Get Started with LOCAL DISCOVERY

Applies To: LOCAL DISCOVERY

In this article

Review the Prerequisites

1. Create a Case

2. Import Documents Into the Case Using a Load File

3. Import Documents Into a Case Using the Processing Engine

4. Image and OCR Documents

5. Review a Case

6. Send Files to TRIAL DIRECTOR and Case Story

7. Create a Production

8. Prepare Exhibits and Present in Trial

This topic contains high-level procedures to help you get started using LOCAL DISCOVERY.

The following illustration shows the basic process outline. The numbers correspond to the procedures later in this topic.

The basic workflow diagram, above, and the tasks that follow outline one way you can use LOCAL DISCOVERY. This is the standard, most basic, method for doing so. There may be alternative ways to complete the same process.

Tip: To make it easier to find the procedures you need, the procedures are collapsed. If you want to expand a procedure, click the triangle next to the procedure title to open and close the detailed information.

ClosedReview the Prerequisites

The following table shows the prerequisites that must be in place before you start.

 

Task

Notes

Links

Set Up Your LOCAL DISCOVERY Account

You must set up your LOCAL DISCOVERY account before you can download and install the application.

Follow the steps in the email you received.

Install LOCAL DISCOVERY

LOCAL DISCOVERY must be installed in order to complete the tasks which follow.

Migrate Users and Cases

If you have Eclipse SE and want to move your Eclipse SE cases and users to LOCAL DISCOVERY you must migrate them.

Migrate Cases and Users from Eclipse SE to LOCAL DISCOVERY

Add Users and Groups

You control system access via users and groups. The groups a user belongs to and the individual privileges they are assigned control the forms and fields they are able to see, items they are able to change, and cases they can view and edit.

Add Clients

Clients are the foundation of your business. In Case Management you organize client information in conjunction with case management and production activities. Before you create a case, you must first create a client.

Add a Client

Closed1. Create a Case

After the system is properly configured, the first step in the process of using LOCAL DISCOVERY is the creation of a case. After a case is created, you can import documents and transcripts, review them, send documents to TRIAL DIRECTOR and Case Story, create productions, and prepare and present exhibits in trial.

To create a case, open the Case Management module and follow the steps below:

  1. On the Dashboard, click the Case Management module.

  2. In the navigation panel, click the Cases tab.

  3. Click the Create Case button above the case table.

  4. In the Case Info step, enter all information:

    • Client ID: Select the client whose case is being defined. If the client is not listed, add it as explained in Add a Client, then return to creating cases.

    • Case Name: Enter a name for the case. This name must be unique and cannot include certain special characters. The hyphen, underscore, and parentheses are among the characters allowed. Maximum length is 75 characters.

      Note: The following characters are not permitted in a case name: \ ? / : * " < > |

    • Matter Number: This entry is optional. If needed, enter a case matter number of up to 100 characters.

    • Data Directory: The location where Case Management will place database-specific files and other files required for the case. A case-specific folder will be created for each case. The entry may be a mapped drive or UNC path, but it must be accessible by all users. (A UNC path can help ensure this.) The data directory can be one of the following:

      • The system directory identified when you first logged in. This is the default location.

      • Another directory defined to be the default data directory (see Configure System Level Options). This directory can optionally be set as the required directory (no override allowed during case creation).

      • A user-selected directory (if a required data directory is not defined).

  5. When finished, click Next to continue with the Create a Case wizard. Proceed through the wizard and, when finished click Create.

For a step-by-step guide to adding a case in the Case Management module, see Create a Case.

Closed2. Import Documents Into the Case Using a Load File

The easiest way to add documents is via a load file. You can import load files using the Import Wizard.

  1. On the Dashboard, click the Administration module.

  2. In the navigation panel, expand the Import/Export menu and click the Import Data work task.

  3. Beginning with the first tab (Step 1) of the Import Data workspace, review and make a note of the information you will need for each step.

  4. Click Next and step through the wizard, when you are finished, click Submit.

For a step-by-step guide to importing case data, see Import Case Data.

Closed3. Import Documents Into a Case Using the Processing Engine

Once your case has been created and loaded with data, you may find that not all of the necessary case documents were contained in the load files that you used. There are several options for going about importing these documents depending on whether you need to import native files, images, or physical documents.

  1. Open the Processing module.

  2. Proceed with one or more of the following actions depending on what type of data that needs to be imported:
    • Ingest Native Files
      1. In the left navigation panel, click the Native Ingestion tab.
      2. When the Native Ingestion module opens select the Client ID and Case.
      3.  Go through the following steps in the workspace as necessary:
      4. Click the Start button.
      5. Once all of the native files have been ingested into the case, close out of the Native Ingestion module.

      For more detailed information on this procedure, see Ingest Native Files.

