Leveraging the Value of a Document with Multi-Matter Repositories

When a legal action arises, the worth of a document becomes clear. The document accrues value as it flows through the costly progression of collection, processing, review and production characteristic of e-discovery.

Although technology-assisted review and other strategies have emerged to make these processes more efficient, the cost remains unavoidable. The key at that point is to remember the document is no longer just a document. It has become work product. Legal professionals, working with litigation technology providers, are now learning how to preserve and reuse documents or document features from matter to matter, thereby retaining the value of work product.

As companies work to perfect this process, a few features have emerged as keys to a successful multi-matter repository. The first is scalable database architecture. The repository’s e-discovery software should be capable of storing not only a large number of individual documents, but also each piece of metadata associated with those documents. A multi-matter repository system also needs to be adaptable and able to handle the variety of configurations that different sets of matters may require. Some companies choose to create multiple databases that communicate with one another through controlled interactions.

Reusing data creates value. Costs and time efficiencies result when document processing and review become a singular event. Building a system that allows companies and their counsel to reuse work product in an intelligent and strategic fashion decreases costs, saves time, reduces risk and ensures high quality results.