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800-780-8388 Litigation Support Specialist
How Litigation Support Specialists Enhance Trial Preparation
Litigation can be a grueling process, involving numerous documents, digital evidence, and tight court deadlines
Ever wonder who keeps this organized behind the scenes? Enter the Litigation Support Specialist.
Coordinating E-Discovery
One of the primary tasks for a litigation support specialist is handling electronic discovery (e-discovery). This involves gathering, processing, and reviewing massive amounts of digital data—from emails to social media posts and even text messages. Specialists use specialized software to sift through data quickly, identifying relevant information and weeding out what’s not needed.
Managing Databases
Cases can span multiple years and involve thousands of documents. Litigation support specialists develop and maintain databases that store all relevant files, making it easy for attorneys and paralegals to search for specific items. Efficient document organization reduces the chance of missing key evidence and speeds up trial preparation.
Technical Troubleshooting
Glitches happen, especially when working with digital files and specialized software. Litigation support specialists are often the go-to individuals for technical issues, ensuring that your team can focus on strategy instead of spending hours on IT problems. They also assist with setting up presentations and remote connections for depositions or court.
Trial Preparation and Support
Beyond managing digital data, specialists may help create trial exhibits and visuals. They can assist attorneys in organizing information into compelling presentations or spreadsheets. During trial, a litigation support specialist might also run tech equipment in the courtroom or coordinate real-time transcription services.
Collaborative Communication
Lawsuits often involve multiple parties. A litigation support specialist coordinates with opposing counsel, court personnel, and third-party vendors like e-discovery platforms. This level of collaboration ensures the right documents are exchanged, deadlines are met, and everything is filed correctly.
E-Discovery Made Easy with Litigation Support Specialists
If you’ve been wondering how litigation support specialists aid e-discovery, keep reading to learn how these professionals streamline one of the most complex parts of modern litigation.
Data Collection and Preservation
When a lawsuit is filed, parties are required to preserve potentially relevant information. Litigation support specialists ensure that all digital data is safely secured. They handle everything from retrieving emails and text messages to capturing data from specialized corporate software. This safeguards against accidental deletions and ensures compliance with legal obligations.
Processing and Filtering
Once data is collected, the next step is to process and filter out irrelevant information. This can be especially tricky in large corporations where employees produce massive amounts of data daily. Using specialized e-discovery platforms, litigation support specialists weed out duplicates, spam, and non-relevant files, leaving only what might matter to the case.
Advanced Search and Review
A robust e-discovery platform allows for advanced keyword searches, date range filtering, and even sentiment analysis. Litigation support specialists know how to configure these tools effectively, enabling attorneys to spot crucial documents faster. This targeted approach can save countless hours and significantly reduce costs.
Ensuring Metadata Integrity
Metadata, such as timestamps and author information, can be critical in legal cases. Litigation support specialists maintain the integrity of this metadata throughout the process, which can be especially important when proving chains of custody or establishing timelines.
Collaboration with the Legal Team
Perhaps the greatest advantage is how seamlessly litigation support specialists work with attorneys and paralegals. They provide clear, concise summaries of findings, highlight the most relevant data, and coordinate document productions to opposing counsel. This means the legal team can focus on building arguments rather than wrestling with tech challenges.
Top 5 Technologies Used by Litigation Support Professionals
If you’re curious about the best tools for litigation support, you’re in luck. Below are five technologies that top litigation support specialists swear by, and at ViaHire, we connect law firms with experts who know how to utilize them.
Relativity
Relativity is a leading e-discovery platform that offers a range of features—document review, analytics, and production all in one place. Its robust security settings and customizable workflows make it a go-to for large-scale litigation. Litigation support specialists often use Relativity to filter through massive data sets and identify the most pertinent files.
Concordance
An earlier entrant in the litigation support scene, Concordance remains popular for organizing and managing legal documents. It’s user-friendly, making it accessible to both paralegals and attorneys who may not be deeply tech-oriented. Concordance excels at quickly searching large document collections and tagging them for review.
CaseMap
Developed by LexisNexis, CaseMap is specifically designed for case analysis and strategy. It allows litigation teams to link facts, issues, and witnesses in a structured format. This helps attorneys visualize case relationships and better prepare for depositions or trials.
Summation
Summation, another veteran in the e-discovery field, is best known for its ease of use and straightforward document review capabilities. It’s favored by smaller firms or specialized cases that don’t require the bells and whistles of more complex platforms. Summation’s intuitive interface simplifies the learning curve for new team members.
TrialDirector
When it’s time to present in court, TrialDirector becomes invaluable. It helps create multimedia presentations, manage exhibits, and even annotate documents on the fly. Litigation support specialists often collaborate with attorneys to design engaging visuals that can make or break a jury’s understanding of the case.
Ready to Elevate Your Legal Practice?
Connect with us to learn how ViaHire can bring high-quality, customized, and cost-effective legal support staffing solutions to your firm. Schedule a call with our team today and take the first step towards elevating your practice.
