Managed Document Review (MDR) is a cost-efficient legal solution commonly used in the legal industry, particularly during the discovery phase of litigation or in regulatory investigations. In these scenarios, parties involved must review and analyze a large volume of documents to identify relevant information and evidence.
MDR involves the use of technology, specifically eDiscovery software, combined with the expertise of legal professionals to streamline the document review process. Here’s how it generally works:
Table of Contents
Data Collection:
Relevant documents are collected from various sources, including emails, electronic files, databases, and other repositories. The volume of data can often be massive, making manual review time-consuming and expensive.
Data Processing:
The collected data is processed using eDiscovery tools to filter out duplicates, irrelevant files, and system files. This helps reduce the overall dataset, making it more manageable for review.
Document Review Platform:
The remaining data is uploaded to a document review platform, which provides a centralized and secure environment for legal professionals to review the documents.
Technology-Assisted Review (TAR):
Advanced eDiscovery software incorporates Technology-Assisted Review or predictive coding, which uses algorithms to prioritize and categorize documents based on their relevance to the case. TAR learns from the decisions made by human reviewers, continually improving its accuracy and efficiency as the review progresses.
Human Reviewers:
While technology plays a significant role, human reviewers, typically attorneys and paralegals, are essential for finalizing the review process. They validate the results of the TAR, conduct in-depth analysis, and make subjective judgments on documents that may be relevant or privileged.
Advantages of Managed Document Review:
Cost Savings:
MDR significantly reduces the number of documents that need manual review, saving substantial time and costs compared to traditional manual review methods.
Time-Efficiency:
The use of technology and predictive coding expedites the document review process, allowing legal teams to meet tight deadlines more effectively.
Consistency:
The application of TAR ensures more consistent categorization and prioritization of documents throughout the review, minimizing human error.
Scalability:
MDR can handle large-scale projects, which may be otherwise challenging to manage with manual review alone.
Data Security:
Managed Document Review platforms are designed with security in mind, ensuring sensitive and confidential information remains protected.
While Managed Document Review has many advantages, it’s essential to have skilled legal professionals overseeing the process to ensure accuracy and proper handling of critical information. Moreover, the effectiveness of MDR may vary depending on the complexity of the case and the quality of the technology and processes used. As with any legal solution, it’s crucial to choose the right provider and tailor the approach to the specific requirements of each case.