Tell me about Document Review jobs
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Anonymous
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I'm looking to pick up some contract work. Document review seems appealing for my schedule because of the short term commitment. I have 12 years of mostly nonprofit legal experience work (public benefits, poverty law, landlord tenant, wills, some civil litigation). I'm not working right now because I have three small kids, but I'd like to do some short term projects to keep my hand in the pot.
-Do I need any specialized training to be considered for document review positions? -How can I get more training if I need it? What software is typically used? -Where is the best place to find document review job postings? -Do any document review jobs offer telework positions? -Please describe a typical day for an attorney doing document review (other than sitting at a cube, staring at a screen). Is any of it interesting? Does it require any type of special legal background or mostly just someone who can scan quickly for relevant information? |
Anonymous
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Doc review is not "keeping your hand in the pot." It's a career killer. I would only do it if you never plan on going back to a real legal job one day.
-Doc reviewer of over 10 yrs |
Anonymous
Normally I would agree with this. But if OP isn't working at all now, I don't think the doc review jobs would hurt her future career prospects. She doesn't even have to put them on her resume. Not doing so would negate some of the benefits of 'keeping your hand in the pot' (which I agree with you isn't really what doc review would be), but she would at least be making some money. I'd look at the income as more valuable than any aspects of keeping your hand in the game. |
Anonymous
Can you please explain? Does document review not entail any real legal work? I would think at least there wouldn't be any major gaps on my resume. |
Anonymous
DP here. Rightly or wrongly (often wrongly) it's considered very low-skill work for attorneys who couldn't find anything better. It's not a resume builder. |
Anonymous
It is pretty low-skill legal work. Some people do it because it can have very flexible hours, but for the most part it is people who couldn't find anything better. It also tends to be mind numbingly boring and quite often the working conditions (for a white collar job) can be pretty miserable. |
Anonymous
Oh yes, agreed, but there is a mini-generation of lawyers who graduated in the 2005-2009 era who simply couldn't find other work when they graduated, and now can't progress to anything else because that's the only experience they have. It's not necessarily a reflection of their inherent abilities, so much as the market when they graduated. Similar situation for women coming back from long SAHM breaks, people who followed their spouse's job, etc. |
Anonymous
| OP, you should read up on doc review on JDunderground. Or at least post there asking for feedback. It's a more tailored audience. |
Anonymous
OP here- thank you! I’ve never heard of JDUnderground. I’ll check it out. |
Anonymous
I hire a lot of doc reviewers. You need to sign up with a contract attorney agency; most firms look to agencies to staff doc reviews. The software will vary by review, but we mostly use Relativity, Everlaw, and Disco. All are easy to learn and fairly intuitive. You can probably get the basics from the company's website or learn as you go. We usually offer a training in the software before the review begins. Some firms will let doc reviewers telework--it depends on the firm and the project. From what I have seen, the doc reviewer's typical day is just staring at the screen. A specific legal background can be helpful, depending on the project. For example, if staffing an antitrust review, I look for reviewers with antitrust background. Likewise for securities, etc. Your background will not be applicable to any specialized reviews, but I assume there are reviews where they just need smart people who can crank through a pile of documents. I agree with all the other commenters who have said this is neither a resume builder nor a way to keep your foot in the door. That said, when we hire for full-time, non-partner track positions, we often look to our best doc reviewers as candidates but they do not have an advantage over other candidates. We would never consider a doc reviewer for a partner-track position. Not saying it's fair/just/reaonable; it's just a fact. |
Anonymous
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DH was one of those lawyers who got stuck in the Doc review bubble after his Big Law firm collapsed in 2009. It took years to get back to a firm and he couldn’t get back in partner track.
I’m not a lawyer but from watching him struggle with the doc review stigma (despite top tier JD)...don’t do it unless you NEED the money. If you need quick cash, then do it. You might want to see if you can get consulting gigs or even start with some pro-bono work with small non profits to keep relevant. |
Anonymous
| With your past experience, pro bono sounds like a better fit. The DC bar associate (and most other bar assoc) have pro bono opportunities in the areas you have experience in. You could take on only one case at a time, or even be co-counsel on a case. Doc review projects usually want folks to work pretty unflexible hours (at least 9-5 daily, sometimes more). But, you do get paid per hour, and usually time and a half for overtime. |
Anonymous
Also, I have NOT seen any telework doc review projects. Generally you're in a room with a bunch of other doc reviewers in a firm basement or rented space. |
Anonymous
| If you do doc review for more than 4 months you’ll never get out unless you work at the BVA. If you don’t know how to use relativity you can find tutorials online . Some projects require doc review experience some don’t |
Anonymous
Telework is the exception not the rule because they want you to be as miserable as possible and clients assume you won’t honor your ethical obligations |