Introduction
An electronic research tool is a device that aids the process of gathering details and facts to be needed in a case. Its emergence has been able to provide lawyers the platforms where there they can get more facts about their respective cases as evidence without leaving out vital pieces of information. The two major ways through which an electronic research will enhance my performance level as well as productivity in this case are stated and explained below for proper understanding.
Updated legal information
This is perhaps one major role of electronic research tools and how they will aid me to get all the details concerning this case that will be considered to be accurate. In this regards, statutes get amended with the passage of time, laws that were considered constitutional some few years back; are no longer valid in this present time. Simply put, there is hardly any law that will remain untouched or not amended for years.
With the aid of electronic research tools, legal practioners are able to get easy access to amended information just with the click of a mouse. It is not possible for an attorney to remember every law and the changes that follow them. However, all these barriers have been completely eliminated with the emergence of electronic research tool.
As someone in the field of paralegals; I will want to get updated through an electronic research tool to ensure that my sources are well up to date and valid. Through the platform of electronic research, there have been developments of devices that have helped to update lawyers and attorneys whenever there is an amendment in statutes. Through this, a legal researcher like me will be aware of the punishments each case is bound to receive.
This can assist me a lot in knowing all the facts concerning the case in the following:
Determining the level of viability of the claim presented by the senior partner
Reviewing the contract carefully to determine the weight of allegations
Checking for facts to back up claims
Searching for weaknesses in the claim with a view to strengthening them.
Processing of needed information for the case in a timely fashion
There is no doubt that the practice of law has been completely modernized by the advent of computers (Winna, 2011). This is because attorneys will not only get details of every case in a very high level of accuracy, but in addition to that, such information will be available to them within a very short period of time.
Electronic research tool will enable me to easily get access to information that will be relevant to the case at hand. These pieces of information could be in the form of:
Trying to make comparisons with statutes and amendments to indicate their differences concerning the case.
Trying to reach a conclusion on the case through the provided details with the information provided by the attorney.
The two electronic spreadsheets
With the emergence of information technology and devices, it is now possible for legal practitioners to achieve more within a shorter time frame. The arrangement of my caseload through electronic spreadsheets will enable me to make references when possible. The two electronic spreadsheets that I would like to make use of in this case are:
Microsoft excel spreadsheet
I will make use of this application by creating sections where important details concerning the case will be stored. The diagram below will briefly and clearly explain how I will organize the caseload for this case in an electronic sheet through the use of Microsoft excel package spread sheet
Secondly another electronic spread sheet that I will use to organize my case load is the Zoho sheet.
Since, I am playing a complementary role in this case as the senior attorney has brought me in to assist, he has to look at some certain things in the sheet relating to facts that do concern the case. The Zoho sheet offers the platform where the file will not just be arranged in a way to ease reference purposes but also, in addition to that, it will be very possible for me to share the file with the senior attorney. The sheet can be in two modes which are:
With the second mode, the senior attorney will be updated on the on – goings concerning the case.
The concept of document review
Document review as used within this context can be seen as the process whereby an attorney and other parties connected to a case will take a critical examination at all the documents relating to it (Olivas, 2006). The main reason behind this process is to help the attorney wield out those irrelevant pieces of information which will not be needed in relation to the case.
That is to say, document review arises based on the fact that there may be too many pieces of information available for a case. A large percentage of such information may not be relevant. As such, they will have to be properly sorted out. The instances where document review is needed are:
During merger and acquisition
When there is litigation.
When there is conducting of internal audit process by auditors of an organization (Kane, 2014).
In this case of litigation, the documents to be reviewed will be extracted and retrieved by the attorney through a process that is referred to as discovery. This process involves every party related to the case, providing vital pieces of information that are needed by the attorneys of the case. It is a legal way of extracting facts from the parties. Such may include:
Requesting for documents whenever the need arises
Carrying out interrogations of the respective parties concerned.
The major aim for such procedure is to aid the obtaining of needed evidence as at when due from concerned parties.
Memorandum
Re: Fees for the electronic spreadsheet that has been created for breach of contract
Question
Is it necessary that the bill concerning the expenses incurred on the paralegal fees for the electronic spreadsheets which have been created as clerical or legal services for the case concerning the breach of contract which Exists between Mr. Mike Alington and Mr. Suzor Louis where the latter refused to fulfill his own part of the agreement?
Answer
Yes. In line with the provisions of the constitution, it is necessary to include such bill in the list of accrued payment to be presented to Mr. Mike Alington due to the fact that the sheet was presented by the assistant attorney whose services were hired by the senior attorney.
Facts
On the 4th of May 2016, the services of an assistant attorney (paralegal personnel) was hired to help dissect the facts related the case of breach of contract between Mr. Mike and Mr. Suzor Louis. In the process of making facts obtained concerning the case to be available at will, an electronic spread sheet was created. This included background information that would help in making the case to be smooth.
Conclusion
Having carefully observed the above, it is obvious that the services of the assistant attorney was hired by the senior attorney, the amount to be charged as fees for the preparation of the electronic sheet has been hereby deemed as necessary and as such should be included as a legal charge.
Letter
Re: Financial records to be submitted to opposing counsel
Dear Sir,
I hereby write to have you informed of the need for you to submit every financial record that is vital and is related to the case concerning the breach of contract to me; either on the 23rd of June or before the 15th of July as requested by the opposing counsel.
This request by the opposing counsel is in line with the provisions of the law concerning breach of contract. The aim of them requesting for such information is to strengthen the validity of their case and arrive at some facts which they might have considered to be vogue in their records.
I will be very grateful if this request is granted as a failure to comply with it may attract the wrath of the law and may also affect our legal standings in this case.
Best regards
Assistant attorney
References
Winna, K. (2011). Sources of American law. Retrieved June 6, 2016, from http://sourcesofamericanlaw.lawbooks.cali.org/chapter/electronic-research/
Kane, S. (2014, December 15). What is document review? An overview of the document review process. Retrieved June 6, 2016, from Careers, http://legalcareers.about.com/od/litigationsupportcareers/a/What-Is-Document-Review.htm
Olivas, D. (2006, September 18). Legal process Outsourcing of First level document review. Retrieved June 6, 2016, from BPO / Business Process Outsourcing, http://www.sourcingmag.com/legal-process-outsourcing-of-first-level-document-review/
