Exploring eDiscovery Jobs for Legal Professionals

With technology rapidly evolving, we’re seeing it become integrated into many different fields, including the legal profession. This integration created electronic discovery or eDiscovery. The Colleges of Law’s Master of Business, Law, and Technology is an innovative program that prepares students to pursue alternative legal careers, including eDiscovery law.

What is eDiscovery?

eDiscovery is the digital investigation of evidence for litigation or criminal proceedings. eDiscovery includes identifying, collecting, and producing electronically stored information (ESI). Law firms will use eDiscovery to build up their case by compiling evidence from the internet, social media, emails, digital images, videos, audio files, or any other data that exists digitally to help their case. Depending on the case size and the eDiscovery team, this process could take months to analyze the sheer volume of data necessary to support the case.

Why Choose eDiscovery as a Career Path?

• Demand: Because this is a relatively new field, the demand for eDiscovery employees is abundant. 
• Upward Mobility: There are plenty of growth opportunities in eDiscovery law, from entry-level positions to managing a team of employees.
• Remote Jobs: Post-pandemic, remote jobs are becoming increasingly popular when hiring within eDiscovery.

eDiscovery Job Opportunities

Document Review Manager

A document review manager oversees the team during the document review process, which includes reviewing documents, photos, videos, emails, and other forms of ESI to help the litigation team build their case.

eDiscovery Analyst

Analysts manage and maintain the databases used for collecting ESI. This involves evaluating, troubleshooting, and overseeing the production of ESI to be presented for legal proceedings.

Director of eDiscovery

The director is responsible for leading and managing the entire team of eDiscovery professionals. The role includes overseeing eDiscovery operations, staffing for new positions, introducing new technologies within the field, training new staff, and reporting on progress with the production of ESI.

Do You Need to Pass the Bar to Work in eDiscovery?

Not all positions in eDiscovery require lawyers to be practicing. The career paths outlined above—document review manager, eDiscovery analyst, and Director of eDiscovery—don’t require the bar exam. However, some eDiscovery careers, such as document review attorney and eDiscovery attorney—require candidates to complete a Juris Doctor degree and pass the bar exam.

How to Get Into the eDiscovery Field

Obtaining a degree in a related field is the first step toward an eDiscovery career. The Colleges of Law offers a Master of Business, Law, and Technology degree designed to prepare students seeking alternative legal careers. For those looking to become a practicing eDiscovery lawyer, the Juris Doctorate program can lead you along that path.
For some employers and jobs within eDiscovery, a technology certificate might be required or preferred. Our Technology Professional Certificate benefits those seeking technology-focused legal careers, including eDiscovery.