E-Discovery
Why Organizations Need Strategies to Accelerate Document Review
February 21, 2025
Document review isn't just another step in the e-discovery process—it's the most resource-intensive, expensive, and error-prone phase. It accounts for up to 80% of e-discovery budgets and is where legal teams face the most significant time crunches. For organizations managing legal matters in an era of data sprawl, the growing complexity amplifies the need for effective document review strategies.
But why does this matter so much now? And how can organizations—and their legal professionals—gain a competitive edge by addressing the challenges head-on?
This blog explores why accelerated document review strategies are mission-critical, offering insights into improving efficiency, cost management, and case outcomes.
The Challenges of Document Review
Data Overload
The legal world is drowning in data. According to Gartner, by 2025, 75% of legal departments will face rising e-discovery requests due to data sprawl. Emails, collaboration tools, social media platforms, cloud services—each source adds layers of complexity to managing electronically stored information (ESI).
Rising Costs
Document review is expensive. Manual review processes, redundant reviews, and disconnected workflows escalate costs, putting undue strain on legal departments and organizations. The lack of streamlined processes leads to inefficiencies that inflate budgets unnecessarily.
Time-Sensitivity
The legal field thrives on deadlines—and the longer review takes, the greater the risk. Delays in review can significantly impact litigation readiness, early case assessments (ECA), and decision-making.
Accuracy and Defensibility
Errors in document review—whether due to oversight, poor coordination, or technological limitations—can compromise legal defensibility. From privilege review mistakes to inconsistent tagging, the repercussions can be costly and damaging.
Why Strategies Matter
Organizations that fail to implement effective strategies for accelerating document review are left vulnerable. Beyond jeopardizing compliance and defensibility, they risk wasted resources, inefficiencies, and over-expending budgets.
A thoughtful strategy brings precision and structure to a process that can otherwise feel chaotic. Here's why every organization needs one now more than ever.
1. Streamlining Workflows
Strategies optimize workflows by creating a unified process for handling, analyzing, and reviewing documents. Legal teams gain clarity on the entire document lifecycle, reducing the risk of redundancies and bottlenecks.
2. Reducing Costs
Accelerated review strategies cut unnecessary expenses. From minimizing manual reviews to leveraging AI-powered tools, these measures help control review-related spending while ensuring compliance.
3. Boosting Accuracy
The integration of advanced analytics and automation allows legal professionals to zero in on relevant documents faster. Technology reduces the chance of human error, especially in complex reviews involving data-heavy cases.
4. Improving Collaboration
Legal teams, IT, and compliance professionals often work in silos, which can result in miscommunication. A strategy establishes clear roles, aligns stakeholders, and enhances collaboration to drive better case outcomes.
5. Maintaining Defensibility
By implementing defensible strategies—such as strict metadata preservation, centralized repositories, and privilege review protocols—organizations reduce compliance risks and strengthen their legal standing.
The Risks of Failing to Keep Up
Without a focused strategy to accelerate document review, organizations expose themselves to potential pitfalls, including missed deadlines, inflated costs, and non-compliance with regulatory or legal obligations. Inefficient document review can also erode trust between internal teams, external counsel, and corporate stakeholders.
With data volumes continuing to grow, waiting is no longer an option. Across industries, organizations transforming their document review processes are not just meeting today's demands—they're fortifying themselves for the demands of tomorrow.
Next Steps
The strategies outlined above only skim the surface of what’s possible with today’s e-discovery tools and practices. To learn more about how your organization can accelerate document review—and improve outcomes at every stage of the process—download our comprehensive whitepaper, Accelerating Document Review: Five Strategies for Legal Teams.
Gain actionable insights, real-world examples, and technical solutions that have helped organizations reduce costs, save time, and drive efficiency.