    • Ingest Images
      1. In the left navigation panel, click the Image Ingestion tab.
      2. Select the Client ID and Case then click the Start button.
      3. When the Ingest Images wizard opens, go through each of the ingestion steps.
      4. Once the images have been processed, confirm that the correct number of images were ingested in the Confirmation screen.
      5. Close out of the Image Ingestion wizard.

      For more detailed information on this procedure, see Ingest Image Files.

    • Scan Physical Documents
      1. In the left navigation panel, click the Scan tab.
      2. Select the necessary Client ID and Case Name from the drop-down menus.
      3. Click the Scan button to open the Scanning module and start a new scan session.
      4. Scan the documents.
      5. Quality check the documents.
      6. Complete the scanning session.

      For more detailed information on this procedure, see Workflow: Scan Documents into a Case.

      You can also import transcripts into the Review module. For more information, see Overview: Transcripts.

Closed4. Image and OCR Documents

If all of the necessary files have been imported and you would like to create OCR or image files for multiple documents, then you may also do so through the Processing module.

  1. If you have not already done so, open the Processing module.

  2. Proceed with one or more of the following actions, depending on what your case needs:
    • OCR Multiple Documents
      1. In the left navigation panel, click the OCR tab.
      2. Select the appropriate Client ID and Case.
      3. When the OCR Images wizard opens, go through and select the OCR import options such as which documents to process, how to handle page rotation, and language options.
      4. Once all of the appropriate fields have been filled and selected, click the Start button.
      5. Once the program finishes, review the Confirmation step to ensure that all documents were processed correctly.
      6. Click the Close button when you are finished.

      For more detailed information on this procedure, see Create OCR for Multiple Documents (Bulk OCR).

    • Create Document Images
      1. In the left navigation panel, click the TIFF tab.
      2. Select the appropriate Client ID and Case.
      3. When the TIFF Images wizard opens, go through and select the document range to be processed, and set the file types you would like to include/exclude.
      4. Once all of the appropriate fields have been filled and selected, click the Start button.
      5. Once the program finishes, review the Confirmation step to ensure that all documents were processed correctly.
      6. Click the Close button when you are finished.

      For more detailed information on this procedure, see Create Multiple Document Images (Bulk TIFF).

    For more information on processing files, see Overview: Processing Files and Workflow: Process and Produce Documents.

Closed5. Review a Case

After a case has been created and documents have been added to a case, text has been OCR'd and images have been created, you are ready to begin the review process.

Note: Administrators may choose to create review passes and batches to further control the review process. For more information, see Create a Review Pass and Batches.

  1. Open the Review module.

  2. Select the review pass and batch you would like to review.
  3. Review the documents assigned to you.

  4. Once all batches have been appropriately reviewed, close the Review module.

For more information on reviewing documents, see Workflow: Review a Case. You can also review transcripts, for more information, see Review a Transcript.

Closed6. Send Files to TRIAL DIRECTOR and Case Story

Documents that have been loaded into a case can be sent to the TRIAL DIRECTOR and Case Story modules. To do this:

  1. Open the Review module.

  2. In the Case View pane, select one or more documents assigned to you and select Send to Trial/Case Story.

    Tip: To access the document in TRIAL DIRECTOR, navigate to the EVIDENCE module and look in the Document Explorer for the items you sent. To access the document in Case Story, click the Documents tab on the left-hand side, and look for the items in the Document Explorer.

Closed7. Create a Production

Once all of the documents that will be produced have been reviewed as needed, you are ready to produce your documents.

  1. Open the Administration module.

  2. In the top panel, click the Production tab.
  3. Go through each of the following procedures:
    1. Create Production: start by selecting the case and relevant documents you would like to produce, either from advanced search or from a document range.
    2. Output Options: once the document set is specified, define output options such as output type, naming, load file options, etc.
    3. Image Options: if you selected Image or PDF as your output type, you can set options such as image type, page scaling, and margins.
    4. Endorsement Options: this section allows you to set various types of endorsements, such as image keys, date fields, or a custom message.
    5. Print Options: if you selected Print as your output type, you can set printing options for your produced files.
    6. Summary: this tab shows a summary of all of the production settings that have been defined for your case.
    7. Production: once you have confirmed all of your production settings are correct, this page allows you to either start the production immediately, or set a delayed start time. You can also set production numbering options before starting the production.
  4. Check the output directory and error log locations to ensure that all files were produced.
  5. Close the Administration module when you are finished.

For more detailed information on this procedure, see Workflow: Create a New Production Job

Closed8. Prepare Exhibits and Present in Trial

After you send files to TRIAL DIRECTOR you can work with the files in the TRIAL DIRECTOR EVIDENCE module, to prepare them for trial, and present them in the TRIAL DIRECTOR Presentation module. For more information, see Workflow: Get Started with TRIAL DIRECTOR.

To watch a brief workflow demonstration of TRIAL DIRECTOR, see the video below.