Litigation support professionals are dedicated to supporting attorneys with complex legal cases. They often develop and maintain databases to store evidence or statistical details related to ongoing litigation, retrieve records needed for litigation support, and prepare trial presentations.
In this article, National Legal Staffing Support LLC explains the functions of a litigation support professional and how outsourcing services can benefit your firm.
What Does Litigation Support Include?
In general, litigation support includes the tasks and services detailed below:
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Subpoena and Citation Service
Litigation support agencies and professionals can specialize in specific areas, such as subpoena and citation services, which can relieve a law firm from the burden of locating hard-to-find individuals.
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Record Retrieval
Record retrieval can be extremely tedious and time-consuming. Litigation support specialists can provide this service and develop relationships with record agencies, easing time spent finding records to support litigation cases.
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Trial Presentation Assistance
Litigation support professionals can assist with presentations used in the courtroom during a trial. Such assistance can include photography, trial boards, and legal videography.
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Discovery
Discovery is an important process of any trial litigation. Typically, litigation support specialists are well-versed in discovery methods, strategies, and tools.
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Access to Various Software Programs
Firms will usually access specialized software designed to improve forensic accounting and data management if litigation support is used.
How Does Someone Become a Litigation Support Professional?
A litigation support professional typically has a four-year degree in a field related to data management or legal services. They may begin as paralegals and become litigation support professionals as they acquire more experience and training, which is typical in many law firms. Some litigation support professionals have paralegal and IT responsibilities in a litigation support capacity.
Some litigation support professionals have obtained advanced degrees. Understanding the discovery process is essential, so someone with extensive experience in this area would be more likely to be a litigation support professional.
Discovery is the process of exchanging information between parties in a lawsuit. Discovery can involve thousands of electronic documents, which has led to a significant increase in demand for litigation support professionals who can manage the data and documents appropriately.
A certification process to become a litigation support professional has been introduced by the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists. The certification requires that the individuals demonstrate a thorough knowledge of data processing and document review. In addition, they must pass an extensive exam, earn credits in e-discovery and obtain two professional references. Credits are generally a combination of education, training, and experience.
How National Legal Staffing Support LLC Can Support Your Litigation Support Needs
National Legal Staffing Support LLC is a leading provider of legal process outsourcing. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, the company offers front- and back-office support to experienced consumer protection attorneys specializing in debt resolution. National Legal Staffing Support provides document management solutions and pre-litigation support.
With NLSS, law firms can count on assistance with pre-trial case prep and pre-litigation, case management, and more.