The Role of Paralegals in Managing E-Discovery Platforms Like Relativity, DISCO, and Everlaw
E-Discovery is no longer a niche aspect of litigation - it’s the backbone of modern case management. With millions of emails, text messages, and files flowing into review databases, attorneys rely heavily on platforms like Relativity, DISCO, and Everlaw to keep cases organized and defensible. But the real power of these platforms comes alive in the hands of skilled paralegals.
Why Paralegals Are Essential to E-Discovery
Attorneys focus on strategy, advocacy, and client-facing work. Paralegals, by contrast, are the hands-on managers of e-discovery platforms. Their role includes:
Database setup and maintenance: Creating review workspaces, loading data, and setting permissions for review teams.
Search and filtering: Crafting keyword searches and analytics to narrow down millions of documents into manageable sets.
Coding and tagging protocols: Ensuring that reviewers apply consistent issue tags, privilege labels, and responsiveness codes.
Quality control: Checking for redaction accuracy, and privilege compliance before productions.
Production management: Formatting, Bates numbering, and exporting documents in line with court and opposing counsel requirements.
Platform-Specific Skills Paralegals Bring
Relativity: Known for its complexity, Relativity requires paralegals to manage advanced search functions, relational coding, and custom workflows. They often act as the bridge between the attorneys and technical admins.
DISCO: With its AI-driven review features, paralegals optimize workflows by training predictive models, prioritizing key documents, and validating AI outputs for defensibility.
Everlaw: Paralegals leverage its collaboration features, building storyboards, linking evidence, and preparing exhibits directly within the platform for seamless trial readiness.
Balancing Technology and Legal Insight
While the software handles data volume, paralegals provide the judgment and structure that ensures discovery is done right. For example, AI can flag potentially relevant emails, but a paralegal ensures those emails are reviewed under the correct privilege standard. This human layer of oversight makes e-discovery both efficient and defensible.
The Value to Law Firms and Clients
When paralegals manage e-discovery platforms effectively, firms benefit from:
Reduced costs: Attorneys spend less time on database navigation and more on case theory.
Improved accuracy: Consistent coding and quality checks reduce the risk of errors.
Streamlined productions: Cases move forward faster when discovery is organized and defensible.
Better trial prep: Evidence is curated and ready for presentation, not buried in unstructured data.
Final Thoughts
Relativity, DISCO, and Everlaw are powerful tools, but tools alone don’t win cases. Paralegals are the drivers of these platforms, ensuring that data is organized, compliant, and trial-ready. In the world of modern litigation, paralegals aren’t just support - they’re the architects of e-discovery database management.
