Must Have E-Discovery Case Management Checklist for Paralegals

Few responsibilities are as process-oriented as e-discovery. From identifying possible sources of relevant ESI, through issuing legal holds, collection, review, production, and ultimate matter closing, it is critical for legal teams to follow documented, defensible processes. After all, the most recent changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure emphasize that sanctions are typically not warranted if defensible processes were followed and there was no intent to deprive the opposing party of responsive ESI. 

Despite that mandate, many e-discovery paralegals don't have an e-discovery checklist they can rely on. Part of this is because even though e-discovery activities tend to be sequential, full of dependencies and bound by time and resource constraints, very few legal professionals think of them in the context of traditional project management. While many legal departments are beginning to embrace more legal project management (LPM) principles, often those project management duties fall upon e-discovery paralegals--all the more reason for you to have and use a checklist.

After all, there is a lot to be mindful of in e-discovery, with ample opportunities for errors and oversights. Medical professionals rely on checklists to make sure nothing falls through the cracks and to record activities and events so they can be revisited. Would e-discovery professionals not benefit from the same?

Exterro's E-Discovery Case Management Checklist covers everything from early case and legal hold planning all the way through collection, processing and final document review. Download it today!