• Sin No. 1: Hiring overqualified reviewers. The recession has flooded the legal market with well-qualified lawyers who are willing to take on contract review work while looking for permanent positions. That may sound like a good thing, but lawyers putting together a team should consider this: Seasoned paralegals tend to have significantly more document-review experience that the average lawyer, they’re more accustomed to that work environment, and they can help save on costs. They’re also less likely to jump ship for a better offer.
• Sin No. 2: Failing to establish a firm time commitment. Most temporary reviewers are looking for a full-time position or a project that provides a stable income for at least several months. It’s important, then, for counsel to be clear about the review’s timeline in advance and to ask reviewers to make a commitment. Unplanned turnover can be a real project-killer; it eats through the budget and can delay project completion.