subject: Mdr: The Basics [print this page] Law firms often have a team that specializes in managed document review. Other companies often use their services to handle their own mounds of paperwork. Knowing and understanding what managed document review is can help you decide if you want to become involved in hiring a service for managed document review or whether you want to become part of a team yourself! You might be wondering exactly what it is and how it works.
Well, what is it? Short Answer.
A managed document review is a complex system that combines tracking and security. It is the management of documents so that they are easy to find, easy to track changes when a change is necessary, and of course, it is the understanding of who can have access to these documents. There are firms that specialize in this and can help you with your mounds of paperwork. Usually these review teams are made up of paralegals and attorneys.
So, what kind of documents can these services handle?
While some law firms are choosing to start using electronic documents, some are keeping to the old-school form of paper. Therefore, there are many different types of firms and many different types of needs. Managed document review services often handle things ranging from divorce papers to litigated case files and the research involved. They can help you from getting bogged down with unnecessary paper-work.
Is there a standard price?
In the United States, the average fee for a managed document review team will range from $25 to $55 an hour. While that's a huge difference, there are still other international companies that will offer a flat fee for the service or a lower or higher dollar amount. It's going to come back to the documents in question and how complicate the review is going to be. Check out different companies and get multiple quotes.
Choosing your team: what to know
It can be scary to finally pick out a managed document team. You might be worried about choosing wrong or not taking everything into account. One thing to remember though is that security is the key! You need a team that is going to be professional with their security. External security can seem the simpler route: locked filing cabinets and a strict process for knowing who can and can't view those files. Internal security is something completely different. Internal manages the online documents and that can be tricky. They have to be prepared for hacking, viruses, and cyber-attacks. Know your team's limits.
Aprofessionally managed document review team can make your life a lot simpler. When you realize that you need one, take the time to do the research necessary so you can make a smart, informed decision on how you want to move forward. Make sure your team is intelligent, the security is top-notch, and that you're getting a fair price. You deserve it!
