Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/25416
Again, these tasks require an understanding of both the litigation process and litigation technology — an LSP has a strong command of these areas. EARLY CASE ASSESSMENT Depending on your viewpoint, Early Case Assessment (ECA) can, and most often does, mean something different. For instance, a corporation might view ECA as the process of risk assessment to determine what is at stake. A law firm could view ECA as the early analysis of a case’s facts to determine the strategy and client communication protocol, which aids in deciding the case’s next steps. A service provider might view ECA as the software or tools offered to assist in the analysis of a case; and a paralegal might view it as the searching and compiling of key documents in preparation for a case deadline. A consultant could view ECA as a defined approach that needs to be taken to identify, preserve and collect information in a lawsuit. An LSP might see ECA as the processing of information and provision of results, or as a platform for attorneys to review and analyze data at different stages of the litigation. LSPs are now involved in ECA tasks, including: • Providing a protocol and method to document intake of media • Providing a secure process to preserve and analyze media • Creating initial data inventory and analysis reports • Creating and preparing a data search index to apply terms 20 Litigation and Practice Support ILTA White Paper • Preparing litigation support estimates for attorneys • Managing service provider relations The bottom line with regard to ECA is that it’s a process to use and analyze information in order to make decisions quickly to solve a problem. LSPs greatly assist the legal team in this process. COLLECTING, PROCESSING AND REVIEWING DOCUMENTS Implementing the discovery plan involves orchestrating several tasks and managing all of the pieces. Everyone needs to know what to do, how to do it, when it’s due and what is expected regarding quality, schedule and budget. This means getting the right technology tools and facilities lined up, identifying and training staff, communicating with and monitoring the work of service providers, developing and implementing quality control processes, monitoring work flow, monitoring schedules and budgets, and tracking and documenting task status — traditional project management activities. This is one of the most significant LSP activities — bringing all of the pieces together and making sure that everything runs smoothly and is documented accordingly. It is a task that LSPs have been performing for years; however, the task has grown, so the role of an LSP has grown with it. Here are some of the tasks that LSPs are well- qualified to assist with: • Developing collection, processing and review strategy