If you are in the eDiscovery field, you’ve likely noticed a lot of your colleagues are job hunting, moving into new positions in legal operations, project management, and data privacy. Why the shift from eDiscovery? Rampant burnout, fueled by too much work, too few staff, and the struggle to keep up with a legal tech industry moving at lightning speed.
Why Burnout Is Rising in eDiscovery and How to Address It
Burnout in eDiscovery is a real issue affecting professionals and lawyers alike. Here are a few ways both professionals and managers can address the causes of burnout in the field, and work on building happier, more engaged eDiscovery teams.
1. The Overwhelming, Relentless Pace of Change and a Nonstop Workload
For those in eDiscovery, you’re juggling a ton of data at all times and using some pretty advanced tools like Relativity, Everlaw and Nuix. Keeping up with them can feel like a full-time job. Plus, with generative AI and machine learning becoming more common, there’s a whole new set of skills to learn. It can be a lot, especially when you’re already swamped with work. All the changes and advancements are snowballing into more than most people can handle.
For Professionals: Try to find time for professional development, and don’t hesitate to ask for support when you need it. Express the difficulties to your superiors and be clear about the ongoing training you need to incorporate into your daily work.
For Managers: Help your team by listening to their needs and offering time and resources for training. The professionals on eDiscovery teams know what they don’t know and what they need to learn. While you may not fully understand the technicalities involved in eDiscovery work, you can provide the encouragement they need to stay on top of their game.
2. The Pressure Cooker of eDiscovery
The sheer amount of data to review and the tight deadlines can be a real pressure cooker. Mistakes can have big consequences for clients, cases and outcomes, which adds to the stress. Plus, since many eDiscovery teams are understaffed, long hours and weekend work are common.
For Professionals: Speak up when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s difficult to say no — and few of us can recall the last time we said something couldn’t be done. Know your limits and make sure you are giving realistic timelines for deliverables. Remember that it’s important to find a balance between work and personal life.
For Managers: In addition to making sure you are not overloading your team, consider using AI tools to handle routine tasks so your team can focus on higher-level work. Managers can implement several strategies that streamline processes and allow the eDiscovery team to focus on more critical, high-value work. Here are a few examples:
- Automated Document Review: AI-powered tools like Relativity and Everlaw can automate the initial stages of document review. These tools use machine learning algorithms to identify relevant documents, categorize them, and even flag potential issues. This reduces the time professionals spend on manual review, allowing them to focus on more complex analysis and decision-making.
- Predictive Coding: Predictive coding uses AI to predict which documents are relevant to a case based on a sample set of documents reviewed by a human. By training the system with a small subset of documents, the AI can then apply this understanding to a larger dataset, significantly reducing the workload for eDiscovery teams.
- Data Deduplication: AI tools can automatically identify and remove duplicate files from large datasets. This will save storage space and reduce the volume of data that needs to be reviewed, making the process more efficient.
- Sentiment Analysis: AI can analyze communication patterns and sentiments in emails and other documents to identify potential issues or areas of interest. This can help prioritize documents for review and provide insights that might not be immediately apparent through manual review.
- Automated Redaction: AI tools can automatically redact sensitive information from documents, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations and reducing the time spent on manual redaction.
By integrating these AI tools into the workflow, reviewers can focus on strategic tasks that require human judgment and expertise. Minimizing repetitive and time-consuming tasks can both enhance productivity and reduce burnout among eDiscovery professionals.
3. The Need for Flexibility
Remote work has become a non-negotiable for many in eDiscovery. The job requires intense focus, and a quiet, distraction-free environment can make a big difference. Many eDiscovery professionals have found they thrive with the flexibility to manage their own schedules. They are professionals, after all, and know when it’s imperative to be in the office for face time and when it’s best to stay away from others so they can concentrate and get their work done on time.
For Professionals: Take advantage of flexible work options to create a setup that works for you, whether that’s a hybrid schedule, working fully remotely in a home office, or working flexible hours.
For Managers: Create flexible work policies that allow for remote work, with some in-office time for collaboration and team-building. This can help reduce burnout and keep your team invested and happy.
Investing in Your eDiscovery Team Matters
Oftentimes, managers don’t know exactly what their eDiscovery teams do on a day-to-day basis. There’s trust that since they’re getting the productions out, loading new data for new cases, and helping the rest of the team with searches and other tools available for their reviews, life as an eDiscovery professional must be good. But take a closer look. Bend both ears to hear and understand their needs.
With the right approach, burnout can be managed and averted. Employers and managers who invest in education and professional development, offer flexible work options and help manage workloads can create a more sustainable and fulfilling work environment, with happier teams and less turnover. And that’s a win-win.
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