The rapid advancements in technology have led to the automation of various processes that once relied heavily on paperwork and frequent written correspondence. One significant sector that has undergone a massive transformation is the legal industry.

Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO), which involves a specific law firm obtaining legal services from an external law firm or legal outsourcing services company, has evolved into a more efficient and effective online process, thanks to technology. In recent years, LPO has matured and shifted from being solely a labor-intensive endeavor to a combination of best practices, process efficiency, and quality control that leverages technology to its fullest extent.

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) have also undergone numerous amendments, taking into account the evolving sources of electronically stored information (ESI), such as smartphones and cloud storage. These amendments emphasize the importance of cooperation among parties and proportionality in the use of available procedures to facilitate quicker judicial case management.

Many states in the USA have already embraced these amendments, which aim to reduce e-discovery costs, minimize the risk of sanctions (Rule 37(e)), expand parties’ discovery plans (Rule 26(f)(3)(C)), allow the court to issue Rule 502(d) orders under the Federal Rules of Evidence (Rule 26(f)(3)(D)), and promote proportionality in the scope of discovery (Rule 26(b)(1)). These changes can benefit clients by reducing business interruptions, cutting costs, and mitigating the risk of sanctions.

While these FRCP amendments were initially proposed in 2006, some individuals and organizations are still adjusting to their full implications. It is crucial to continuously analyze the effects of these changes on a day-to-day basis, as adapting to these rules presents unprecedented challenges. Although the benefits may not be immediate, clients can expect significant cost savings in the long run.