”
Robert Patterson, Michigan State Law School
“I am most looking forward to learning the new and exciting ways that e-discovery is revolutionizing the way the legal profession is progressing. With technology and social media advancing as it has over the past few years, I am looking forward to being exposed to the new directions Relativity will take us.”
Robert Mayo, George Washington University
“I am most looking forward to meeting and networking with other paralegals to learn about the different methods other organizations use to conduct e-discovery. Now that I am starting a new position with the US Attorney's office, I know that I will be performing e-discovery regularly, so learning best practices from other paralegals who have been performing this work for a while will be truly beneficial.”
Paige Reid, Portland Community College
“I am very much looking forward to the Dos and Don'ts of Forensics and e-Discovery Evidence Handling because one of my career goals is to become certified in forensic collection. This would be extremely beneficial for me to listen to because it will give me a first-hand look at what level of knowledge and which skills will be needed to succeed in this field. The information and knowledge I will be exposed to throughout Relativity Fest will undoubtedly widen my scope and understanding of e-discovery as well as give me an in-depth look at the career field I am working towards entering. I am looking forward to a positive and rewarding experience!”
Additional scholarship recipients included Isaac Togba from the Community College of Philadelphia.
