MANAGING LITIGATION INFORMATION | ASSIGNMENT |
Outliners (See chapter 6) | |
- Initial outline/trial notebook of case | Attorney |
- Review of outline for suggested changes | Support staff |
- Updating case outline | Attorney/support staff |
- Connecting to other digital information – full text depositions, etc. | Support staff |
- Training on how to use software | Support staff |
Database – for document control and other applications. (See Chapter 6 & 7) | |
- Legal needs assessment. What will the database be used for – document information, witness information, etc.? What information should be collected? What reports are needed? | Attorney |
- Design of the database(s) | Support staff |
- Testing the database | Support staff |
- Designing and printing reports | Support staff |
- Approval of database design and reports | Attorney |
- Formatting existing computer data for importing into database | Support staff |
- Formulate legal and factual issues, witness and other codes. | Attorney |
- Develop document and image numbering system | Attorney and support staff |
- Inputting objective data into database | Support staff |
- Inputting subjective data into database | Attorney |
- Editing database | Attorney/Support staff |
- Periodic printing of reports | Support staff |
- Backup computer data | Support staff |
- Training on how to use database | Support staff |
Images – to attach a digital copy of a document to a database record for viewing on the computer screen. (See chapter 6 & 7) | |
- Determine needs assessment of why documents will be imaged and attached to database record. | Attorney and support staff |
- Select imaging software depending on case needs | Support staff |
- Determine who will do initial scanning of documents – in-house or outsourcing. | Attorney |
- Accumulate client and opposing party documents | Support staff |
- Scan documents and convert to images. | Support staff/outsourcing |
- Attaching image to database record | Vendor or Support staff |
- Training on imaging software | Support staff |
Full Text – to search depositions or other litigation material by individual words. (See Chapter 6 & 7) | |
- Select full text software after needs and comparison study. Carefully consider advanced search features. What will needed to be accessed – depositions, OCR’ed materials, etc. | Attorney/Support staff |
- Set up case file | Support staff |
- Determine computer format that full text material needs to be in. | Support staff |
- Determine if images will be linked to full text materials | Attorney |
- Determine if video depositions will be taken and whether they will be synchronized with the full text testimony. | Attorney |
- Contact court reporter to provide copy of depositions and exhibits (if you are having them attached as images) in specified format. Also, contact court reporter to set up video dispositions. | Support staff |
- Link images to specific transcript passage | Support staff/Ct.Reporter |
- Determine if you want to convert paper documents into full text data by using OCR. Determine if you want or need to clean up the converted full text documents. | Attorney |
- Convert selected documents into full text data | Support staff or outsource |
- Import full text depositions and other material into full text software program | Support staff or outsource |
- Train attorney and others on software program | Support staff |
- Design reports for on-screen review or printing | Support staff with attorney legal analysis needs |
- Review and code deposition by issue, witness or other codes | Attorney and/or support staff |
- Search depositions for specific testimony from witnesses for impeachment, etc. | Attorney/paralegal |
- Compile and review reports for case analysis | Attorney |
- Print out reports on a periodic basis | Support staff |
Real-time Transcription of Testimony – instant translation onto a computer screen of a witness’s testimony. (See Chapter 7) | |
- Determine if you want to use real-time reporting. Explore the benefits of using real-time technology. | Attorney/Support staff |
- Formulate best strategy to use in deposition. Is opposing counsel cooperative? Should you use it without notice to the opposing counsel? | Attorney |
- Do you wish transmission to a remote location such as your office, expert witnesses’ office and so on? If so, does court reporter have proper communication setup? | Attorney |
- Select a certified real-time reporter | Support staff |
- Select and purchase real-time software and train litigation team. | Support staff |
- Select hardware equipment needed for the deposition. | Support staff |
- Install and test system with court reporter two weeks before deposition | Support staff |
- Train attorney on use of real-time software | Support staff |
- Using real-time during the deposition. Have a specific strategy as to who will be using the real-time computer and their objectives. | Attorney |