P2P

3 I L T A N E T . O R G F R O M T H E C E O I nternational is the theme of this issue, and it has never been more relevant than today. The global pandemic has united the world in grief, of course. But it has also seen positive collaboration for prevention, treatment, vaccination, and, eventually, we hope, a cure for COVID-19. We have also learned in the past year that working remotely truly means working anywhere there is Internet connectivity. The only logistics we deal with now for meeting together and communicating has to do with what remote platform you use and what time zone you are working from. In 2019, ILTA saw significant growth in member entities based outside the United States. These organizations joined a cadre of loyal and committed members and volunteers from around the global. We saw our first event in Brazil in 2019, and ILTAns participated in conferences and in-person meetings in Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as the UK and Ireland. One of the few silver linings of the global pandemic has been the way we have brought ILTA content and connections to participants outside North America. At ILTA>ON alone, we had participants from 26 countries. ILTA now has members in 50 countries. And we have volunteers from every continent except Antarctica. What does this mean for ILTA content, connections, and leadership going forward? ILTA's global reach helps ensure we are in line with legal tech concerns and initiatives across jurisdictions and that we can provide a global perspective on issues where geography really does matter, e.g., privacy and non-lawyer ownership of legal practices. Digital formats provide expanded access for speakers and volunteers outside of North America, for whom travel to an ILTA event was a barrier. Am I looking forward to seeing ILTAns in person again soon? (Bring on Vegas in August of 2021!) Yes, indeed. However, I am hopeful that the lessons of 2020 in terms of global cooperation and content and digital connections stay with us long after the pandemic is in the rear view mirror. Dearest ILTAns, for the year end holiday season, I wish you whatever brings you the most happiness in the safest way. For 2021, I wish you peace, health, and all of the good things life can offer. And, hopefully, in person hugs! ILTA Joy Heath Rush joy@iltanet.org T H E R E ' S M O R E O N L I N E ! For more great insight on ILTA's CEO, listen along online as she sits down for another CEO podcast! listen here »

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