Stephen Embry, of TechLaw Crossroads, interviewed Kevin Ryan, the Executive Director of the Monroe County Bar Association about his experience with our EDRM Virtual Campus. The Monroe County Bar’s Small Firm and Solo Practice Conference was held in early April 2021.
Ryan couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about how the conference went. He thought that it was much close to an in-person event than the standard zoom based confab. It was, in his words, as close to life-like as you can get in the virtual world. He stressed to me that the attendees, primarily small firm and solo lawyers loved it.
While some felt that the avatar experience would be too challenging for small and solo practitioners, Kevin Ryan had no pushback from his constituents.
According to Ryan:
Some things Ryan liked in particular: the ability to move around, bump into people, and talk. He said the platform provided a way for attendees to get away from the Conference sessions themselves yet still be connected. Ryan also liked that the break out sessions were much more interactive and engaging than they would have been on Zoom. He told me plenary sessions went well too. Attendees could see the presenter avatar on stage or direct their attention to the slides or even to other attendees around the room.
Stephen Embry attended our first virtual event on eDiscovery Day with this to say:
We could have our avatars roam around a campus. We could attend the sessions or get up and leave. We could wander around an exhibit hall, bump into people you knew (each avatar is identified by name), and have actual conversations. If you were bored, you could explore the campus, go to a virtual beach, even drive a virtual boat. Happy hours? You were free to walk around, meet up with people, walk up to people in small groups and join the conversation.
Read Stephen Embry’s full account here.
