5 Key Elements to Exceptional Project Management in eDiscovery

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A great project manager working as your partner on an eDiscovery project is an important asset to your cases. Project managers can increase efficiency by applying their knowledge and expertise, implementing the right technology, automating tasks, providing reports and communicating consistently with you. Their knowledge should help your law firm or legal department save money, reduce risks and improve the pace of your project.

When looking to improve on your eDiscovery expertise, seek out project managers that have the following five key elements of exceptional performance. They should:

  1. Organize the scope of the eDiscovery project – and adjust if the scope changes. A good project manager will have the experience to scope an entire eDiscovery project, from determining strategy and requirements through identifying stakeholders, addressing resources, executing on the project and bringing it to completion. When things change along the way – as they often do in eDiscovery – a good project manager will have the experience and agility to adapt and navigate you through the change.
  2. Create a schedule and budget and manage to them – or communicate when changes arise. A good project manager will be able to identify the unique needs of the case and, through experience, create a budget and schedule commensurate with that case. Project managers will understand that both the schedule and budget can affect the outcome, so accuracy is key. Occasionally, when unexpected changes in scope happen, project managers will be able to identify and communicate how those changes will impact both the budget at the schedule.
  3. Communicate, communicate, communicate. We just cannot say it enough. Good communication is key to the success of any eDiscovery project. Your eDiscovery project manager should be proactively communicating with you from start to finish as needed – whether that is hourly, daily or weekly – and be easily accessible to you via phone and email.
  4. Control the quality of the project. Your eDiscovery project manager should be keeping an eye on every stage of the process, from collection all the way through review, to make sure your requirements are being met.
  5. Provide reports – on a schedule and an ad hoc basis. Your project manager should be using metrics determined at the outset of the project to track and report on every stage of the case. Good project managers will have a set of reports in their wheelhouse they will recommend to you and should also be able to adapt when asked to provide the specific reports you require. With the right tools in place, project managers should be able to submit reports on a scheduled basis, but also be able to build a report on an ad hoc basis.

 

The EDRM offers excellent resources on eDiscovery project management here.

At Gulfstream Legal Group, our project managers have an average of 10 years of eDiscovery experience and have both exceptional knowledge and world-class tools at their fingertips. They offer personalized service and outstanding support. You will come to know our project managers on a personal basis and welcome them as an indispensable part of your team.