To Make eDiscovery Technology Easier, Make it Work Like a Mobile Device

To Make eDiscovery Technology Easier, Make it Work Like a Mobile Device

Despite the requirement in comment 8 of Rule 1.1 of the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct (which has also been adopted by 38 states) that lawyers “should keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology”, many lawyers and legal professionals have not learned or kept abreast of the technology associated with eDiscovery.  But, there is one technology that they have learned to use quite well – technology associated with mobile devices.

Why is that?  Well, consider how intuitive yet powerful the mobile device is.  Whether you use iOS or Android mobile devices, the available functionality is practically limitless through the thousands and thousands of apps available to download through the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).  The phrase “there’s an app for that” has become commonplace to represent the ability for apps to provide the functionality we need to enhance our daily lives. And, they’re easily to download and begin to use – you’re up and running within minutes.

Want to keep track of your kids in the neighborhood? Download the Life360 app.  Want to keep track of sports scores or manage your fantasy team? Download the ESPN app or the ESPN fantasy app.  Want to make a reservation at your favorite restaurant?  Download the OpenTable app.

You get the idea.  There is even app competition for several functions you can perform via your mobile device, such as music (e.g., Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music), driving directions (e.g., Google Maps, Waze) and transportation (e.g., Uber, Lyft).  So, not only can you find an app that performs the functionality you want, there are often several to choose from, so you can pick the app that best fits your personal preferences.

Are lawyers and legal professionals comfortable using mobile devices?  Absolutely!  Do they all use the same apps, or even the same types of devices? Not at all – their use of mobile devices is customized to their needs just like it is for anyone else.

Imagine if lawyers and legal professionals could use eDiscovery technology the way they use their iPhones or Android devices – by selecting the apps they need to perform specific functions within their eDiscovery workflows, just like they do on their mobile devices to support their daily lives.

Do you need access to a “best in breed” complete end to end eDiscovery solution?  Add Relativity.  Need a scalable e-Discovery processing platform that supports ingestion and processing of over 1,000 different file formats? Add Nuix Workstation. Does your workflow call for analytics or machine learning?  Add Brainspace, NexLP Story Engine or H5 Matter Analytics.  Need support of GRC (Governance, Risk, Compliance) activities? Add X1 Distributed Discovery.  Need support for contract reviews?  Add Heretik.

eDiscovery workflows are like snowflakes – no two are alike. Different cases have different requirements.  Depending on the volume or type of data, you may or may not need to employ scalable processing or machine learning analytics.  Some workflows will involve contract analysis, others won’t.  Some workflows will involve automation of certain tasks (such as migrating a Relativity workspace), others won’t.  Not only that, some legal professionals simply prefer certain platforms over others.  The potential combinations are endless.

Of course, for eDiscovery technology to be usable like apps in a mobile device, you need the equivalent of the App Store and Google Play in an app that enables you to set up use of all of the other apps.  The best way to making it easier for lawyers and legal professionals to understand eDiscovery technology is to make it work like the technology in a mobile device – easy to select the apps they need at the times they need them and easy to get up and running with those apps.

Can eDiscovery technology be used like apps in a mobile device?  It can – and is being used that way today!

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