• Freelance Attorney Platform
  • (949) 400-0798
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Montage Legal Group

  • About
  • Attorneys
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Press
  • Join Platform
  • Hire Freelance Attorneys

From BigLaw to Freelance Law™ Blog

Freelance attorneys modernizing legal practice.

Home Blog legal outsourcing

Document Review Matters: Considerations When Hiring Contract Attorneys

July 28, 2022

Document review is an increasingly difficult problem for many law firms and companies during litigation. The vast amount of data, communications, documents, and other information falls somewhere between overwhelming to crushing, to essentially impossible. Litigants and attorneys are under pressure to locate the produce relevant documents during the discovery process, which can be extremely costly.

Attorneys demand seemingly limitless amounts of data and information as a strategic way to burden the opposing party, while also trying to gather the information needed to advance their cases. On the flip side, parties also strategically “dump” documents and information on an opposing party, giving them the burden of somehow wading through all of the information. Again, all of this comes at a hefty price.

Law firms and their clients are often tempted to hire companies that employ offshore workers to get through a production or a review as quickly and cheaply as possible. But this strategy may come at a steep price.

Discovery is a critical component to many litigation matters. A litigant can win or lose a case during discovery.

Outsourcing document review is often necessary due to cost and attorneys available to handle this work within a firm. But use caution. Law firms have been sued for malpractice for allegedly failing to adequately supervise their document review attorneys in violation of their ethical duty of competence.  J-M Manufacturing v. McDermott Will & Emery (2011). A firm cannot discharge its duty of competence by bringing in an outside document review attorney team. Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1. The firm ultimately remains responsible for the document review attorneys’ work. Model Rule of Professional 5.1.

When faced with a large document review, a law firm should make every attempt to bring in competent document review attorneys who are experienced and knowledgeable in the matters at issue. Be cautious of document review companies that use quotas. Some companies essentially force their document review attorneys to rush through reviews in order to meet a minimum review pace, which may be unrealistic depending on the documents and/or the subject matter. While speed is important, it cannot take priority over accuracy.

Outside document review attorneys can be an important part of a discovery strategy. Montage Legal Group works with many freelance attorneys who have extensive document review experience, and who actually enjoy document review projects. Yes, that is correct! If you have questions about document review through Montage Legal Group, you can reach out to us at [email protected].

FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

Filed Under: ethics, legal outsourcing

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to receive blog updates via email.

For information about which freelance attorneys have experience in a particular area of law, or for information about rates, please contact Montage Legal Group at 949-400-0798 or [email protected].

Footer

Montage Legal Group

P.O. Box 14455
Irvine, CA 92623

Phone: (949) 400-0798

General Inquiries: [email protected]

To join our platform, email your resume to: [email protected]

More information about joining the Montage platform.
Unfortunately, we cannot do informational phone calls.

Latest News

  • Twenty Years After Brobeck’s Collapse: How to Survive & Thrive in Times of Recession and Career Crisis
  • Celebrating Women’s History Month: Meet Women Who Inspire Us
  • Erin Giglia Featured on Counsel-to-Counsel Podcast
  • Galentine’s Day with OCWLA and Mommy Esquire
  • Erin Giglia and Laurie Rowen to Speak on “Marketing Strategies that Work” for OCBA’s Mommy Esquire

© 2023 · Montage Legal Group · Terms · Privacy · Accessibility

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!