Document review
Encyclopedia
Document review is a task performed by attorneys in anticipation of legal proceedings or during the discovery phase of litigation. Document review requires the attorneys to assess the relevance and/or responsiveness of documents, using knowledge about the facts of the case and the issues of law. Later stages of document review (sometimes called privilege
review or second level review) consider whether a document is privileged (on the basis of attorney-client communication
and/or work product) and may be either withheld from production or redacted for content. Some law firms also utilize document reviewers to do more substantive work, depending on the experience of the reviewer. The actual review of the documents is performed either electronically (e-mails, files, scanned copies of documents) or manually.
Document review is often performed by temporary, or contract attorney
s. The hourly rate for such attorneys depends heavily on the metropolitan area
in which the project is located, the particular client for the project, the agency
which staffs the project, and law firm
performing the review. The pay can vary anywhere from $20 to $55 per hour, which is influenced by a variety of factors from geographic location, subject matter of the case and scope and length of the review. Projects requiring specialized knowledge or fluency in a foreign language can reach $50 to $90 per hour. Some projects increase the hourly rate for overtime
hours worked; some do not. Projects can range in length from a few days to several years.
Document review projects are located throughout the United States
, most commonly in New York City
, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
, Chicago
, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Phoenix
, Kansas City
, Columbus
, San Francisco, Los Angeles
, Boston
, and Newark
. Document review projects may also be outsourced
from United States law firms to Asia
n countries, most notably India
, in an attempt to cut costs.
Document reviews also take place throughout Canada. These are done within the law firms themselves utilizing various review software, or by using legal service providers
to host data, which can then be reviewed online via the internet. Review software offers editing capabilities and the choice is whether to invest in review software or pay a service provider to host the data, and also to maintain it - reducing IT maintenance costs and infrastructure.
Privilege (evidence)
An evidentiary privilege is a rule of evidence that allows the holder of the privilege to refuse to provide evidence about a certain subject or to bar such evidence from being disclosed or used in a judicial or other proceeding....
review or second level review) consider whether a document is privileged (on the basis of attorney-client communication
Attorney-client privilege
Attorney–client privilege is a legal concept that protects certain communications between a client and his or her attorney and keeps those communications confidential....
and/or work product) and may be either withheld from production or redacted for content. Some law firms also utilize document reviewers to do more substantive work, depending on the experience of the reviewer. The actual review of the documents is performed either electronically (e-mails, files, scanned copies of documents) or manually.
Document review is often performed by temporary, or contract attorney
Contract attorney
A contract attorney works on legal cases on a contract basis. Such work is generally of a temporary nature, often with no guaranteed employment term.A contract attorney is-Civil litigation:...
s. The hourly rate for such attorneys depends heavily on the metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
in which the project is located, the particular client for the project, the agency
Employment agency
An employment agency is an organization which matches employers to employees. In all developed countries there is a publicly funded employment agency and multiple private businesses which also act as employment agencies.-Public employment agencies:...
which staffs the project, and law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
performing the review. The pay can vary anywhere from $20 to $55 per hour, which is influenced by a variety of factors from geographic location, subject matter of the case and scope and length of the review. Projects requiring specialized knowledge or fluency in a foreign language can reach $50 to $90 per hour. Some projects increase the hourly rate for overtime
Overtime
Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. Normal hours may be determined in several ways:*by custom ,*by practices of a given trade or profession,*by legislation,...
hours worked; some do not. Projects can range in length from a few days to several years.
Document review projects are located throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, most commonly in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, San Francisco, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. Document review projects may also be outsourced
Legal outsourcing
Legal Process Outsourcing refers to the practice of a law firm or corporation obtaining legal support services from an outside law firm or legal support services company...
from United States law firms to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n countries, most notably India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, in an attempt to cut costs.
Document reviews also take place throughout Canada. These are done within the law firms themselves utilizing various review software, or by using legal service providers
Legal outsourcing
Legal Process Outsourcing refers to the practice of a law firm or corporation obtaining legal support services from an outside law firm or legal support services company...
to host data, which can then be reviewed online via the internet. Review software offers editing capabilities and the choice is whether to invest in review software or pay a service provider to host the data, and also to maintain it - reducing IT maintenance costs and infrastructure.