Legal Technology Journal

Peak Discovery Announces New Specialized Contract Attorney Division

Written by Jeremy Hill

Industry and practice aligned contract attorneys for case work and document review   Peak Discovery, Inc., a supplier of document review and discovery services, today announced the formation of a new Contract Attorney Division based on industry and practice experience. The current marketplace and the industry’s drive to reduce cost have seen the use of contract attorneys become more widespread in several law firm practice areas, including document review. The availability, specialized skills and flexibility of contract attorneys is an attractive staff augmentation strategy for law firms. Talented contract attorneys are a vital component of any successful document review. Peak Discovery takes a scientific approach to the recruitment and selection of upcoming reviews by analyzing historical data gathered from its proprietary software, Peak Review Metrics. Peak Review Metrics measures accuracy and performance of individual reviewers and the group during the document review process. This historical repository can be used to identify reviewers who have performed well on reviews pertaining to a particular industry or practice. Those proven individuals are then placed on reviews matching that criterion.   “We have formed this division to effectively respond to the changing nature of the industry,” said Michael Dalewitz, Senior Managing Director, Peak Discovery, Inc. “We’re getting inquiries from firms who haven’t used a lot of contract attorneys in the past. It just shows how the industry is changing.”   The current business environment has squeezed firms’ earnings. This has resulted in staff cuts and an increased workload for those that remain. In addition, firms are evolving so that a partnership track for graduates is not always offered. These two factors have increased the allure of a talented, experienced and specialized contract workforce that can be deployed where needed without the firm being saddled with the training and tail-end costs associated with regular employees and on-track graduates.   By segmenting contract attorneys based on performance and industry/practice experience, Peak Discovery is able to supply its clients with a staffing solution that meets the current needs and requirements of the firm.