Managing Knowledge Adds Value at the Firm

Twenty-five years ago, the card catalog was generally the best research aid and means of organizing and accessing a collection of legal materials. This system was perhaps sufficient at the time, but it ultimately proved to be an incomplete and inefficient form of knowledge management. In recent years, as firms have grown and litigation matters become more complex, firms have generated a valuable collection of in-house work product. Increasingly, the price of neglecting that accumulated knowledge greatly exceeds the expense of gaining control over it.

Litigation attorneys recognize it is essential to have access to work product, as well as classic library resources, to better serve clients and remain competitive. In addition, as technology advances, litigators have become heavily dependent on e-mail, Web sites and other electronic materials with considerable research value. As any litigator knows, the ability to control and leverage vast amounts of information efficiently can mean the difference between success and failure.