More and more data is coming into existence every day. While this increase in data presents a number of great opportunities, it also creates a new set of challenges across all sectors of the economy, including the legal industry. 

To maintain compliance, legal teams need to have systems and processes in place for collecting, organizing, sharing, and presenting digital information in court. This process, known as eDiscovery, is one of the hottest buzzwords in the legal industry. Today, demand is skyrocketing for qualified eDiscovery consultants who can help legal teams stay on top of rising data volumes.

Keep reading to learn more about what eDiscovery consultants do and what it takes to begin a career in this developing field.

What Is an eDiscovery Consultant?

Consultants in eDiscovery play a critical role in the legal enablement process, giving lawyers the data they need to analyze and use in court to make their cases effectively. Of course, lawyers are very busy. They depend on eDiscovery professionals to manage data end to end so they can spend more time preparing arguments.

With this in mind, here is a breakdown of what eDiscovery consultants are typically responsible for.

Collecting Data 

Problems often arise when legal clients and corporate department heads try to procure data. For example, they may provide missing or incomplete information, leaving out critical data and impacting their cases.

This process is much more efficient when eDiscovery consultants take charge. Consultants must know what data to ask for before a case and how to properly collect and store the information once they obtain it.

Culling Data

Court cases often contain extremely large datasets, which can sometimes include millions of electronic files. Lawyers depend on eDiscovery professionals to trim down datasets and omit information that is extraneous and unnecessary. 

At the same time, information needs to be properly stored in the event opposing teams request additional data. Improperly discarding or omitting data can have a serious impact in court, resulting in court sanctions and penalties. Depending on the severity of the mistake, this can negatively impact a case and harm the lawyer’s reputation. 

Securing Data

Law firms are top targets for cybercrime, as demonstrated by the recent ransomware attack against TriHealth’s law firm. As such, companies and law firms need to take advanced measures to protect their legal information. And consultants have a big role to play in this process. 

An eDiscovery consultant is typically responsible for ensuring that all information remains safe and secure throughout the legal discovery process. In large part, this entails making sure that strong information access management and data governance safeguards are in place. 

Presenting Data

Once consultants collect, prepare, cull, and secure information, they need to present it to lawyers in a way that is easy to visualize and understand.

Therefore, consultants need to be able to visualize datasets and give lawyers access to actionable and digestible information that they can use to form arguments and build cases. 

Preferred Skills for eDiscovery Consultants 

The eDiscovery field is still emerging, making it an exciting career option for legal professionals who are looking for a departure from traditional careers as litigators. Consultants bring a lot of value to legal teams, saving a tremendous amount of time and back-end labor while positioning lawyers for success in court. Due to the fact that eDiscovery is still a relatively new field, being successful requires a willingness to learn and adapt to changing rules, regulations, and systems. 

There are many new eDiscovery technologies coming to market, and professionals should learn a variety of platforms. Consultants should have a strong desire to learn and grow, and a willingness to attend seminars, take classes, and obtain certifications. 

In addition, consultants should have the following skills.

Organization 

Consultants need to be highly organized and capable of simultaneously managing large datasets for multiple clients. They need to have strong organizational skills in order to keep data presentable and in order. 

Data Management 

This profession shouldn’t be confused with data science or analytics. Consultants simply prepare and organize information; that’s it. 

However, consultants should still have a working knowledge of data and an ability to compile and present information as it comes in. It also helps to have an understanding of cybersecurity, information governance, data storage, and cloud computing. 

Communication 

eDiscovery consultants will quickly learn that this line of work often requires interfacing with customers and end users, and requesting information. 

Consultants should have strong communications skills and be able to serve as liaisons between clients and lawyers. This requires being professional and courteous. People who prefer to work behind the scenes and don’t like interfacing with clients may have a difficult time pursuing legal eDiscovery work.

Minimum Requirements and Qualifications 

Since eDiscovery is still an emerging field, most universities are still not offering official eDiscovery programs. However, this is starting to change due to rising demand. 

Moving forward, more schools are bound to start offering eDiscovery curriculum. For now, eDiscovery professionals need to piece together the necessary education and certifications that are required for pursuing work in this field. Professionals often choose to complete undergraduate degrees in legal studies, information management, or related fields. Beyond that, consultants typically do not need to get master’s degrees or law degrees to thrive in this field. 

The good news is that you do not have to pass a bar examination to become an eDiscovery consultant. However, lawyers can choose to pursue eDiscovery certification to enhance their skill sets or branch out and explore new opportunities. 

It’s possible to obtain eDiscovery certification through industry groups like the Association of Certified eDiscovery Specialists (ACEDS). Completing eDiscovery certification in addition to a bachelor’s degree should be enough to get your foot in the door at a law firm or even start an independent eDiscovery consultancy firm. 

Beyond that, a growing number of eDiscovery technology vendors offer platform-specific certification courses, demonstrating proficiency and expertise in deploying, managing, and maintaining them.

Get Certified With Venio Systems 

Venio is a leading eDiscovery specialist offering the VenioOne platform, a one-stop shop for legal data management. VenioOne was developed by a team that has decades of experience in eDiscovery and technology management. The resulting product is a purpose-built eDiscovery platform that enables all aspects of eDiscovery. 

The company also offers VenioOne eDiscovery certification, enabling enrollees to become VenioOne Certified Administrators. The process requires three days of certified training and an immersive experience that covers all aspects of the eDiscovery workflow. In the end, participants take an exam. Once they pass it, they receive their certification. 

Enrolling in the VenioOne eDiscovery certification course is a great learning experience—and something that can help launch a lucrative and exciting career in legal discovery.

Where Will eDiscovery Take You?

The world is changing, as organizations across all verticals are going through digital transformation. The coming years will bring rapid advancements in mobile devices, connectivity, and artificial intelligence. As a result, data volumes will keep rising. 

Legal eDiscovery consultants will have a critical role to play in the coming years, helping legal teams make sense of the changing technology landscape and positioning them for success. Consultants who choose to take part in this developing field have an opportunity to act as trailblazers and help legal teams navigate complexities and thrive in this new interconnected age.

To begin your journey as an eDiscovery consultant, request a demo of Venio today.

This post was written by Justin Reynolds. Justin is a freelance writer who enjoys telling stories about how technology, science, and creativity can help workers be more productive. In his spare time, he likes seeing or playing live music, hiking, and traveling.