Legal Hold Notification Software: Why don't we hear more about it?

by JulieLaboe

A friend of mine recently told me about a company called Legal Hold Pro and as I researched them I realized that there are several other companies out there providing similar solutions. It seems like an obvious product: software that establishes a repeatable, cost effective, and defensible legal hold process and includes notification demonstrating compliance and a “good faith effort”. 

But I can’t tell you how many seminars I’ve attended with attorneys and vendors alike talking about implementing “litigation holds” but never once mentioning legal hold notification software. And all of the list servs and LinkedIn® groups I monitor – not much discussion about it there either. Why?  Are people generally not aware of it? 

Here’s basically how it works:

The “legal hold” is initiated by identifying custodians and potential data sources, the due date for responses, and the company’s legal hold policies. Second, the custodians are notified electronically and are required to take action acknowledging receipt of the hold. Notices are sent periodically, either manually or automatically, reminding the custodian(s) of deadlines. Third, compliance is logged by tracking interactions with custodians including conversations, interviews, and collection procedures. Because all of the information is saved and tracked in the legal hold software an audit trail is automatically created. No doubt there is more to it than this so I’ve asked some experts on the matter to blog for us to help educate us. I very much encourage any feedback you may have.

Other companies who provide similar solutions: Autonomy, Exterro, Guidance, PSS Systems, and Case Track.