Is your eDiscovery software still update-able?

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When it comes to legacies, eDiscovery software isn't something to pass down.

No lawyer likes being challenged by opposing counsel on the efficacy and accuracy of a production. For significant litigation matters, few issues give rise to greater cost concerns than that of an incomplete or over-production of documents. The eDiscovery process is one that should be controlled by the best and most-proportionate combination of expertise, process, and technology. While law firms often possess both expertise and process know-how, they may be lacking in a key area: technology.

While increasingly adopted and integrated, technology is still often overlooked in the areas of: ease of access to documents, cost containment, and, most importantly, risk control. Proportionality cuts in different ways and, yes, we always want the costs of discovery to be proportionate to the claim. However, we also want to ensure that cost is considered with respect to risk. While the use of older technologies on larger data sets may be less expensive in terms of money, it can demand more people-time and present a risk of exposure.

Using legacy software that is no longer update-able or supported can open your client up to significant risks, such as:

Privileged documents getting into the production because the search functionality of the software is limited;
A trove of highly relevant documents being omitted from production because the production software is not supported and has become corrupted;
Or even worse, highly confidential business information being produced to opposing counsel because tagging in the software was lost in a backup.

These scenarios are not uncommon so ask your IT staff, your paralegals, and your associates, "Is the software letting us serve our clients the best we can?" If the answer is no, or you are simply not sure, you could be exposing your firm and, most importantly your clients, to your software’s vulnerabilities.

Working with familiar but unreliable, outdated software that is not meeting the demands of your practice can limit your ability to adopt new workflows and sophisticated case-development strategies, preventing you from serving your clients to your own best ability.

eDiscovery software should be simple, intelligent, and flexible to your needs. Modern, cloud-based solutions offer the ability to automate time-intensive processes and handle traditionally slow and expensive tasks faster, cheaper and with ease - all while controlling risks.

It's time to right-size your eDiscovery platform. It's time to implement an integrated technology solution that will drive value, manage volumes, enhance case strategy and reduce costs.