How to Automate Legal Discovery In 2024 (Using AI)

How to Automate Legal Discovery Responses

Automating legal discovery responses involves choosing appropriate software from the many options available on the market. The solution you select will determine how much you can reduce labor and increase your billable hours. 

The following is a step-by-step guide to how the most advanced AI-powered software automates legal discovery responses.

These products balance the need to speed up work against the requirement for legal accuracy and compliance. 

1. Analyze The Discovery Request

Discovery response automation tools first analyze the discovery request from the opposing party. Sophisticated AI systems analyze text, extracting relevant pieces of information to create a response shell. 

For example, Briefpoint uses machine learning to transform requests for information from the opposing counsel into digestible lists.

This feature lets you see their demands in a pithy, easy-to-interpret format, speeding up response. (Briefpoint can interpret requests in formats accepted in all fifty states).

2. Respond

AI tools next use AI to help you respond faster to legal discovery requests. Tools use a variety of templates and libraries to insert language that is legally permissible and in your client’s best interest. 

For example, Briefpoint provides two ways to automate this process. The first is to click relevant responses from the menu on the left-hand side.

Selecting an objection will cause that response to appear in the text in reply to the request.

However, you can also get the software to suggest objections for you (and why they apply to the request).

Using this method will highlight anything the solution thinks is relevant, given the inputted text. Then, you can quickly review them, editing them where appropriate.

Finally, you can use these tools to add a substantive response. This automated piece of text provides additional context for your reply.

Briefpoint also has a built-in feature called Bridge, which automates the process of collecting client responses and integrating them into discovery documents.

Bridge lets you select interrogatories, translate them into easy-to-understand language, and send them to your client with just a few clicks. Once they respond, Bridge will plug their responses into your document.

3. Download And Review

Finally, you will need to download and review the response document. Solutions vary in their usability. Some require using their integrated word-processing software, while others force you to use PDFs. 

By contrast, Briefpoint lets you download your document into Microsoft Word, which probably integrates better into your workflow than a separate review platform.

You can see the edited document at any production stage, allowing you to add or subtract from it whenever you want. 

How to Automate Legal Discovery

AI tools can also automate the creation of legal discovery documents, such as requests for admission, requests for production, and interrogatories.

These facilities mean you can automate the initiation aspect of legal discovery work, not just the response. 

1. Design Your Document

The first step is to draft your propounding discovery document. Solutions begin by collecting essential information to populate the request.

For example, Briefpoint asks for information about the case name, request type (request for admission, request for production, or interrogatory), and the responding party.

You can also link it to an existing case or client or a new one. 

2. Add Requests

The next step is to add your requests. Automation software accelerates this process by including pre-built requests grouped by case type and theories of law. 

For example, Briefpoint lets you select interrogatories related to “auto torts” with a click and add them to your request. 

3. Document Review

The final step is to download and review your newly generated request document. Again, Briefpoint lets you edit it in Word, which is ready to attach to an email or print after the review process.

The Benefits Of Automating Legal Discovery

Automating legal discovery work isn’t just about saving time and money—though it certainly does that.

The real benefits go beyond efficiency, helping law firms improve accuracy, client relationships, and overall workflow.

Here’s a deeper look into how automating legal discovery can transform the way you manage cases.

Reducing Errors in Discovery Responses

One of the most significant advantages of using automation tools in legal discovery is the reduction in errors.

These tools can sift through large volumes of documents and data to quickly identify key themes and relevant information.

By doing so, they help make sure your responses are accurate and comprehensive, minimizing the risk of oversight.

Protecting Privileged Information

Handling large volumes of documents manually increases the risk of accidentally revealing privileged information.

Automation tools are designed to offer permissible retorts to help you carefully craft responses while protecting sensitive data.

These tools can highlight or hide privileged information, ensuring that you comply with legal requirements and maintain the confidentiality of involved parties.

Improving Client Relationships

Another often overlooked benefit of automating legal discovery is how it improves your relationship with clients.

With less time spent sifting through documents and performing repetitive tasks, you can dedicate more time to the parts of your job that matter most—working closely with your clients and building strong relationships.

Shifting Focus to Higher-Value Tasks

By automating the drudgery of document review and discovery, tools like Briefpoint allow you to shift your attention to more meaningful work.

Rather than getting bogged down in repetitive, manual tasks, you can focus on case strategy, negotiations, and court preparation.

Automating discovery gives you the opportunity to operate more efficiently, helping you focus on the parts of your job that bring you the most satisfaction and success.

Improving Efficiency and Workflow

Ultimately, automating legal discovery transforms the way your firm operates.

It creates more efficient workflows, reduces manual errors, and speeds up the document review process. This allows your firm to handle more cases or complex matters without overwhelming your team.

By using tools that automate the more mundane parts of legal discovery, you can improve the overall efficiency of your firm, allowing it to grow and serve clients more effectively.

Enjoy a Cost-Effective Discovery Process With Briefpoint

Discovery responses cost firms $23,240, per year, per attorney. $23,240 estimate assumes an associate attorney salary of $150,000 (including benefits – or $83 an hour), 20 cases per year/per associate, 4 discovery sets per case, 30 questions per set, 3.5 hours spent responding to each set, and 1800 hours of billable hours per year.

Under these assumptions, you save $20,477 using Briefpoint, per year, per attorney.

Test Briefpoint yourself by scheduling a demo here.