Last week, Suffolk Law School was transformed from a bustling campus into a glamorous venue for the American Legal Tech Awards, affectionately known as the "Legal Tech Prom." This annual event sees the legal technology elite swapping their usual business attire for tuxedos and evening gowns, although the red carpet might have been short on high fashion designers and instead featured a fair share of legal tech professionals who had to brush up their bow tie skills via YouTube tutorials before the event.

Hosted in Boston—a city known for its strong tech and innovation scene—Suffolk Law was a natural choice for the ceremony. The school is home to the Suffolk Legal Innovation & Technology Center and the LIT Lab, both of which are at the forefront of integrating technology with legal education.

The evening was not just about celebrating chic attire but also recognizing the groundbreaking contributions to legal technology. LawDroid's Tom Martin, a Suffolk adjunct professor and one of the founders of the Awards, along with Cat Moon from Vanderbilt and attorney Patrick Palace, highlighted the event. The latter is humorously dubbed the "President of Presidents Palace," a nod to his role as the current President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents.

Damien Riehl, returning as the event's host, entertained attendees with legally themed song parodies. One memorable performance included a duet with Jackie Schafer of Clearbrief, inspired by the musical *Little Shop of Horrors*, cleverly tying back to the artificial intelligence theme prevalent in today's legal tech discussions.

The awards showcased a wide range of innovations, from the Maryland Justice Passport, which simplifies the maze-like court processes into a user-friendly digital interface, to Onit, who received the enterprise award for democratizing access to legal expertise through AI-powered tools. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jim Calloway for his extensive career dedicated to enhancing legal practice management.

In a profession often criticized for its resistance to change and heavy reliance on outdated practices, the ALTA ceremony stands as a beacon of progress and potential. For law students and seasoned professionals alike, the event offered a glimpse into a future where legal work is enhanced by technology, making the practice more efficient and just.

As the night concluded, the sentiment was clear: while the legal profession faces many challenges, there are dedicated individuals and innovations that not only seek to address these issues but also restore faith in the profession—at least for one night.