subject: How E-discovery Software Can Create A Better Law Firm [print this page] If you are part of a law firm that handles civil litigations, you're likely to have had experience with e-discovery software to analyze electronic data. If not, using litigation support software can save you time and money when dealing with various cases. Start using e-discovery software, or update the software that is currently in use, to better serve your clients today.
E-Discovery Software and How It's Used
Electronic discovery software is used in many contexts throughout a legal case. It serves to quickly analyze electronic data that can be used by attorneys in preparing a legal case. Additionally, it can become useful for other professionals such as forensic investigators, lawyers and IT managers.
Nearly every type of digital data can turn out to be useful in a case. Raw data is put through the digital forensic procedures (acquisition, analysis, and reporting) in order to be accepted as evidence in a legal setting. Once attorneys acquire electronic data, it is up under legal hold and analyzed for relevant information.
When relevant data is extracted from its "native format" with e-discovery software, it is usually compiled into a PDF file that is then presented in court in someone's defense or against someone. In 2006, amendments were made to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, saying that emails and instant messages could be presented as evidence in a lawsuit. Now, nearly everything digital can be used in court: texts, voicemails, videos, pictures, Word documents, and chats, just to name a few.
How to Pick the Best Software for Your Needs
When you are looking for the right e-discovery software to use in your law firm, there are a few needs to consider. The first thing you must consider is what data will you be analyzing, how much of it, and in what format will it be. Be prepared to convert any files that are unreadable with the equipment you have. Because there are so many people involved in using e-discovery software-- forensic specialists, IT managers, records managers, etc.-- differences in formatting can often create miscommunications.
If you are looking to invest in electronic discovery software for your law firm, make sure that you also have the tools and resources available to train everyone involved to use the software properly. You don't want to be stuck with software that no one knows how to use. Ensure that this doesn't happen by setting aside resources to properly train everyone who will use the software.
Create strong court cases quickly with the evidence hidden in electronic data. You can use that evidence thanks to e-discovery software. Just about any digital media can be used as valuable evidence in a court case, it's just a matter of extracting it and compiling everything into a presentation to use in court. Start serving your clients better with the help of electronic discovery software.
