As the assigned attorney you receive a few hard drives. There is additional discovery on a cloud platform that you need to download. You are told there is more data to come, yet you have no idea what you already have. Now what?
Like the common language we must speak with ESI, common questions need to be answered to manage data effectively, plan strategies, budget thoughtfully, and develop a team workflow. To assist in this process a Initial Discovery and 3rd Party Data Assessment Checklist has been created.
Once initial discovery assessment is complete, you are ready to take your answers and use them to organize, review and use your data via these best practices and protocol.
Based on many years of experience, Douglass Mitchell and Sean Broderick authored a resource guide that will walk you through the steps allow for the best handling of your electronic discovery. See Recommended E-Discovery Practices for FPD/CJA Attorneys. These recommendations touch on work flow, tools, technology and strategies that in combination will assist you in tackling any amount of data efficiently.
CJA panel attorneys frequently ask what types of litigation support software are used in federal CJA cases, and what steps CJA panel attorneys should follow when they need to obtain funding from the court for software, hardware and expert services for the large document and ESI case. David Beneman and Sean Broderick have written an article addressing both of the subjects. See CJA Panel Attorney Resources: A Guide to Litigation Support Software & How to Obtain Resources in the CJA System.
NLST's mission is to address the impact digital information has on CJA practitioners for the Defender Services Office (DSO), and assist CJA attorneys in fulfilling their sixth amendment responsibilities.