eDiscovery Counsel Manager

Job Description

eDiscovery Counsel Manager

Position Type

Full Time

Exempt

Offsite (work in-office based on business needs.) Must be within commutable distance to the office

Location: Los Angeles OR San Francisco OR Washington D.C.

Residency Requirements: 

Washington D.C.: For all positions based in the Washington, D.C. office, residency within Washington D.C., Maryland or Virginia and within a reasonable commutable distance to the assigned office is required depending on the firm's discretion and the nature of the role.

Los Angeles and San Francisco Offices: For all positions based in the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices, residency within the state of California and within a reasonable commutable distance to the assigned office is required depending on the firm's discretion and the nature of the role.

Salary Range: $132.21/HR - $151.44/HR ($275,000 - $315,500 Annually)

*The salary range is the one that Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP reasonably expects to pay for this position.  The salary range does not guarantee, obligate, nor set expectations of an applicant’s wage in the event of hire.  The posted range is only one component of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP’s Total Rewards package.

JOB SUMMARY:

eDiscovery Counsel Manager provides creative and strategic design, consultation and management of the firm’s most complex discovery and fact development projects including, but not limited to, document preservation, collection, review, production, deposition preparation, and motion practice with an emphasis on issues associated with electronically stored information.  The position requires only a 50% billable day as a working manager who bills time to clients but also supports and manages administrative and development projects for the eDiscovery practice group.

The eDiscovery Counsel Manager is responsible for managing the eDiscovery Counsel vertical of the Legal Project Services (LPS) department.  These responsibilities include the oversight of personnel, creation and implementation of systems and procedures related to workflow, and the financial success of this vertical.  The person will work with the CLSO to address the strategic direction of the firm that relates to eDiscovery which will include resources, budget, personnel and new product decisions.  They will then be the lead in implementing those strategic goals for their team in conjunction with the eDiscovery Practice group and the firm.

JOB FUNCTIONS

eDiscovery Function

• Lead and manage major discovery projects and advise on progress.
• Plan and implement major case organization including early case assessment strategy from letterhead.
• Create, track and report on cost estimates and case budget.
• Design and implement document collection, review, production and privilege logging plan.
• Develop case team legal hold/preservation strategy.
• Consult on and participate in the meet & confer process.
• Draft, review and assist with protective orders.
• Design and lead all processes concerning privileged documents.
• Draft and consult on ESI protocols.
• Lead, define and implement deposition and witness preparation support process.
• Conduct interviews with custodians and relevant technical personnel to identify data sources.
• Consult regarding technical specs/workflow for eDiscovery.
• Guidance regarding and implementation of search term construction and testing.
• Identification of and guidance on non-standard data sources, including mobile devices.
• Advice and guidance on technical specifications for collection, processing, and production of data.
• Planning, evaluation and guidance on the use of AI/TAR and other technological tools on large data sets.

Management Function

• Guidance regarding discovery vendors, software tools, and budgeting.
• Manage eDiscovery Counsel team with full responsibility for attendance, performance, work assignment completion and other general management supervisory tasks.
• Manage administrative tasks that relate to the operation of the supervised group.

Practice Group Development Function

• Work with letterhead, professionals and other managers to identify, craft and implement workflow standards and best practices to support the eDiscovery practice     group.
• Engage with discovery practice group leader to formulate, implement, and lead training initiatives.
• Assist with initiatives as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

TOOLS

• Microsoft Office
• Relativity
• Case Dynamics
• CaseMap
• Case Notebook
• Brainspace
• Next LP
• Opus II

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. degree from a major, accredited law school.
• Admitted to the CA bar, active and in good standing.
• At least 3 years of experience in the following areas:

  a. management, including supervision of staff, in a legal environment.

  b. strategic design, consultation and management for large scale discovery and fact development projects including, but not limited to, document collections, reviews and productions with an emphasis on issues associated with electronically stored information.

  c. all aspects of litigation project management, technology and consultation, including early fact development, litigation holds, collection, processing, case assessment, culling strategies, document review, production and privilege logging.

  d. discovery project design, implementation, supervision, budgeting and quality control.

• At least 5 years of complex litigation experience in a law firm, or equivalent, emphasizing discovery project management.
• Excellent organizational, reasoning and research skills; creativity; strong written and verbal communication abilities; good judgment; attention to detail; initiative.
• Flexibility, composure and the ability to prioritize and handle many urgent tasks and requests simultaneously with a high level of competence and accuracy; the ability to remain composed and professional under stressful circumstances; sensitivity to ethical and confidentiality requirements; strong customer service skills; operate with little supervision.
• Teamwork, team-building and leadership experience.
• Ability to work with attorneys, managers and professionals as a cohesive team to deliver consistently high-quality services.
• Ability to apply critical thinking to perform complex problem solving.
• Ability to be available, as needed, to work extended hours, nights, and weekends.
• Experience working with legal vendors.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Writing, typing, reading, speaking, hearing, seeing, sitting, bending, reaching, lifting up to 25 lbs

WORKING CONDITIONS

Quiet office environment in a high-rise building, seated the majority of the time

DIRECT REPORTS

eDiscovery Counsel