Current Programs & Events

• Sharon Nelson Leadership Award: The Sharon Nelson Leadership Award was established in 2003 to honor prominent University of Washington School of Law alumni who have made significant contributions in the areas of law and technology. The award is presented annually.

Past Programs & Events

• Policy Symposium - Radio-Frequency Identification: Balancing Innovation & Civil Liberties in Human Applications. (Thursday, July 19, 2007)
• Judicial Education Program: Perspectives on Technology in the Courts: How Technology Affects washington judges: from electronic court records to high-tech trials, march 2, 2007. The Shidler Center for Law, Commerce & Technology is pleased to announce its third annual “Perspectives on Technology in the Courts” Judicial Education Program. Technology plays a vital role in the work of judges today, but with its benefits come new challenges. This conference will provide a forum for judges to discuss with other judges how technology is transforming their work and the administration of justice. Panel chairs will lead discussions of the issues by panelists, and invite participation from attendees.
• At Odds: Victims Rights vs. Free Speech: Join us on May 30, 2006 for a fascinating discussion of how two tenets of the American consciousness—laissez-faire economics and the first amendment—collide with the reality of an online world of harassment and stalking. Moderated by Ross Reynolds of KUOW’s “The Conversation.” Opening remarks by Rob McKenna, Washington State Attorney General. Presented by the Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC) at the University of Washington Information School in partnership with the Pacific Northwest Center for Global Security and the Shidler Center for Law, Commerce & Technology.
• Beyond the Basics: Advanced Legal Topics in Open Source and Collaborative Development in the Global Marketplace: On March 21, 2006, leading experts from around the country will confront the most difficult issues facing attorneys advising clients on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) licensing issues in a formal debate and roundtable discussions. This program will explore different FOSS development and licensing models, and their impact on global corporate IP strategies.
• Judicial Education Program: Perspectives on Technology in the Courts: February 24, 2006. The Shidler Center for Law, Commerce & Technology is pleased to announce its second annual “Perspectives on Technology in the Courts” Judicial Education Program. Technology plays a vital role in the work of judges today, but with its benefits come new challenges. This conference will provide a forum for judges to discuss with other judges how technology is transforming their work and the administration of justice. Panel chairs will lead discussions of the issues by panelists, and invite participation from attendees.
• Standardization: Unifier or Divider: December 5-7, 2005, Vancouver BC. Sometimes the simplest tool can alter the world…Standardization is a powerful, though often overlooked, concept that can be used to unify or divide people, markets, nations, and technologies at every level. Join world experts to explore the ways standardization can be used to create significant economic, technical, and social benefit. Co-Sponsored by the Shidler Center for Law, Commerce, & Technology.
• Business Briefing Series: The Shidler Center's Business Briefing Series provides members of the business community with practical, non-technical, expert advice on emerging law and technology issues that affect businesses. Speakers are attorneys, executives and technology experts with in-depth knowledge in their fields.
• Tech Law Roundtable Series: The Tech Law Roundtable Series provides lawyers and business executives with a forum to meet and discuss cutting edge legal issues facing the legal and technology communities. Each roundtable session will be facilitated by moderators with in-depth experience on the topic. Materials will be provided in advance to stimulate and focus the discussion. Through these gatherings, we hope that the participants will be able to both inform others and educate themselves on the relevant topic, through a robust exchange of ideas, viewpoints and experiences. One hour of continuing legal education credit for Washington State attorneys will be provided.
• Is Consumer Protection an Anachronism in the Information Economy?: Friday, March 4, 2005. If technology can correct market failure better than regulatory intervention can, will consumer protection law be superseded by the growth of competition? Or does innovation merely create new mechanisms to exploit consumers that should be controlled with new legislation? This conference will consider the impact of technological innovation on the foundations of consumer advocacy, contracting behavior, control over intellectual capital, and information privacy.
• Judicial Education Program: Perspectives on Technology in the Courts - Friday, February 11, 2005. Technology plays a vital role in the work of judges today, but with its benefits come new challenges. This conference will provide a forum for judges to discuss with other judges how technology is transforming their work and the administration of justice. Panel chairs will lead discussion of the issues by panelists, and invite participation from attendees. Registration will be complimentary, but attendance will be limited to 25 full time judges in order to facilitate a frank and robust debate of the issues. Approved for 3 hours of continuing judicial education credits, including 1 hour of ethics credits.
• 2003-2004 Moveable Feast Series: Track the latest developments in Law, Commerce and Technology with the Shidler Center's Moveable Feast lunchtime CLE program.
• 8th International Conference on Substantive Technology in Legal Education and Practice June 21-23, 2004: The 8th International Conference on Substantive Technology in Legal Education and Practice (SubTech 2004) was held at the University of Washington School of Law in William H. Gates Hall.  This conference explores innovative ways of using emerging technologies in the service of legal education, law practice and the law’s commitment to individual, social, and economic objectives.  An archive of the website (which includes links to papers and presentations) can be found at www.law.washington.edu/lct/subtech2004/.
• 2004 CALI Conference for Law School Computing June 17-19, 2004: The Shidler Center was a co-sponsor of the 14th Annual Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) Conference, which was held June 17-19, 2004 at the University of Washington School of Law.  CALI is a non-profit consortium of law schools that researches and develops computer mediated legal instruction and supports institutions and individuals using technology in legal education.  For program information, please visit the CALI website at www.cali.org/conference/.
• Technology, Values, and the Justice System Symposium and Conference: Over 150 people attended this conference January 16th and 17th, 2004, to explore how new information and communication technologies can be used to minimize or even eliminate barriers and inequities in accessing justice. The conference was co-sponsored by The Shidler Center, in conjunction with the UW's Access to Justice Technology Bill of Rights Project and the Washington State Access to Justice Technology Bill of Rights Committee. The symposium was held at William H. Gates Hall on the University of Washington campus.The Washington Law Review symposium articles can be found online at http://www.law.washington.edu/WLR/symposium.html. To view the conference proceedings (via streaming video) and related materials please visit the conference web site at http://www.ischool.washington.edu/lawsymposium/