Relativity Home logo

Your single source for new lessons on legal technology, e-discovery, and the people innovating behind the scenes.

How to Get the Most Out of Relativity Fest – Alone or with a Group

Celia O'Brien
How to Get the Most Out of Relativity Fest – Alone or with a Group Icon - Relativity Blog

We consider you a friend. And friends don’t let friends attend conferences unprepared. That’s why we’ve spent the last few weeks walking you through how to get the most out of Relativity Fest.

We’ve talked about bringing balance to your agenda, all that agenda has to offer, and ensuring your pre-planning can set you up for post-conference success.

Now, with Relativity Fest 2024 literally just around the corner—we kick off next Wednesday, September 25!—we’ll walk you through a detailed guide for how to maximize your experience this year.

First things first. If you haven’t yet registered for Relativity Fest 2024, register now. Time is running short!

Before diving into our advice, consider: are you coming alone or with a group? Because the ideal conference-goer strategy varies based on this question, we’ve tailored our instructions for both types of attendees.

For Individual Attendees

BEFORE: Before you pack your suitcase, water your plants, and head out the door ...

Check the #RelativityFest hashtag. It only takes a few minutes of scrolling through our hashtag on your social media of choice to see how amped people are for Relativity Fest. We see attendees from all sects of legal data and technology sharing a deep excitement for our annual conference. So, get inspired about upcoming topics, spot which industry friends might be making the trip, and simmer in the excitement of the upcoming week. Engage with others’ posts to let them know you’ll be there and see if you can meet up.

Plan it your way. Did you know you can create your schedule before arriving onsite? Build an experience that works for you and your unique interests. Are you the type to squeeze in as much as you can? Looking to head right to the demos? Leaving room for some chill time in the Community Pavilion? We offer lots of sessions, networking opportunities, and hands-on experiences with our products, so that you can spend your time doing what’s most helpful to you.

DURING: It’s only 72 hours ...

Engage. A lot is about to happen in just three days. Our advice? Immerse yourself in it. We promise that giving this week your all will be rewarding for both your personal connections and your work. Attend our general sessions, networking events, meals, and every little thing in between. You can introvert once you’re back home.

Speak to everyone. From the person next to you in a session, to a speaker hot off the stage, don’t be afraid to say hello. Connection is one of our Relativity Fest pillars for a reason: we believe it fuels opportunity. Don’t know what to talk about? Ask them about a session they found interesting, or finally settle the debate on the best deep dish in Chicago.

Take notes. If you’re attending as a representative of a larger team or you’re eager to bring what you learned back to the office, make sure to jot it down. The week will bring an influx of information, and you can retain the important stuff by keeping notes throughout sessions. Then you can revisit and freshen up on everything you learned when it’s time to give the lowdown to the team. For more detailed advice on how to do this well, check out this article.

For a Group of Colleagues

BEFORE: Before you and the gang head to the Windy City ...

Talk about Fest ahead of time. Open up conversations with your manager or colleagues about what you expect to learn, tackle, or improve. You might even ask team members who aren’t attending if they have any software or processes they’re curious about finding new solutions for. Lay the groundwork for an interesting, and productive, week.

Devise a game plan. From the moment you step into the Hyatt, there will be plenty of things to do. We offer a wide variety of session options—and that’s not to mention everything that will be going on in the Community Pavilion downstairs. If you find yourself wanting to be in two spots at once, use your group to your advantage by dispersing your team members. Then reconvene and share what you learned. Coming with a group is a superpower!

DURING: While you’re here you might as well ...

Mingle with the community. Attend our social events! You never know what important connection or conversation might come from them. Plus, you can’t use the excuse of “I have no one to go with...” Get the group there and we guarantee you’ll have fun.

Team build. When you come to Relativity Fest with your colleagues, it’s a great opportunity to dig deeper with them. Talk through that thing that’s been a roadblock in your workflow. Bring new ideas to the table. Connect on a human level that you might not be able to in the office. Use the week as an opportunity to grow with your team.

For Everyone

AFTER: After you've recovered from your travels ...

Share it. Like any good news, share what you learn at Relativity Fest with others. Tell that coworker, colleague, or LinkedIn feed about the breakthrough you’re having. Put that tool or software to use.

Our industry is changing, but luckily for you, attending Relativity Fest puts you in a unique position to be at the forefront of that growth. We're thrilled to send you home with insights into our products and workflows, and to point towards a better future for legal data, together.

If you have any more questions about what to expect at Relativity Fest, check out our FAQs. We can't wait to see you in Chicago next week!

Sign up for Relativity Fest Updates

Celia O'Brien is a member of the marketing team at Relativity where she serves as a copywriter.

The latest insights, trends, and spotlights — directly to your inbox.

The Relativity Blog covers the latest in legal tech and compliance, professional development topics, and spotlights on the many bright minds in our space. Subscribe today to learn something new, stay ahead of emerging tech, and up-level your career.

Interested in being one of our authors? Learn more about how to contribute to The Relativity Blog.