1.02 For Firms

Litigation Support

Litigation Support must be diligent in providing the appropriate requirements to the vendors so that they may have the greatest chance of proper quoting and successful creation of their product for the Firm. Remember, if Litigation Support doesn’t adhere to these standards itself, how can it expect others to do so? As example, the client matter number and attorney name are required on all invoices by vendors. Make sure the vendors have it.

The Standard is also how you can prequalify and exclude vendors. The vendors who successfully met the standard are your preferred vendors. Prequalify new vendors with this document. Vendors can take the initiative and deliver a sample production along with the standard to the department.

Attorneys and Paralegals

The lack of a standard when vending discovery means that non-technical people may make technical decisions. In absence of a stated preference by the firm, the vendor will use their own "default" settings. Some of these settings will directly impact your ability to litigate. These seemingly innocuous preferences can mean the difference between a 12 and 36 hour production turnaround time.

Imagine if all the pens arrived disassembled. One order of pens results in three packages: pen, ink cartridges and caps. Other pens arrive, assembled in such a way as to require disassembly before final reassembly. Some box labels do not include the actual content, so the pen department person needs to write the contents on every box that arrives.

Meanwhile, everyone is waiting for the pen department to provide access to these pens. What if the solution to this snag was as simple as giving the vendor a document outlining assembly and label preferences? The hopeful result is the receipt of pens that are ready for use. Homogenous

If your firm has not adopted standards, I encourage you to work with Litigation Support to formalize one for yourself.

If your firm does not have an internal Litigation Support Department then this document can be especially useful for you. Once your standard is established, you do not need the technician to outline them again for every subsequent matter. Even firms using a hosted solution, or "ASP", will eventually create a production or use the database elsewhere. The requirements outlined in this document can help your firm make certain the vendor product can be used elsewhere.