Due to an increase in collaboration applications and cloud-based systems, the past year has seen an unprecedented surge in data volume. What in the past may have been considered “non-traditional” sources of electronically stored information (ESI), have now become mainstream sources of data in litigation and investigations.

The legal industry has also experienced shifts in workforce demands and a high level of hiring. While this positions e-discovery professionals to be more integral than ever to law firms and organizations, it has also become clear that the amount and the complexity of e-discovery work is not abating.

With technology assisted review (TAR) and AI programs designed for e-discovery processes, each day brings new innovative legal technology solutions. There are many tools on the market to guide e-discovery professionals, and these resources are not limited to just software. It can often be beneficial to look back to the basics for guidance.

Let’s not forget that a pen and paper and a simple checklist can still be the biggest asset to an e-discovery professional. The key to success is to have a defensible process.

Across the e-discovery process, there are a handful of necessary things to get right for a successful outcome. Keeping track of the tasks and documents needed at every stage of an e-discovery project can be difficult. Complicated sources of ESI, rising data volumes, and demanding stakeholders only add to the complexity. But while each e-discovery project is different, there is a universal structure to follow. This complicated process is simplified with tools like the ACEDS E-Discovery Checklists.

At the beginning of every e-discovery project, it is valuable to sit down and plan with your team the necessary steps and stages that lead to project success. Great project managers always begin any project by asking “What does done look like?” It should be no different for an e-discovery project.

ACEDS now offers five individual checklists for each stage of the e-discovery project lifecycle: Identification & Preservation, Collection, Processing, Document Review, and Production.

Get back to the basics of e-discovery with this important resource. Every e-discovery project may be different, but the goal is always the same: a successful outcome for your client. Download all five of the ACEDS E-Discovery Checklists to simplify your next project and improve client results.

The ACEDS E-Discovery Checklists are available for immediate download at no cost: https://aceds.org/aceds-e-discovery-checklists/.