ALPMA Summit 2026: Conversations, connections and the future of legal technology

By Olivia Amber, Implementation Consultant

The ALPMA + ALTACON Business of Law Summit 2026 in Geelong was a few busy days of conversations, catch ups, new ideas and plenty of time spent talking about what’s next for law firms.

For Jayva, exhibiting as part of the L3 team with my colleagues, Piet Bourke and Cathie Orgill, alongside DigiMaster and LC Consulting was a great opportunity to reconnect with people we’ve worked with over the years, meet new faces and spend valuable time with the partners who form such an important part of the legal technology landscape.

And, of course, there were a few memorable moments along the way.

From technology projects to ongoing support

One of the strongest themes to come through in our discussions was that firms are increasingly looking beyond the technology itself. Choosing a system is one thing. Making sure it’s implemented well, adopted business-wide and continues to deliver value over time is another.

That’s where the L3 offering generated a lot of interest.

The idea behind L3 is simple: firms shouldn’t have to navigate technology change alone. Bringing together project management, implementation and ongoing services means firms can have support throughout the entire journey – from deciding what they need, through to getting a new system up and running, and then continuing to improve and make the most of it.

In particular, the idea that support doesn't have to stop once a project is technically complete resonated strongly with attendees. Because, having ongoing support means there’s always somewhere to turn when questions arise, priorities change or there’s an opportunity to do things better.

That focus on client and project delivery excellence is central to how we think about L3: delivering the project well is important, but so is making sure the solution keeps working for the firm afterwards.

Seeing the technology behind the conversations

One of the highlights for me was being able to meet software partners in person.

So much of our industry now happens through Zoom and Teams. Those platforms are invaluable, but there’s still something different about meeting face-to-face – being able to talk through ideas over a coffee, demonstrate something on a screen together or simply put a face to a name you’ve previously only seen in a meeting window.

Our conversations reinforced what we see regularly: innovation isn't just about adopting the newest technology. It’s about understanding what a firm is trying to achieve and finding practical ways for technology, automation and better processes to support that ambition.

For some firms, that might mean implementing a new platform. For others, it might mean getting more from systems they already have, improving workflows or identifying opportunities to automate repetitive work.

The starting point may be different, but the goal is often the same – using technology to operate more effectively and create capacity for growth.

People remain at the centre

For all the conversations about software, automation and digital transformation, one thing was particularly clear: technology projects are ultimately about people.

A new system only delivers value when people understand it, use it effectively and have the confidence to make the most of it. That makes people, capability and future skills a critical part of any technology strategy.

Training, change management and ongoing support shouldn't be treated as an afterthought. They need to be considered alongside the technology itself.

We heard plenty of examples of firms thinking about how their people work today, what skills they’ll need tomorrow and how technology can help them spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on work that requires judgement, expertise and client focus.

The firms that approach technology change as a combination of systems, processes and people are better placed to make those changes stick.

Old colleagues, new connections and an 80s event…

Of course, events like ALPMA aren't just about formal sessions and technology demonstrations. Some of the best conversations happen in the gaps between them.

It was great to catch up with old colleagues and familiar faces, as well as meet people for the first time and pick up conversations that had started online.

And no event recap would be complete without mentioning the Summit’s 80s-themed event. Most people interpreted the brief as an opportunity to embrace the music, fashion and general spirit of the 1980s. Piet, took a slightly different approach.

Rather than dressing as someone from the 80s, Piet apparently decided that the theme was “be 80 years old” – complete with a rather memorable diaper. It’s fair to say his interpretation of the brief generated plenty of conversation and will probably be remembered for some time to come.

We’ll leave the photographic evidence to those who were there.

Taking the conversations forward

The ALPMA Summit gave us plenty to think about and reinforced why collaboration, practical experience and ongoing support matter so much in legal technology. Across every discussion, the same three ideas kept coming through:

Deliver projects well. Find practical ways to use innovation and automation to support growth. And make sure people have the capability and support to succeed.

That’s the thinking behind L3 and the way Jayva approaches technology change.

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat, shared their experiences or challenged our thinking. It was great to spend time with clients, partners and the wider legal technology community.

And yes, Piet, we’re still talking about the diaper.