4 Ways eDiscovery Will Modernize Your Small Law Firm [They're Game Changers]

17 February 2019 by Anith Mathai cloud eDiscovery affordable small-law-firm

Takeaway: Unsure about the world of legal technology? eDiscovery is the perfect introduction. With the right eDiscovery software, it’s easy to learn about (and start using) things like the Cloud, SaaS, advanced searches, and metadata.

eDiscovery is becoming mandatory for small law firms.

Modern businesses depend less on paper documents and more on electronically stored information (like Word documents, emails, PDFs, etc.). So, legal discovery is getting a facelift. Which is why clients now expect their attorneys to understand electronic discovery (e-discovery). And regulatory bodies are beginning to expect the same. For example, in the US, Florida now requires its lawyers to take at least 1 hour of continuing legal education credit, focusing on technology.

Luckily, learning about eDiscovery is worth the effort.

It’s the perfect introduction to using tech advances like the Cloud, SaaS, advanced searches, and metadata.

Here’s how eDiscovery will modernize your small law firm.

And with the latest easy-to-use software, it’s much simpler than you’d think.

1. You’ll start storing your data in the Cloud. It’s so much more convenient and cost-effective.

The best eDiscovery applications store your data in the Cloud. What’s the Cloud? Well, software giants like Amazon and Google lease storage and computing power to businesses all over the world. And their thousands of interconnected servers form a public ‘Cloud.’ If you use Dropbox, Google Drive, or any Apple product, then you’re already in the Cloud. Here’s why it’s significant:

You can work from anywhere. All you’ll need to access your data is a laptop and an internet connection. Which means you can work from home, the airport, wherever.
It’s easy to collaborate. Multiple users can access the data at the same time, so it’s perfect for a team working on the same case.
Your data is safe. The beauty of Cloud servers is that they come with bank-grade security. Which means your data is as safe with them as online banking information is with a bank. Learn more about how well-protected your data is.
You save money. It takes a lot of know-how, cash, and maintenance to keep computer servers going. So, you’re usually left with a hefty bill. The beauty of the Cloud is that you’re splitting that bill with other people storing their data on your Cloud provider’s servers.

Learn more about the Cloud.

2. You’ll learn to have someone else set up and look after your software.

Storing data in the Cloud was just the first step. Now, your software can run in the Cloud too. It’s called Software as a Service (SaaS). And it makes life so much simpler. When you buy eDiscovery software, you have to install it (and sometimes install hardware too), update it, and troubleshoot technical issues. With SaaS, instead of buying eDiscovery software, you buy an eDiscovery service. So, now your eDiscovery service provider runs the software for you in the Cloud and handles all the technical stuff. Which frees you up to work. Learn more about SaaS.

3. You’ll experiment with new tools to get work done faster.

In the days of ‘paper’ discovery, you’d spend days going through banker’s boxes full of documents. And the only tools you’d have were highlighters and post-its. With electronic discovery, your toolbox gets upgraded. Now, instead of reading through everything, you’ll have your eDiscovery software do the reading for you. It’ll search for the keywords you’re interested in, and find relevant content in seconds. And you’ll be able to tag what you find (think of a tag as virtual post-it) and come back to it later. You’ll also redact sensitive information and ‘produce’ your files (neatly ordered and Bates stamped) in a few simple steps.

4. You’ll start using behind-the-scenes data to build a better case.

When you create a document on your computer, the app you’re using (e.g., Microsoft Word) records a bunch of information about it. Things like who created it, when they created it, when it was last opened, etc. This ‘data about data’ (i.e. metadata) is a digital footprint which tracks the history of the document. You won’t see it unless you know where to look, and it gives you a level of context that was not possible with paper files. For example, with email, you’ll have metadata about who created the email and when, what email chain it’s a part of, who received it, when they opened it, etc. And this information can win you cases. For example: Your client was fired by her boss but says that he’d been influenced by an email with false accusations from a co-worker. The boss claims he got the email after he fired your client, so it didn’t influence his decision. But you review the metadata and find that he got (and read) the email first. Learn more about metadata.

Want to modernize your firm with the latest eDiscovery software? Try GoldFynch.

It’s a new breed of Cloud eDiscovery software designed for small law firms like yours. Here’s why people are talking about it.

It costs just $27 a month for a 3 GB case: That’s much less–every month–than the nearest comparable software. And hundreds of dollars less than many others. With GoldFynch, you know what you’re paying for exactly – its pricing is easy to understand and readily available on the website.
It’s simple to budget for. GoldFynch has a flat, prorated rate. With legacy software, your bill changes depending on how much data you use.
It takes just minutes to get going. It runs in the Cloud, so you use it through your web browser (Google Chrome recommended). No installation. No sales calls or emails. Plus, you get a free, fully-functional trial case (0.5 GB of data and processing cap of 1 GB), without adding a credit card.
It can handle even the largest cases. GoldFynch scales from small to large, since it’s in the Cloud. So, choose from a range of case sizes (3 GB to 150 GB, and more) and don’t waste money on space you don’t need.
Access it from anywhere. And 24/7. All your files are backed up and secure in the Cloud. And you can monitor its servers here.
You won’t have to worry about technical stuff. GoldFynch is designed, developed and run by the same team. So, the technical support isn’t outsourced. Which means prompt and reliable service.

Try GoldFynch for Free Schedule a Demo