A trial can get complicated fast.
There are documents to organize, exhibits to prepare, technology to test, and deadlines that do not leave much room for mistakes. That is why many law firms bring in litigation support companies before trial begins.
A good provider can take care of the technical and logistical work while the legal team focuses on the case itself.
But not every provider is the right fit. Before you hire one, it helps to look closely at their experience, services, technology, communication, and pricing.
Start with experience.
A company may offer a long list of services, but that does not mean much if the team has never handled a trial like yours.
Ask what kinds of cases they usually support. If your matter involves a large amount of digital evidence, complicated exhibits, or several attorneys working from different locations, you want a provider that has dealt with those situations before.
A few things worth checking:
You do not need a company that has done your exact case before. You do want one that understands the pace and pressure of trial work.
Think about what you actually need before comparing providers.
Some firms only need help with exhibits. Others may need everything from document management to courtroom presentation equipment.
Full-service litigation support companies may help with:
Before trial:
During trial:
Some cases need more specialized support.
If the case involves deleted files, damaged devices, unusual computer activity, or financial records, you may need forensic litigation support companies.
That type of work may involve recovering data, reviewing digital records, preserving evidence, or tracing activity across devices and systems.
Ask what the provider handles in-house. If they use outside vendors for some services, find out who those vendors are and how the work is managed.
Trial support often involves a lot of data.
The provider should have systems that can handle large files, electronic exhibits, document databases, and remote access without slowing the team down.
Ask what technology they use and how familiar their staff are with it.
Depending on the case, useful tools may include:
Security matters too.
Legal teams regularly work with confidential information. That may include medical records, financial information, private business records, or sensitive client documents.
Ask how files are stored and shared.
You may also want to ask about:
Do not be afraid to ask basic questions. A good provider should be able to explain its security process without hiding behind technical language.
Trial work can change from one hour to the next.
A witness gets moved. A new exhibit comes in. A hearing starts earlier than expected. Someone needs a document immediately.
Your support company needs to respond quickly.
Pay attention to how they communicate before you hire them. If it already takes several days to get a simple answer, that may not improve once the trial starts.
Typically, effective communication entails:
The best outsourced litigation support providers do not feel like a separate outside company.
They work alongside the legal team and make things easier.
Cases change.
You may start with a small team and later need more staff. You may suddenly have twice as many exhibits. Your trial schedule may move by a week.
The provider should be able to adjust.
Ask questions such as:
Experienced litigation support companies know that trial plans are rarely fixed.
A little flexibility can save a lot of trouble later.
Although price is a significant consideration, it shouldn’t be the sole one.
Until you start paying more for equipment, overtime, rush work, or services you thought were included, a low quote may seem appealing.
Request a detailed explanation.
There are several ways to bill for litigation support, including:
Ask about extra charges for things like:
A slightly higher price may be worth it if the provider is experienced, responsive, and reliable.
The goal is not simply to find the cheapest company. It is to find one that will not create new problems during trial.
Once you have narrowed down your options, look at the whole picture.
Does the company have the right experience? Can they provide the services you need? Are they easy to communicate with? Can they adjust if the trial changes?
You should also feel comfortable working with the team.
Trial support involves constant communication, sometimes under a lot of pressure. A provider that works well with your attorneys and staff can make the process much easier.
If you are unsure, consider giving a new provider a smaller project first. That gives you a chance to see how they work before relying on them for a major trial.
The right litigation support companies should make your job easier, not more complicated.
They may help with document review, electronic evidence, trial exhibits, courtroom technology, equipment, war rooms, and eDiscovery. Some also offer forensic support.
The case, the volume of work, the number of employees required, and the services involved all play a role. While some providers use project or data-based pricing, others charge on an hourly basis.
When a case involves deleted files, damaged devices, digital activity, financial records, or other evidence that requires technical analysis, forensic support may be helpful.
Find out how they transfer, store, and safeguard files. When applicable, you can also inquire about HIPAA protections, SOC 2 Type II controls, backups, audits, encryption, and access controls.
Many can, but before hiring them, it’s best to make sure. Inquire about schedule modifications, additional staff, after-hours assistance, and rush work.
Trial preparation, exhibits, documents, equipment, and courtroom technology are the main areas of focus for general litigation support. Technical investigations, data recovery, and digital evidence are the main areas of focus for forensic support.
Start by outlining exactly what the vendor is expected to do, from staffing and courtroom technology to document preparation and eDiscovery. Pricing, deadlines, security, confidentiality, and urgent requests should all be covered in the agreement.
Ask the vendor to walk you through how evidence is received, tracked, stored, accessed, transferred, and returned. There should be a record showing who handled each item and when. For digital evidence, ask about access controls, audit logs, secure storage, and methods used to confirm that files have not been altered.
It is best to bring in a litigation support company once the trial date and support needs are reasonably clear. Larger or more technical cases may need several weeks or even months of preparation. Early planning gives the team time to organize exhibits, test equipment, prepare databases, and fix problems before trial begins.
Ask which eDiscovery systems the vendor works with regularly and what role its team plays in collection, processing, review, and production. They should be comfortable with metadata, search tools, production formats, privilege issues, and preservation. It also helps to ask about previous projects involving a similar amount or type of data.
Extra charges can come from rush requests, overtime, travel, equipment delivery, data hosting, storage, printing, processing, and on-site technical support. Costs may also increase if the amount of data or work grows during the case. Ask for a detailed fee schedule so you know what is included and what may be billed separately.
Create a single, shared plan that addresses staffing, deliveries, equipment, exhibits, trial schedule, and communication. There should be a primary point of contact for both parties who can respond to inquiries and last-minute modifications. Verify courtroom access, power and internet requirements, display equipment, backup systems, and the presentation of exhibits prior to the trial.
Ready to strengthen your trial preparation? Contact our experienced team for a free consultation. We’ll assess your needs and show you how professional litigation support can improve your case outcomes.
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