Randi Mayes, executive director, International Legal Technology Association, answers questions from ILTA member Richard Shepherd.

Sheperd: How do you ensure that ILTA continues to appeal to its membership in a rapidly changing business landscape?

Mayes: Our tagline is “peer-powered,” and that phrase tells you how we sustain relevancy. We enjoy a diverse membership who continually provides input. And our volunteer structure, which underwent total transformation in 2015, is designed to develop nimble, responsive programming ideas, always focused on providing current, relevant content.

The noble legal profession is infamously slow to change, but we're seeing the emergence of chief innovation officers and other, similar roles in law firms. It's an exciting development.—Randi Mayes, International Legal Technology Association

What development in legal technology has surprised you most and why?

While I’m not surprised by it, the development that most excites me is the critical importance of technology to the legal profession. It was once considered “back office,” but the pervasive and strategic role that technology plays has elevated the professional status of those who support it. The noble legal profession is infamously slow to change, but we’re seeing the emergence of chief innovation officers and other, similar roles in law firms. It’s an exciting development.

You’ll be retiring at the end of this year. What do you most want to be remembered for in your role as executive director?

I’ve closed much of my correspondence across many years with “Tell a friend about ILTA.” I’d love to see the spirit of that tradition carried on, with every member willing to share their support of the organization. I’m partial to kindness toward others, and I have a passion for continuous improvement of writing skills. Think of me fondly when you’re pondering the correct usage of “less” or “fewer.”