When it comes to litigation, you need to protect yourself fully to ensure that all legal documents are accounted for and flagged for relevance. In the past, the only way to do this was to file all the paper documents related to the case, no matter how small they may appear to be, and to take notes or copies of the key documents that one believes are relevant to the case. case.
However, with advances in modern technology, litigation support software now makes it easier than ever to assist attorneys in the litigation process by providing electronic databases to organize, search, and review discovery material, including transcripts of statements, documents and images produced, as well as correspondence. .
Robust software programs allow users to comment on and mark the relevance of a document while the user reviews it, so user input becomes part of the document’s identification and search parameters. This new electronic document is in the same category as paper documents, except it does not need to be printed, can be shared and worked on in real time, and can be accessed or cross-referenced more quickly and efficiently from anywhere. part of the world. .
As an attorney, you and your support team will need to have centralized and controlled access to these documents on a regular basis. If you use paper documents, they will take up a lot of physical space on your desk and in your office and require you to carry heavy boxes while you work, at the risk of injury or the documents being lost or misplaced. However, with an electronic version, you can access and update documents through your computer and keep your desk clutter-free, while ensuring that the document can always be retrieved and that your lower back is not in danger.
Another advantage of importing all documents into a litigation support software system is its improved ability to share and transport documents. In the legal world, parties to a case have the right to see discoverable documents. In the past, this meant making copies and mailing them back and forth as needed or relying on faxes or email transfers, which slow down or clog company servers, compromise file security, and often have file size restrictions. When documents are in an electronic document management system, you can share and transport them more securely, easily, and at a lower cost by simply allowing shared access to the platform.
When you keep your documents electronically, you also don’t need to worry about losing quality or falling victim to an unexpected disaster. As people keep looking at the same documents repeatedly, the oils on their skin can start to damage the paper or possibly stain the ink. You can spill coffee on documents or on your computer while working late one night, struggling to stay awake. If those documents are stored in a cloud-based environment, you minimize the risk of damage and loss. Regardless of whether you spill coffee or lose your computer, you can still access files from any other computer.
Using litigation support software makes a lawyer’s job much easier, and the benefits of implementation seem to outweigh its costs. You can access the files you need more quickly and accurately through an efficient electronic filing system. When you need to share those documents with other parties, you can do so safely and cost-effectively through the app’s built-in distribution and distribution features. The electronic files of the litigation support software will be better protected, will be centrally accessible and will work globally, thus producing the ideal format for legal documents compared to previous paper files.
In the coming years, this new move into the digital age is likely to become a foundational standard for law firms, consultants, experts, insurance adjusters, and other litigation support professionals who want to stay competitive and thrive on the cutting edge. of technology.