Senior E-Discovery Technology Project Manager

As a member of the Information Services Department, the Senior E-Discovery Technology Project Manager is responsible for managing the entire lifecycle of a case, while developing and following workflows that will lead to successful outcomes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Works closely with legal teams on developing and maintaining a strategy for effectively handling data from collection through final review and production.
• Responsible for building, maintaining, and troubleshooting complex E-Discovery databases, culling and analyzing data, employing Early Case Assessment and/or Advanced Analytics when appropriate, and oversees the loading of new or updated data, images, and native files for legal team review.
• Manages large diverse collections of e-mails, images, and native files in combination with database management.
• Strong emphasis on quality control checking of all work, including data from vendors and third parties.
• Provides application support within the department as well as to legal teams.
• Assists users with problems and questions, while guiding legal teams through the entire process.
• Trains attorneys and paralegals when needed in the effective use of all E-Discovery Technology software.
• Frequent document production is handled by the Senior Project Manager, including all pre- and post-production activities, including oversight of the burning of data onto electronic media along with Chain of Custody.
• Possess expertise in all electronic discovery and paper document handling functions.
• Frequent and effective communication with the legal teams and vendors is necessary in this position.
• A mastery of the use of all of the firm's E-Discovery Technology tools is expected.
• Often collaborates with other department personnel but also needs to be able to effectively work alone.
• Works in partnership with Project Teams Manager, other Project Managers and provides work to the group’s Specialists and Analysts.
• Needs to be available during off-hours, when needed, so flexibility is necessary.
• Strict confidentiality and professionalism must always be maintained.
• Manages complete case activity involving all aspects of Electronic Discovery, case data management, document retention, production of data, and effective use of resources.
• Ongoing contact and communication with legal team members throughout the entire case lifecycle.
• Management of all vendor activity; analyze, gather and write clear job specifications for vendors where data is outsourced and follow job throughout process.
• Responsible for managing expectations of all parties involving all stages of case progression.
• Develops strategies for the efficient handling of discovery and production data.
• Builds and maintains datasets using state-of-the-art document processing and review tools.
• Track all case-related activity utilizing project management tools and completion of all relevant electronic tracking and similar forms.
• Assists legal teams in the analysis and presentation of data trends and patterns using Early Case Assessment and Advanced Analytics, along with leveraging sound judgment.
• Provides advice to legal teams in the proper methods of data collection, preservation, processing, production, and retention, including attending Rule 26(f) discovery planning conferences.
• Oversees work performed by Specialists and Analysts and when necessary and completes PM QC of processed data
• Accurately observes all standard E-Discovery Technology conventions and Best Practices, such as deduplication and other methods of culling of data, and time zone management, including the application of complex search queries and criteria.
• Maintains server and folder structure of databases, image collections, native files, mail stores and load files
• Assists with the identification and archiving of old case data
• Participates in all aspects of document production processing, from initial communication with legal teams to final distribution of deliverables, management of post-processing collections, and generation of Privilege Logs.
• Performs stringent quality control checks of data and load files created internally or from vendors and other third party sources, for loading into E-Discovery Technology applications.
• Provides group, individual, or customized training, application support and troubleshooting assistance to users of varied abilities and experience.
• Maintains tracking logs for data received and loaded; keeps inventory of data media received for each project; maintains proper Chain of Custody for all original media and procedures.
• Provides assistance to legal team requests including web site capturing
• Collaborates with other E-Discovery Technology team members in all aspects project work, as needed.
• Provides both written and verbal advice and best practices to legal teams and vendors.
• Writes clear, concise directions and summaries to legal team members and provides timely status updates.
• Assists with testing existing as well as new software and participate in vendor demonstrations
• Records on a daily basis all time worked.
• Pursues additional education and training in relevant E-Discovery Technology topics.
• Understands and strictly maintains the confidentiality of all matters involved.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other duties, as assigned by the Project Director or Assistant Director of E-Discovery

QUALIFICATIONS (EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES):

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or solid equivalent experience in a senior-level E-Discovery Technology or Litigation Support role.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant E-Discovery Technology or Litigation Support experience, preferably in a law firm, but vendor experience also considered. Sound appreciation of law firm culture and legal team demands.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Relativity Certified Administrator (RCA) certification is highly desirable.
• If RCA certification is not currently held, a plan to sit for RCA exam (or equivalent as agreed upon by Senior Project Manager and Project Director) must be developed and executed within a calendar year.
• Understanding of the full EDRM lifecycle, both electronic and paper discovery, and production, as well as E-Discovery Technology best practices is required.
• Considerable hands-on experience with E-Discovery Technology processing software, review platforms, load file creation, handling, and manipulation, and repository administration, Acrobat, FTP, and project management software needed.
• Strong hands-on experience with RelativityOne, Concordance load files, ReadySuite, Tree Size, Everchron and Microsoft Office is essential. Everyday involvement with Early Case Assessment and Advanced Analytics a big plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Ability to train both one-on-one and small groups and in preparing training materials.
• Maintains strong attention to detail and quality control, even under pressure. Flexibility of schedule with some off-hour availability is important.
• It is expected that the Senior Project Manager will possess considerable experience with various advanced technologies such as Early Case Assessment, Advanced Analytics, Predictive Coding, Concept Clustering, Generative AI and other emerging technologies are a plus.
• The Senior Project Manager will possess a deep understanding of database searchability and methodology and comprehends all issues surrounding OCR and extracted text, near native review, e-mail threading, and text encoding. Also anticipated is a comprehensive understanding of imaging technologies.
• The Senior Project Manager will be tasked with managing the more complex and sophisticated matters (as deemed by Project Director and/or Assistant Director of E-Discovery) and must be able to consult on all aspects of RelativityOne including advanced concepts such as analytics and AI. The Senior Project Manager should be able to provide such consultation to both legal teams and Etech PM peers alike.
• The Senior Project Manager will be tasked with working with the Project Directors, Implementation Manager and Assistant Director of E-Discovery to create solid, repeatable and defensible workflows that are to be followed by all of the Services team and also with assisting with documenting same.
• The Senior Project Manager will be consulted when Relativity templates are being revised and may be required to engage in testing of templates or other software-related initiatives.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This job operates in a clerical, office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Sedentary work: Exertion of physical strength to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects up to 10 pounds. Work involves sitting most of the time. Walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties.

VISUAL ACUITY

Worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary ranges for this position apply to the respective listed locations. The salary range reflects a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, geographic location, market demands and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for a position. Reasonable estimates of the current ranges for this position are:

• Las Vegas: $145,000 to $160,000
• Chicago, Minneapolis & Atlantic City: $145,000 to $165,000
• Denver, Los Angeles, Morristown, Princeton, Washington, DC & Seattle: $150,000 to $165,000
• New York & San Francisco: $155,000 to $175,000