Compliance and e-Discovery Challenges.

Organizations of all types and sizes face increasing compliance and e-discovery challenges. A proactive strategy for managing these risks includes email archiving and search tools that allow organizations to respond quickly and effectively when the need arises. By accelerating the response to discovery requests, organizations can significantly reduce the risk and potential costs associated with them.

What is e-Discovery?
Effective December 1, 2006, a number of substantive revisions were made to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP). Some of the most significant changes appear in Rule 26, which governs the production of evidence in most federal court cases, and in particular as the rule applies to electronic stored information (ESI). ESI covers any and all information that can be stored electronically - including email, instant messaging threads, Skype chats, social media transcripts and other forms of electronic communication. In a nutshell, the changes to the FRCP require organizations to manage their data in such a way that this data can be produced in a timely and complete manner when necessary during legal discovery proceedings.

The Risks of Non-Compliance
Unlike some more specific compliance regulations, e-Discovery rules affect every type of company in every industry. If you can be sued in a federal court, then the rules apply. Failure to comply can mean fines, sanctions, executive liability, and other far-reaching effects on business and the bottom line.

Google Message Discovery
Google Message Discovery, part of Google’s Postini suite of security and archiving services, allows you to create a secure and searchable email archive. Google Apps for Business customers can purchase Google Message Discovery archiving and search tools as an add-on product for Google Apps or use it independently with other systems.

Rippe & Kingston is an Authorized Reseller for Google Apps as well as a leading provider of software for Law Firms.  Learn more about Postini and LMS (Legal Management System).

Task-based Budgeting and Billing for Law Firms

This approach is rapidly becoming an industry requirement, as many large corporations or insurance carriers are demanding increased accountability from outside counsel firms.  Insurance companies have set standards for repetitive types of legal cases, i.e. automobile accidents, slip and fall, etc.  How much time should be allowed for discovery, reading a letter, or completing a deposition?   Task-based time recording requires the timekeeper to enter time by task / activity code so that the various elements of the case can be measured by category and compared against national standards.  Task-based time recording has now become an important requirement for many law firms.   Task-based budgeting and billing also allows the firm to offer its clients improved reporting on work performed.  Budgets can be established with the clients at the initiation of a new case, and invoices can detail or summarize the time and fees allocated to each of the various categories on a matter.    Learn more