A litigation support professional assists lawyers in complex trials. They may create and maintain databases, review documents, retrieve files, and develop trial presentation materials.
Learn more about litigation support professionals and their work.
What is litigation support professional?
Litigation support professionals help lawyers manage large-scale litigation. Litigation is the process of dealing with a case in the court system.
These professionals design and implement databases to manage, sort, index, summarize, and coordinate the large volumes of data produced in major litigation.
Litigation support professionals may also develop data management strategies, assist with implementing technology in the courtroom, provide user support and training on standard and proprietary software, and coordinate with technology vendors.
Some litigation support professionals are paralegal/informatics hybrids who perform traditional paralegal tasks while taking on information technology roles.
How litigation support professional works
Litigation support professionals are primarily employed by law firms, corporations, and legal consulting firms.
They often hold management positions, supervising IT staff, vendors, litigation support staff, legal assistants, junior lawyers, document coding teams, and data entry personnel.
Annual salaries for litigation support professionals vary according to their level of experience and whether their role involves management responsibilities. New litigation support professionals can expect a yearly salary of $61,500. Experienced Litigation Support Managers may earn six figures or more. Of course, this varies depending on the firm, the law area in which they primarily practice, and their location.1
Litigation support professionals are in high demand. As the industry evolves and litigation support technologies become more complex, the need for professionals with specialized legal and technological skills is expected to grow steadily.2 As the industry evolves, the demand for professionals with technical legal and technological skills are expected to grow steadily.2 The need for professionals with specialized legal and technological skills is expected to grow steadily.
Requirements for litigation support professional.
Litigation support professionals typically have a four-year license in a related field and advanced technical skills and training in litigation support databases and applications. You may also enter the field as a paralegal, which usually requires an associate’s degree.
In many law firms, the training requirements may be less than the skills you have acquired. Four to seven years of related legal experience is preferable.
Some litigation support professionals have advanced degrees, and some have obtained law degrees. Understanding the discovery process is essential, so anyone with prior experience in this area would be at an advantage. Discovery is the process of exchanging information between the parties to a lawsuit. Today, discovery typically involves hundreds, if not thousands, of electronic documents, which is why litigation support professionals are in high demand.
Desired skills
Strong computer literacy and knowledge of document management systems and litigation presentation software, hardware, and graphic applications are essential to success as litigation support professionals. They must also possess strong communication skills as their work involves extensive interaction with lawyers, staff, and suppliers. It also requires exceptional organizational skills, critical thinking, and attention to detail.
Certification
Certification is a way for litigation support professionals to stand out from other candidates. The Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists offers a certificate that demonstrates knowledge of several skills, including data processing and document review. To become certified, you must pass an extensive exam, provide proof of credits in e-discovery and related fields, and provide two professional references. Your credits may be a combination of work experience, education, and training.
We have listed the advantages and disadvantages of hiring a litigation support specialist below:
Advantages :
1. Cost-effectiveness: The cost of hiring legal aid services based in developing countries is much lower than hiring local talent in developed countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, etc. Thus, by hiring third-party litigation assistance specialists, a law firm can save a lot of money and increase its profits. It also avoids the need to spend on infrastructure.
2. Useful for handling complex cases: Litigation support specialists can easily handle the most complex cases. They have access to highly skilled staff who can meet all requirements while meeting the desired quality standards and deadlines.
3. Up-to-date knowledge: Outsourcing staff stays abreast of the latest developments in the legal field. Since providing legal assistance services is their daily bread, they have comprehensive information on the laws in force in their clients’ countries.
4. Access to a variety of services: Outsourcing companies offer various litigation support services such as document management, document review, e-discovery, summaries and analysis of depositions, case summaries, drafting of motions and notes, case summaries, proofreading, etc. These services cover all areas of litigation assistance.
Disadvantages :
1. Data security: When you use a third-party law firm’s services, data security may be an issue if you do not use a reputable law firm. You cannot entirely rely on the outsourcing firm to guarantee the confidentiality of its data.
2. Reliability: Although outsourcing firms have earned a reputation for being professional in their approach, many law firms find it challenging to use a third-party firm.
If you need professional litigation support, contact Kane Construction Management Inc., they have over 30 years of experience in this area.