The total amount of data generated globally is estimated to be doubling every two years. It comes as no surprise that corporations must now increasingly focus on eDiscovery, privacy, security, and information governance. Although the importance of eDiscovery is becoming more prevalent, the Canadian eDiscovery industry is still growing and developing. Companies and law firms are beginning to build their eDiscovery groups in-house to manage these massive amounts of data. It is becoming more common to see teams dedicated to eDiscovery in large corporations, banks, law firms, and boutique practices. As a result, new jobs and careers are being created to deal with the intersection of law and technology. Positions such as analysts, consultants, coordinators, technologists, strategists, project managers, and document reviewers that may not have existed twenty years ago are now common in the legal industry.
One of the ways that new professionals can become involved with the eDiscovery community is by becoming a member of The Sedona Conference and getting involved with Sedona Canada-Working Group 7. Sedona is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational institute dedicated to the advanced study of law and policy in the areas of antitrust law, complex litigation, and intellectual property rights. Its mission is to move the law forward in a reasoned and just way. Sedona Canada’s mission is to create forward-looking principles and best practice recommendations for lawyers, courts, businesses, and others who regularly confront eDiscovery issues in Canada.
Involvement in Sedona Canada is a great way to contribute to the growth of eDiscovery in Canada and a great place for building relationships for networking and mentorship with other professionals in the industry. There are many different subcommittees that work on different initiatives. At present, these subcommittees are undertaking projects such as:
- Commentary on Privacy and Information Security for legal service providers
- Commentary on Social Media
- A third edition of the Sedona Canada Principles
- Education and outreach
Joining the Sedona Conference is easy and provides its members with opportunities to attend conferences, comment on papers, and to work alongside industry leaders. Members strive to develop best practices in an area that is still unfamiliar and challenging to the broader legal and corporate world. If you would like more information or to become a member of Sedona Canada, visit thesedonaconference.org and click on “Membership”, or follow the link here.
Sedona Canada is not the only way to get involved in your local eDiscovery community. There are numerous groups and local chapters Canada-wide available to support eDiscovery professionals. Some of these include the Association of Certified eDiscovery Specialists (ACEDS), the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), Women in eDiscovery (WiE), YYC Litigation Support Group (Calgary), and the Ontario Digital Evidence & eDiscovery Working Group.
The eDiscovery community in Canada is tight knit, with most professionals knowing and supporting each another. As technology continues to evolve, this community must focus on mentoring and encouraging involvement in developing principles and best practices for the broader eDiscovery industry in our country. This allows for new leaders and trail blazers to continue innovation and improvements, while moving the industry forward as a whole.