In this short piece, we provide a reflection on the inaugural Connecting Legal Education Fest. In doing so, we draw on three core themes – joy, connection, and doing things differently – that helped shape the Fest and give it life and flair on the day. We draw on these themes with fondness as we reflect on the day but also as a guide, even a loose manifesto, to the wider legal education community that it is possible to do conferences “otherwise” while still maintaining a space for critical thought, engagement and reflection. We finish by drawing on feedback from attendees and observations that remind us that there are continuing challenges in legal education: things we, as a community, need to work on to ensure an inclusive space for all.