Identifying and managing challenging data types in your document set

Not only can the volume of data present an unfathomable challenge for lawyers but also the variety, both in the relevant locations, as well as the types of data that will need to be collected and analysed. For example, document sets are no longer just made up of emails and Microsoft documents but more frequently include custom databases, multi-media files and communication tools – which present new and unique challenges for collection and review. Some of these data types are difficult to manage in a review and should be identified early so that workflow solutions can be implemented.

Consider

• Photographs and images that cannot be keyword searched or reviewed, even with advanced techniques, like analytics.

• Forms with relevant fields and responses that are difficult to contextualise through simple searching or review.

• Scanned legacy documents that cannot be easily separated into individual files per document, have poor file names and other metadata, are not text searchable and could contain handwritten annotations.

• Instant communication mediums that are no longer chains of communication which can be difficult to extract from their source and separate into categories for effective review.

• Databases that are challenging to extract from their source and reconstruct in a way that is legible and contextually reviewable in an eDiscovery database.

• Software programs with inputs and outputs that cannot be easily extracted and reviewed without the source software.