We are excited to share that Natasha Doucas, Business Development Executive at Ricoh eDiscovery, has become a board member for the newly established Vancouver branch of the Association of Certified e-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS).
Today, Natasha shares her experience in the industry, what ACEDS Vancouver means to the Canadian eDiscovery community and how others can get involved in the organization. Here’s what she had to say:
1. Tell us about your experience with eDiscovery. How do you help support the success of our community?
I’ve been in the eDiscovery world for the last 14 years — nine of which have been with Ricoh. eDiscovery is a really specific industry that comes with a lot of complexity. For newcomers, it’s a challenge to learn all the layers of nuance around it. It can take years to understand the process, the communication piece, and the experience and expertise needed to execute a project successfully. Plus, you have to learn how to contain spending while addressing the legal requirements.
A solution should not be solely based on technology. It should be about finding the right approach by considering the resources, the process and the budget. Then you determine the right technology for the job." — Natasha Doucas, Business Development Executive, Ricoh eDiscovery
I focus on utilizing a creative and flexible workflow approach to maximize results for our clients. A solution should not be solely based on technology. It should be about finding the right approach by considering the resources, the process and the budget. Then you determine the right technology for the job.
Over the years, my role has been to serve the community through education, by way of software training, technical support and explanation of the process — all to help solve any challenges my clients or peers have encountered. My role also includes finding the most cost-effective model for the customer.
2. What is ACEDs and what does it do for the eDiscovery community?
ACEDS, which just this month celebrated its tenth anniversary, is a global professional association for individuals and organizations in the private and public sector who work in the fields of eDiscovery, information governance, compliance and the broader legal community. The goal of the organization is to create a community of people who can exchange ideas, learn and develop fundamental skills, receive training and obtain certification on everything that involves eDiscovery.
ACEDS applies to any legal department. Whether you work for the government, a corporation or a law firm, really anyone who works with eDiscovery can significantly benefit from joining.
3. How did you come to join the ACEDS Vancouver Board?
I was thrilled to find out that ACEDS was further expanding their Canadian presence by establishing a Vancouver chapter earlier this year. I jumped at the opportunity to become part of it, get involved and be surrounded by peers from the industry who I really admire. Shortly after joining the chapter, I was invited to join the board which was the perfect way to increase knowledge sharing and continue connecting and working closely with this community. I'm excited to help lead on educational programing and events for our members to support their learning. That’s really important to me.
4. What advice would you give to someone considering getting involved with ACEDs?
If you’re looking to further develop your skills or even just network with others in the industry, get involved! ACEDS’ classes, workshops, seminars, webinars and presentations truly provide members with skills they can practically apply to their jobs. In addition, their certification is one of the most well-known and highly regarded programs in eDiscovery. I would encourage anyone working in the industry to obtain their accreditation.
The ACEDS certification gives a competitive advantage to individuals with an assessment of knowledge in all aspects of eDiscovery. This year, the ACEDS certification received a comprehensive “refresh” and I am excited to share that a Canadian version of the certification will be coming soon. This allows my fellow Canadian eDiscovery specialists to become certified through a program that honours those special nuances that are found only in the Canadian market. At ACEDS Vancouver, we’re collaborating closely with the Toronto branch to ensure community members across the country are getting tailored content and training that is uniquely Canadian.
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Thank you, Natasha, for sharing your insights on ACEDS and congratulations on joining the Vancouver chapter board! If you have questions about joining, or in general, you can reach Natasha directly at natasha.doucas@ricoh.ca or on LinkedIn.
Be sure to catch Natasha in ACEDS' upcoming webinar on e-Discovery Across Canada: How We Are Alike an How Are We Different? on December 3rd. The panel of legal tech pros will explore the current eDiscovery landscape across Canada and how organizations are responding to emerging trends.
