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5 Steps to Prepare Your Team for In-House Document Review

Moving document review in-house is no longer just about cutting the 75% of e-discovery costs associated with external review. Organizations are now leveraging review technology for a variety of critical tasks, including internal investigations, data breach responses, DSARs, and FOIA requests.According to the 2021 Legal Technology Report for In-House Counsel, over 70% of companies with $1B+ in revenue have already invested in or plan to purchase review technology. However, technology is only half the battle. Success depends on preparing the people who will operate it.

‍The "People First" Strategy for In-House Review

1. Bridge the IT-Legal Gap

Document review is the ultimate cross-functional task. You need a team that possesses both:

The Legal Mindset: Understanding risk, compliance, and the nuances of privacy regulations.
The Technical Mindset: Knowing where relevant data lives and how to retrieve it without compromising its forensic integrity.

2. Secure Executive Buy-In

To get the budget, you must speak the language of the C-suite. Frame the investment around:

Cost Reduction: Moving away from expensive billable hours from law firms.
Risk Mitigation: Keeping sensitive data within your own secure environment rather than transferring it to third parties.
Operational Efficiency: Faster response times for regulatory deadlines.

3. Define Your Review Model

You don't necessarily need a 100% in-house team to bring the process in-house.

Consistent Volume: If you handle regular FOIA or public record requests, a dedicated in-house team is best.
Fluctuating Volume: Use a "Hybrid Model." Own the technology (like Exterro Review) and allow external service providers or law firms to log into your secure environment. This keeps you in control of the data while scaling labor as needed.

4. Establish Dedicated Responsibilities

One of the biggest pitfalls is relying on "shared resources." If a team member is splitting time between general IT tasks and e-discovery, critical review deadlines will eventually be deprioritized. Ensure your team has defined, documented responsibilities for discovery tasks.

5. Prioritize Strategic Training

A team that doesn't understand the "Why" will quickly become dissatisfied with the "How." Training should cover:

The EDRM Workflow: How their specific task fits into the larger litigation or investigation.
The Technology: Comprehensive training on the software to ensure they aren't using "workarounds" that could jeopardize the defensibility of the case.

The Self-Assessment Checklist

Before you flip the switch on a new software implementation, assess your readiness. Moving in-house is a journey that requires a solid foundation of people, process, and technology.

Resource: Download the Self-Assessment Checklist: Bringing Document Review In-House

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