5 Signs You Need Better eDiscovery Software for Your Small Law Firm

18 June 2019 by Anith Mathai eDiscovery small-law-firm

Takeaway: The best eDiscovery applications (1) Are Affordable, (2) Come with predictable bills, (3) Store your data in the Cloud, (4) Are a service, not a product, (5) Are easy to use.

Have you bought the wrong eDiscovery software?

It’s possible to ‘get by’ with any eDiscovery application. But have you chosen the best one for your small law firm? Here are signs to look out for.

5 signs you need better eDiscovery software for your small law firm

If you spot 3 or more, you probably need a change.

Sign #1: You’re paying more than $27 a month, even for your smallest cases.

Does ‘better’ always mean ‘more expensive’? Not with eDiscovery. Yes, some eDiscovery applications and services cost thousands of dollars. But they’re designed for larger law firms. And have features that only large law firms need. Instead, choose from a new generation eDiscovery applications designed for small firms like yours. They throw out all the frills you won’t need, and refine the basic features that help you win cases. And this tactical shift cuts costs significantly. For example, you’ll pay as little as $27 a month for your smaller 3 GB cases! Look at a pricing plan designed for small law firms.

Sign #2: You don’t know in advance how much your eDiscovery bill will be.

Many eDiscovery providers unnecessarily complicate their pricing plans. For example, they’ll tell you how much you’ll be paying per GB of data you store. And they’ll keep this per-GB rate low. But when it’s time to pay, they’ll hit you with hidden fees for background databases, audit logs, and deduplication. (Learn more about sneaky eDiscovery price traps.) Or, they don’t cheat you, but they have complicated charts to set prices for cases that grow and shrink over a month. E.g., If you start with month with 3 GB of data, and then you delete 1 GB after a couple of weeks – what’s your bill at the end of the month? Do you pay for the largest size your case got to–3 GB? Or its average size–2.5 GB? Avoid all this by using an eDiscovery provider who can give you a fixed bill, in advance. Learn how to get predictable eDiscovery pricing.

Sign #3: You’re storing eDiscovery data on your office computer.

Isn’t it best to store your eDiscovery data on your own computer? That way you have complete control, right? Nope. Really, it makes more sense to store your data in the Cloud (what’s the Cloud?). Here’s why:

  • Your data is better protected. Cloud providers backup your data on multiple servers, so it’s safe from physical damage (fires, floods, etc.), power outages, etc. They have advanced security and encryption to protect your data from intruders and hackers. And they have advanced data recovery tools to retrieve your data if it gets lost.
  • You can access your data from anywhere. Just use the closest PC, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. You only need an internet connection. Which means you can work on-the-go.
  • You get near unlimited storage space. The Cloud is a network of tens of thousands of computers. So your cases can grow almost indefinitely.

Sign #4: You’re fixing technical issues yourself.

Software malfunctions. It’s inevitable. The question is, who fixes it? The latest generation of eDiscovery applications use a SaaS (Software as a Service) model. Here, instead of downloading and installing eDiscovery software, you access it over the internet. The software runs in the Cloud and is looked after by your eDiscovery provider. This means you won’t have to install or update anything, or troubleshoot technical issues. So, stop buying software and start using a software service instead.

Sign #5: You’re struggling to figure out how to use the software.

The best eDiscovery applications take just minutes to figure out. You’ll:

  • Load the software as you do with email. No need to download and install anything. Just go to the website, sign in, and start working. It’s like checking email.
  • Move files around like in Windows. Just drag-and-drop them into your eDiscovery browser.
  • Search as you do with Google. Just type your keywords into the search bar. Even with ‘advanced’ searches that have many interrelated keywords, you’ll be giving commands using simple drop-down bars

Need better eDiscovery software? Try GoldFynch.

It’s a next-generation eDiscovery application that prioritizes things that matter to small law firms. That’s why:

  • It costs just $27 a month for a 3 GB case: That’s significantly 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 simple and readily available on the website.
  • It’s easy 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.
  • You can 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. It’s designed, developed and run by the same team. So, its technical support isn’t outsourced. Which means you get prompt and reliable service.

Want to learn more about GoldFynch?