At most small and medium law firms, you won’t find a litigator who is truly well-versed in the minutiae of eDiscovery from a legal and/or technical perspective. Typically, I’ve seen that eDiscovery (and anything “legal tech” in general) goes to a younger associate who is savvy with computers. But if you are leading complex litigation cases, it probably means you are being asked to manage a complicated discovery process that spans multiple platforms and data types. 

Let’s be honest: eDiscovery has evolved beyond what many law firm infrastructures are built to support. This is where outsourcing some – or all – of the eDiscovery lift can provide a critical advantage.

How eDiscovery Subject Matter Experts Make a Difference

Let’s reframe what it means to outsource eDiscovery. This isn’t about adding overhead; it’s about extending your litigation team with experts who are already steeped in the pressures and nuances of discovery. A consultant who speaks your language and understands the stakes – and who can work alongside you – is key.

Here are some ways an SME can support you:

• Major time back on the clock: Whether you have a hosting technology platform you prefer or you are starting from scratch, a technology-agnostic vendor can help with or completely handle the platform selection, database setup, user permissions, and data filtering.
  
  
• Case-Specific Workflows: In eDiscovery, there is no one-size-fits-all; it doesn’t exist. A good SME can design discovery workflows, specific to the needs of each individual case, that support your existing case strategy.
  
  
• Complete Scalability: No matter the size, good vendors will have the tech and project management personnel to scale with the matter up or down as you need, without burning out your associates or your case budget.
  
  
• Defensibility Without Guesswork: When you work with an SME, they will have testified on discovery protocols, they will understand regulatory and compliance issues, and they will have navigated countless privilege challenges. This experience and legacy knowledge will help you avoid missteps that could invite sanctions or delays.

We’re Already Doing This (Just Ask Around)

I would be remiss not to talk about what Proteus is already doing in this space. Whether it’s helping a partner slash a 700,000-doc review set down to 111,000 or building a defensible workflow for chat data across five platforms, we’re already operating as an extension of the litigation teams we support. Our services aren’t theoretical – they are field-tested.

We’ll meet you where you are. Want us to help build a discovery protocol from scratch? We’re in. Need a partner to troubleshoot a privilege log that’s giving you heartburn? We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again.

Final Thought: You Don’t Have to Go It Alone

Litigation has enough moving parts without discovery becoming a drag on your time, your budget, or your reputation.

Proteus’s consulting services are built for litigators who want to win, not wrangle logistics. Our goal is to make your life easier, your team more effective, and your client outcomes stronger. Whether you need us on one matter or across your docket, we’re here to help you get the result – efficiently, defensibly, and without drama.

If you're ready to offload the friction and focus on what you do best, let’s talk.