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The New Wave of Concept Search Tools
Although the concept of concept searching has been around for at least 2,000 years in philosophical circles and was first realized in the software world in the 1970s, it is making big news in today's electronic discovery and automated litigation support world. Over the past year, a series of vendors have introduced software solutions they claim can take us far beyond the results we get using tools built around searching full text or coding data using key words, strings of text and Boolean search algorithms. Whether it is through mimicking the thought processes of high-level aquatic mammals, developing libraries of semantically and geographically related words and terms or displaying documents as masses of dots within sprays of bubbles, these software programs, we are told, are the automated litigation support equivalent to Big Blue, the computerized chess champion.
Are they? Yes ' and no.
Yes: The electronic discovery market has been growing at a stunning rate ' probably doubling each year since 1999 and likely to continue to do so for the next couple of years. That growth means that we are starting to have to deal with cases where the potentially relevant data is the equivalent of tens, or even hundreds, of millions of pages of documents. We cannot work through that volume of data using the methods developed in the 1980s and 90s ' scanning, manual coding and then computerized searching using key words, string searches or Boolean algebra. Even in a bet-the-company case, only the rarest of parties can bear the costs of sending all that data through all those processes. And even then, we just cannot wait the time it takes to complete those steps. The methods of the late 90s ' capturing electronic data electronically, converting it to a more readily searchable electronic form and then searching it using key words, etc. ' are better but still not good enough. Too often, that means sitting 50, 100 or more attorneys before computers and asking them to review all the documents online. Even with culling based on hash codes and similar criteria, the volume of data can still be too great for a meaningful and timely human review.
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models
Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.
Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge
As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.
Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator
How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.
Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising
The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.
Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality
This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.