publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/792924
46 WWW.ILTANET.ORG | ILTA WHITE PAPER LITIGATION AND PRACTICE SUPPORT Discovery and Litigation Support Without a Lit Support Department » The integrity of the files is unknown and can contain viruses or corruptions that can spread to the law firm. IT protects the firm and its environment but cannot possibly predict or plan for handling data that do not originate from within its boundaries. Procedures for handling all outside data can include virus scans, write blocking and/or segregating the data on the network and in backup tapes. » The network space needed for storing files created and maintained in a law firm/legal department is planned for and managed by IT. One of the considerations in whether to outsource discovery services includes the ability to scale managed storage space to accommodate all the data sets that come into the network from clients. Discovery activities usually result in there being many copies of files: the original, working copies, backup copies, etc. One of the benefits of outsourcing discovery is that a service provider has the scalability to handle any case, and accessing the necessary space is an expense rather than a capital investment. » The simple act of copying client files can be incredibly troublesome. Files usually are stored in folders, and there can be many levels of folders and subfolders. The media received from a client are the "originals," so the first task to intake files is to copy the files for evaluation/review. In addition to corrupt files and viruses, there are challenges in accessing these files, including: » The method of copying the files should not modify metadata. » The time needed to copy files is oen significantly underestimated or misunderstood. » There is a limit to the size of a file path; this is the name of the file, which includes the names of each folder and subfolder it is contained within. If the path at the original file location at the client's office uses many subfolders, which is common, that path will exceed the 256-character-limit,