Legal document review is one of the longest and most tedious parts of the legal process today. Most cases come with mountains of paperwork, and each of these has to be read and analyzed by a legal professional in order to determine its relevance and importance. Here’s a closer look at the process, and why some legal firms are making the smart decision to outsource and expedite it.
They Really Have to Read Everything?
Yes. In the legal world, every document that could possibly pertain to a case must be analyzed in order to determine whether it may contain important or relevant information to the case at hand. Some examples of documentation that requires reviewing includes:
- Notes written to, by or about people involved in the case.
- Phone records.
- Letters sent to the client regarding the matter at hand.
- Previous court notes or decisions relevant to the case.
- Emails, instant messages and chat conversations.
- Medical or hospital records.
- Birth, marriage and death certificates.
- Legal citizenship documentation.
- Bills, account statements, financial records, etc.
- Social media posts, exchanges and activity.
Legal document review is part of the larger litigation process of Discovery, in which opposing legal teams both conduct their own read-through to determine which elements they want to utilize or move to suppress during trial.
Why Outsource?
Many modern legal professionals have begun delegating legal document review to outsourcing companies. Why? Because in the same amount of time that traditional, in-house analyzers can sift through a thick stack of documents, outsourced talent – sometimes supplemented by artificial intelligence – can do the same thing, three times over. It’s a faster, easier way to get the bulk of the “busy work” of the legal process taken care of so clients and their legal counsel can focus on matters at hand. It’s no wonder so many people are turning to legal outsourcing services as a way to keep things moving through the modern courts.