The economy might be slowing down, but the demand for litigation is definitely not. A 2023 study by Thomson Reuters Corporation showed that the demand for counter-cyclical practices is accelerating — particularly litigation. BTI Consulting Group found that there is ‘more litigation than ever’, and Crowell & Moring stated in their Litigation Forecast 2023 that class actions will ‘continue to be a significant part of the litigation landscape.’

With no shortage of work to be done, but with potentially fewer funds due to the economic climate, how can solo and small law firms effectively manage their caseloads while protecting their budgets?

Litigation Support Services You Can Afford

Litigation support services assist lawyers and legal teams during high-volume, complicated trials. Anything that doesn’t require the expertise of a lawyer can be delegated to experienced paralegals, taking admin work off the attorney’s plate so they can focus on billable hours.

Amata’s senior paralegals have more than 20 years of experience and have reached a high level of competence and understanding in several areas of law. Many of them joined Amata after spending several years accumulating experience at law firms. And they can be such a cost-effective solution for solo and small business owners because they bill hourly.

Our pre-vetted paralegals work only on the tasks that you require, for the hours that you need. Most small and midsize law firms are not handling case assessments, depositions and discovery on a daily basis, which can lead to over-paying for full-time employees. With Amata, you can rely on our team of professional paralegals and legal administrators only during periods of high workload, so you can take on more cases while protecting your profitability.

Case Assessment Support Services

Case assessment requires a cautious analysis of all available facts, potential legal strategies, and a deep understanding of the client’s needs. This usually happens under time constraints and with high stakes, as even a small oversight can have significant consequences in the case.

That is why we provide professional Case Assessment services covering a wide spectrum, including:

• Fact investigation – Assisting with discovery by conducting basic research into the details of the case.
• Client interviews – Conducting initial interviews with potential clients and filling out intake forms.
• Case files organization and maintenance – Sorting and filing key physical documents and using a case management system to store electronic documents.
• Act as liaison with local counsel – Communicating regularly with counsel and staying informed and updated on case progression.
• Discovery requests and responses drafting. Obtaining documents for you
• • Under attorney supervision, preparing discovery requests and responses using Microsoft Word and mailing/emailing.
  • Helping clients to gather pertinent documents that they have saved either electronically or physically.
• Prepare document productions – Reviewing and following ESI order regarding production format, ensuring documents are unitized, redacting confidential, PII, privileged information, Bates number, adding Confidential designations, and creating/maintaining document indices (i.e. pleadings index, production log with documents received or produced).
• Prepare documents/exhibits for mediations, arbitrations, depositions, trials, and motions for summary judgment – Organize and display evidence/exhibits per attorney request and instruction.

Managing a court case can be a full-time job, which is why more than 600 attorneys rely on Amata. Our case assessment support services allow them to focus on billable hours, client relationships, and a healthier work/life balance.

Depositions & Discovery Support Services

Depositions are a pivotal point leading to the outcome of civil and criminal charges. They usually advance to an out-of-court settlement but, for cases that do end up in court, Amata’s discovery and deposition management teams are here to ensure a smooth deposition process.

Our deposition experts manage all phases of the deposition, including:

• Conference room set-up
• Helping deponents prepare
• Reviewing document productions and discovery disclosures
• Developing comprehensive witness handbooks
• Processing supporting written questions
• Implementing any special considerations required for a deponent.

Depositions may be represented as a written transcript, videotape, or both. After the session ends, Amata’s team manages all follow-up requirements, including distributing the transcript and supporting documentation to attorneys for review. 

We also provide virtual remote deposition technology. It is estimated more than fifty percent of all proceedings will be online this year with the trend continuing to increase. In addition to saving time, deponents are more relaxed when testifying from a preferred location, increasing their willingness to share information. Amata offers state-of-the-art virtual deposition software for deponents unable to attend in person. This technology automates the discovery process and teams benefit from powerful data analytics tools and a proven interface to collaborate from anywhere. It also includes artificial intelligence capabilities for increasing accuracy and capturing details such as emotion and movement. 

Our team has more than 21 years of experience, and we understand that every deposition is unique. We are committed to managing and following up through each step of the process, so you can focus on the intimate details of the case.

Here is a list of services we provide for case discovery:

• Advanced document productions – Delivering or making available for review documents in response to a request for production and a subpoena. This may include producing hard copies of documents or locating electronically stored information.
• Document review projects, coding, case management.
• Assisting in the analyzing and sorting of produced documents to determine which items are within the scope of the case.
• Collecting email in the proper format.
• Creating Bates stamps for documents.
• Utilizing docketing software to track deadlines pertinent to a case.
• Drafting privilege logs.
• E-Discovery consultation (tools for litigation hold/preservation, document review platforms, document production planning, etc.) – Aid in facilitating the manner in which documents will be shared with parties in the discovery process. This includes various document-sharing platforms.
• Collection of basic ESI (custodian interviews, emails, text messages, video, documents) – The extraction and organization of electronically stored information into separate files for the legal team to use.
• Coordination of expert collection of ESI (forensic, social networking sites, video, audio, email, text messages, etc.) – Communication with third-party data forensics providers to collect electronically stored information.

Learn more about how Amata can assist with Depositions & Discovery Here

Litigation Support to Win More Cases While Protecting Your Profitability

Whether you need to draft simple motions, coordinate with the Sheriff, appear for clerk’s hearings, or schedule court hearings, we can assist you. Our hourly paralegals work as if they were on your staff, with senior paralegals drafting subpoenas under your supervision, and paralegal assistants going to City Hall, the Recorder’s Office, and delivering courtesy copies to judges for you.

This support, on-demand services allow small and mid-size law firms to clean their schedule with errands and get back to growing their business. You aren’t paying for under-utilized staff, and suddenly your profits increase along with your capacity to serve and attract more clients — without creating new constraints on your time.

Contact our team and see how we can assist your cases. We will match you with the perfect fit paralegals and legal assistants, getting you the best quality work at the lowest possible cost. They can support your firm during case assessment, depositions, and discovery year-round, without creating the financial burden of full-time employees.