Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/18157
Each discovery project should be viewed as one big project that must be conducted in phases. In a complex, multiphase project like e-discovery, it’s important to consider dependencies created in the process. Without successful management through to completion of an early phase, such as legal hold or collection, problems will persist to downstream project phases, like analysis and review, and will result in unpredictable costs, missed deadlines or undiscovered data. The problems faced at each stage of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) are complex and profound, but they’re seen in every e-discovery project, large or small. A dearth of resources needed to manage high data volumes, as well as the lack of technically skilled staff, communication tools, and centralized repositories for tracking e-discovery information and project details all contribute to the chaos. THE RISE OF THE LEGAL PROJECT MANAGER Every organization with a legal department should designate at least one person as e-discovery project manager. The Sedona Group refers to this person as the “lead e-discovery attorney in charge” or the “team leader.” This person should understand the specific tasks that are required to work the EDRM and move case development forward. Given the increasingly digital nature of discovery, this person should have a degree of technical proficiency; many e-discovery project managers have an IT background. This project manager or legal department leader should either create or refine an existing task list or workflow template for e-discovery projects. Ideally this should be done before the onset of litigation 30 Project Management ILTA White Paper and commencement of discovery, but even legal departments managing scores of matters can benefit from an honest assessment of their processes utilizing a project management perspective. There is always room for refinement, improvement and standardization. Before litigation begins, it is enormously beneficial to invest in an e-discovery project management or legal process management software solution that’s built specifically to manage the many constituents and point tools involved in e-discovery. Even if you are immersed in litigation, this solution can be applied to minimize problems going forward. Having both a designated project manager and a software solution that can act as a collaborative platform for communication between teams, tools and resources will provide a framework to guide you through each step. E-discovery project management allows e-discovery practitioners to develop meaningful metrics and improve the e-discovery process. This, in turn, moves the litigation process toward the type of organizational business process standardization that can be effectively measured and accurately predicted. HOW TO GET THERE: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE The EDRM project management framework outlines seven steps that closely parallel those set out by the Project Management Institute’s steps for all project management, with one key deviation: e-discovery project management involves more planning phases than a generic project, a natural evolution for a process with high risk exposure. Not only can the EDRM as a whole be viewed through the lens of project management, but each step along the way can and should be approached using these steps. Each step of the e-discovery