Outdated and Overpriced: How Data-Focused Review is Redefining Legal Efficiency
For years, law firms and corporations have relied on traditional methods to handle the immense task of document review. But as data volumes have grown, so too have the costs and inefficiencies of these outdated approaches. The legal industry is at a crossroads: stick with the familiar but flawed processes, or embrace a new, data-driven approach that promises to cut through the chaos and deliver real results.
The Historical Misalignment
Back in 1990, when the internet became widely available, it connected the world in ways that were previously unimaginable. Yet, the legal industry, known for its cautious approach to change, largely kept its distance from this digital transformation. Fast forward to 2006, when the U.S. Supreme Court amended the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to include electronic records—emails, instant messages, and more. Suddenly, the sheer volume of data needing review exploded, but the methods used to sift through it all remained largely the same.
Even the introduction of tools like Relativity in 2006, which allowed for better search and categorization of electronic documents, only made a small dent in the problem. The fundamental process of document review still relied heavily on manual, linear workflows that were slow, expensive, and often prone to error.
The Data Explosion and Its Impact
By 2022, global spending on digital transformation had hit $1.6 trillion, a clear signal that the world was moving forward—fast. Yet, the legal sector found itself grappling with an increasingly unmanageable flood of data. Traditional review methods, with their high costs and inefficiencies, simply couldn’t keep pace. This isn’t just a matter of inconvenience; it’s a bottleneck that threatens to undermine the very efficiency and accuracy that legal professionals strive to maintain.
Enter Lineal’s Data-Focused Solution
So, what’s the alternative? The answer lies in shifting from document-centric to data-centric review methods. Lineal’s Amplify Review is one such approach, designed to address the inefficiencies head-on. Rather than drowning in a sea of documents, Amplify Review leverages advanced technology to intelligently cull, categorize, and assess large volumes of data. The result? Only the most relevant information is reviewed, and it’s done by experts who can make quick, accurate decisions.
Case Study Insights
A Gradual Reduction in Costs: Consider the case of a leading insurance company that turned to Amplify Review to tackle its document review challenges. Initially, the cost per document was reduced to $1.71—already a significant improvement over traditional methods. But as the process continued, the cost dropped even further to $1.06 per document. Over time, this added up to a savings of $263,345, with an average cost per document of just $1.26.
Efficiency Gains and Significant Savings: In another instance, a major energy company faced the daunting task of reviewing over a million documents. Traditional methods would have cost them over $1.2 million. But with Amplify Review, they managed to bring that down to $868,368. Not only did this save them $351,557, but the cost per document also dropped from $0.95 to $0.59(Cost Savings with Linea…).
The Competitive Edge
What these examples show is that a data-centric approach isn’t just about cutting costs—though that’s certainly a big part of it. It’s about working smarter, not harder. Amplify Review allows legal teams to focus on what really matters, filtering out the noise and honing in on the data that will drive the best outcomes. It’s an approach that not only saves money but also improves accuracy and defensibility, helping firms and corporations stay ahead in an increasingly complex legal landscape.
Conclusion
The legal industry is facing a turning point. The traditional methods of document review are no longer sufficient to handle the demands of today’s data-rich world. It’s time to rethink how we approach this critical task. By adopting data-centric strategies like Lineal’s Amplify Review, law firms and corporations can break free from the bottleneck of inefficiency and embrace a future where document review is not just faster and cheaper, but smarter.
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About the Author
Brian Stempel is a law practice technology executive and thought leader with over 30 years of experience in delivering innovative solutions and services to the legal industry. He is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Client Solutions at Lineal where he helps clients solve legal challenges with Lineal’s award-winning Amplify platform. Before Lineal, Brian ran eDiscovery operations at Kirkland & Ellis, Paul Hastings, and Debevoise & Plimpton. A life-long learner he also holds executive education certificates from Cornell University, MIT Sloan School of Management, Columbia Business School, and Harvard Business School in various fields related to artificial intelligence, innovation, DEI, and leadership.
About Lineal
Lineal is an innovative eDiscovery and legal technology solutions company that empowers law firms and corporations with modern data management and review strategies. Established in 2009, Lineal specializes in comprehensive eDiscovery services, leveraging its proprietary technology suite, Amplify, to enhance efficiency and accuracy in handling large volumes of electronic data. With a global presence and a team of experienced professionals, Lineal is dedicated to delivering custom-tailored solutions that drive optimal legal outcomes for its clients. For more information, visit lineal.com
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