The Fundamentals of Managed Document Review

A complex system of tracking and security, managed document review is the method of managing documents to be able to quickly and efficiently find them, track changes to documents, and understand who can and should have access to those documents. Security is a large part of managed document review, especially in controlling who can see a document and make changes to it.

Managed Document Review: Types

As law firms serve different types of clients, all kinds of documents can be included in a managed document review, from divorce papers served to litigated case files. Legal documents range in type, whether electronic communication or paper contracts.

Fees for a Managed Document Review

While US law firms often charge between $25 and $55 per hour, international, outsourced firms will often charge a flat fee for services, or a fee per document reviewed. Different law firms have different needs, so fees associated with managed document reviews will vary. Offices should get bids from firms to get the best price for service.

Managed Document Review: Making a Choice

Often, the most important piece of managed document review is security. As each law firm requires different specialties from their particular document management groups, there are particular things to consider when choosing the best firm for you. Security is usually very important for most companies and most documentation, and there are different areas of security that may apply to different individuals

The physical lockdown of documents is called exte
al security. This ensures that documents will not be shared improperly. Exte
al security often involves locked file cabinets and notarized documents outlining access for those working on the documents. These documents should be placed carefully, with specific, written instructions for who can view and change them.

While exte
al security is critical to the success of a managed document review, internal security is much more difficult to manage well, as many law firms are e-filing documents, making them susceptible to cyber attack and viruses. Who can have access to documents, the ability to track changes long-term, and who can make those changes are all challenges of internal security for a managed document review.

Traceability of documents is another key feature of a solid document management review organization. The ability to quickly understand where a document is, who has accessed it, and who has changed it is critical to the success of the firm.

In addition, the ability to quickly and accurately search for a document or even a phrase in a document is essential to any cases that require large volumes of documents to be used.

A professional managed document review company can help particular law firms decide how to manage the security of their documents, how to give or deny access, how to track changes, and how to appropriately manage their security funds. With the advent of e-documents, many firms are finding success in outsourcing their managed document review firms to places like India.