Blawgospheric Feedback on Requirements for E-discovery Project Management Positions

The E-discovery Trends blog takes issue with Kroll Ontrack's PMP preference, arguing that \"this use of certifications certainly isn't helping hire the best and brightest in the ediscovery field.\"^[2] 

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This discussion was also noted in a post on the Posse List blog, which discusses the challenges attorneys face when transitioning from law practice to more technical litigation support/project management work and links to a number of Posse List and external resources  that can help with the transition.^[3] According to this post, among the tallest hurdles attorneys need to clear when transitioning to more technical litsupport project management roles is understanding the technology and technical challenges and bridging the gap between IT and legal in e-discovery. 

Weighing in on the challenge of providing standard job descriptions for litigation-support positions, the Posse List advises us to stop tilting at windmills, stating that \"defining 'litigation support' is pretty impossible given it is such a broad field.\" Focusing specifically on e-discovery project management positions, however, the Posse List echoes my observation that experience trumps degrees and certifications, that software experience is weighted especially heavily, and that the JD+document review experience is most desirable for project management positions in legal staffing and LPO companies (although the lines between traditional litigation support and legal staffing is becoming increasingly blurred--presenting increased opportunities for attorney project managers).

Moreover, the discussion thread on the e-LEGAL group continues to grow. Those commenting seem to agree on the importance of technical knowledge, with a couple of comments suggesting that training and certification in computer forensics, along with legal training, as a very marketable combination. 

Regarding PMP certification, Aaron Stanley, Managing Director at Renaissance Associates Ltd., writes: \n

I'd suggest thinking about getting a PMP certification from the Project Management Institute. There are a lot of eDiscovery jobs that need qualified project managers who can appropriately plan for capacity, budget, and time. If you can give your client an estimate of the latter two and then stick to them, you will be providing an exceptional service to your clients.

\n\nDeborah Johnson, Sole Proprietor at Tynan Consulting, LLC, cautions against putting too much stock into degrees and certification. \"Personally,\" she writes, \"neither a JD or a Bachelors or any other 'formal' education played a part in my success.\" What did? Technical and business acumen learned from experience and self-study (to grossly paraphrase). 

Nick Torrez, Account Manager at Certus EDM, LLC, doesn't think highly of lawyers transitioning into e-discovery, arguing that this town isn't big enough for the both of us:

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I think our markets (at least here in the Twin Cities) are being saturated with everyone wanting to dive into eDiscovery and should be left to vendors who already support litigators in this area.

\n\nI guess I better tell my family that I won't be returning to Minnesota soon. At least it'd be hard to argue that I'm over-saturating the market here in Taiwan.