"Everybody neat and pretty? Then on with the show!" (Mickey Mouse)

One of the trends that I noticed in this year's sessions is that e-discovery has an expanded presence across the educational sessions.  From its primary locale in the Lit Support track, e-discovery is making increased appearances in Practice Management, Records, and Finance.  My opinion is that this is how it should be since no part of the legal industry (corporate or law firm side) is really untouched by e-discovery.  I look forward to the diversity of perspectives that this should present. 

On the vendor side of things, there are several areas that I am interested in:

• In-House Review Tools. Our firm has not upgraded our current tool since 2004ish.  Yeah.... Things have changed a bit since then, so I am on the prowl for the latest and greatest.  Of course, it also needs to be a proven and steady tool. You know, the one all the lawyers will love, that they'll be able to use without any training, that doesn't have any bugs, that will install with ease, and that will not need maintenance --ever.  I'm just sure that the perfect tool is out there waiting for me:  Relativity, Concordance, Summation, CaseLogistix, some newcomer?  I'm coming for you, be patient.

• Early Case Assessment: There seem to be new players in this area every week.  We've tried a few with varying degrees of pleasure and pain.  I'm looking forward to seeing some of the new versions (Clearwell) and other new or  newer offerings at the show.

• Case Management:  We're seeing a rising demand from our attorneys for total case management tools -- with transportable feature -- hot case docs, depo transcripts, exhibits, correspondence -- the old binders in digital form.   There are a few front-runners in this area, and I'm hoping to see a few more.

• Project Management:  Maybe it's just us (though I seriously doubt it) but we're really wishing for the magic pill of total organization (vs our current mostly effective but rather piecemeal approach).  However, since no one appears to have developed the magic helmet that through osmosis transfers all details into a database of some sort, we are still on the lookout for better ways to comprehensively track our cases -- plans, scope, invoices, vendor specs, contacts, server space, media logs,  destruction and archiving of records, and more....   Oh yeah, and again with the "cheap and easy" requirement.  That's not too much to ask is it?

There are many other areas of interest and vendors to watch, but these are the ones at the top of my list.  It's going to be a great week so, "see ya real soon" (Mickey Mouse Club).