Litigation Support/eDiscovery Analysts

High School

Take a broad range of classes in high school, including English, speech, philosophy, mathematics, social studies or government, and foreign languages, especially Spanish and Latin (because legal terminology frequently contains terms in Latin). Since litigation support/eDiscovery analysts must be technology experts, you should take as many computer science classes as possible. Learn how to use databases, try your hand at basic coding, and otherwise immerse yourself in technology. Join your school’s computer club to learn more about information technology.

Postsecondary Education

Most aspiring paralegals prepare for the field by earning an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from a community college, technical college, or vocational institution. There are also bachelor’s degree programs in paralegal studies, eDiscovery and litigation technology, or a related field. A few schools offer master’s degrees in paralegal studies. There are approximately 1,000 paralegal programs in the United States, more than 225 of which have been approved by the American Bar Association. Visit https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/paralegal-resource-directory for a list of programs. A small percentage of paralegals prepare for the field by completing training in the military.

Those who have degrees in an IT–related field—or other STEM fields—typically prepare to work as analysts by earning a certificate in eDiscovery and litigation technology and augmenting this training by taking classes, seminars, and webinars that expand their knowledge in these areas.

It’s important to remember because that this career is so new, many employers place a high value on a candidate’s eDiscovery and litigation support skills, rather than their educational training. But candidates with formal training and advanced skills will have the best job prospects.

Certification

A growing number of colleges and universities—including the University of California, San Diego and Des Moines Area Community College—offer certificates in eDiscovery, litigation technology, and related fields. Contact schools in your area to learn more about available programs. Additionally, the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists offers several eDiscovery certificate programs. Learn more at https://aceds.org/ediscovery-executive-certificate.

NALS...the association for legal professionals offers specialty certificates in civil litigation, e-discovery, and more than 20 other areas. Visit https://www.nals.org/page/specialtycertificate for more information.

Other Education or Training

Litigation support/eDiscovery analysts must continue to learn and expand their skills throughout their careers in order to stay competitive in the job market and improve their chances for promotion and salary increases. Many professional associations offer webinars, in-person, workshops, and other continuing education opportunities. For example, the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists offers classes such as E-Discovery Essentials, Catching the Impostors: Spotting Deepfakes and Challenging Fabricated Electronic Evidence, and Technology Options for Audio Review. The American Bar Association offers eDiscovery Processes & Procedures: The “Know-How” with the “How-to,” and NALA-The Paralegal Association offers eDiscovery: Do I Really Need to Know this?, Defensibility and Best Practices in eDiscovery, and The Future of Analytics and Technology in eDiscovery, Investigations, and Beyond.