Choosing the Best Document Review Approach and Location

We read with interest Contract attorney work grows … but in onshore centers, not India at the Posse List blog (20 Feb 09).  It suggests that lawyers will increasingly “farmshore”  document review in litigation.  That is, they will hire teams of contract lawyers in low-cost US locations.

Litigation teams need to choose the right location, right people, right process, and right technology for each matter.  When choosing any location, consider a host of factors: hourly rates, occupancy cost, avoiding natural disasters, availability of relevant expertise, time-zones, cultural affinity, and the ability to keep teams intact over time to retain institutional knowledge.  We agree that a low-cost onshore location is an effective approach for higher quality, lower cost litigation document review.

Other factors drive cost and quality as well.  We have found that a documented, repeatable, auditable, ISO-certified process is important.  Measuring and reporting key metrics during a review helps improve the review process.   And when selecting software, consider its functionality, cost, and impact on reviewer productivity.

Document review is expensive and complex so you likely need different options for each matter.  If you need to “touch the review,” Integreon offers review services onsite at client locations or in our review centers in DC and NYC.   If you need to stay onshore but cost is a bigger factor, we have review centers in lower-cost Fargo (ND), Atlanta, or Bristol (UK).   And of course, we offer the lowest cost review from our centers in Manila, Delhi and Mumbai.

Update (28 Feb 09): For a great report on work and life in a low cost domestic location, see The Estrin Report blog post The Hidden Job Market – It’s In the Vendors, in which Chere B. Estrin interviews two Integreon managers in our Fargo delivery center.  Estrin is a well-known author, editor, and law practice management expert.