The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) is set to hold its first-ever Tech Summit from January 19 to 21, 2027, at the New York Hilton Midtown, as part of the NYSBA Annual Conference. The event is being organized by two NYSBA committees: the Standing Committee on Technology and the Legal Profession, chaired by Alexander Paykin, Esq., founder of Paykin Law, and the Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, chaired by Vivian Wesson. Paykin is coordinating the program’s speakers, subjects, schedules, and rooms, and will also speak at the summit.
The summit’s significance lies in its focus on delivering immediately applicable technology skills to legal practitioners. Attendees can earn up to 16 MCLE credits through sessions covering AI ethics, practical AI use in drafting, writing, legal research, and evidence, the digital courtroom of tomorrow, and technology for solo and small-firm practitioners. “Lawyers should leave a technology conference with something they can use Monday morning,” Paykin said. “That’s our goal for the NYSBA Tech Summit: practical tools, informed judgment, and better ways to serve our clients.” The hands-on approach distinguishes the summit from more theoretical conferences, addressing a growing need for lawyers to integrate technology into daily practice.
A central feature of the summit is the TechForward Startup Competition, organized by TechForward Foundation, a nonprofit co-founded by Paykin that recently received its 501(c)(3) status. The competition will showcase new ideas and emerging solutions for legal practice, connecting innovators with practicing lawyers. “The best legal technology starts with a problem worth solving,” Paykin said. “Through TechForward Foundation’s startup competition, we’re connecting innovators with practicing lawyers to help turn promising ideas into tools that strengthen legal practice and expand access to justice.” This initiative could accelerate the development of tools that address access-to-justice gaps and improve legal service delivery.
The summit also includes an expo of legal technology vendors and a promptathon, providing attendees with diverse opportunities to engage with cutting-edge tools and techniques. The collaboration between the two committees underscores the bar’s recognition that technology and AI are inextricably linked and essential to modern legal practice. By offering practical CLE and fostering startup innovation, the NYSBA Tech Summit aims to position New York lawyers at the forefront of legal technology adoption.
Registration for the Tech Summit is available through the NYSBA Annual Conference 2027 registration page. With its comprehensive program and focus on actionable insights, the summit is poised to become a key event for legal professionals seeking to navigate the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
