The Human Side of eDiscovery: Building Teams That Blend Legal and Technical Skills

Modern discovery is no longer defined solely by the rules of procedure or the latest review platform. People define it. Behind every successful discovery effort is a team that bridges the divide between law, technology, and information management. The human side of eDiscovery matters as much as the tools or workflows, and yet it often receives less attention.

Building multidisciplinary teams that combine legal and technical skills is now essential. Data volumes are exploding, new sources of information are multiplying, and courts expect parties to respond quickly and defensibly. Meeting these challenges requires more than a handful of specialists. It requires collaboration across functions, shared training, and an investment in professional development that equips entire teams to work as one.

Why Multidisciplinary Teams Matter

Litigation and investigations touch every part of an organization’s information ecosystem. Some attorneys have developed strong eDiscovery and legal technology skills, but many focus primarily on privilege, relevance, and litigation strategy. In practice, they often rely on colleagues in eDiscovery or eData teams, as well as IT and records professionals, to handle preservation, data collection, and technical workflows.

When these groups work in isolation, gaps form that can delay production or create risk. A legal team may not be aware of how retention settings in collaboration platforms affect whether chat messages are preserved or deleted. An eDiscovery team may execute a thorough collection but face challenges if privilege review is not clearly defined at the outset. Records managers may follow retention policies without realizing that litigation holds should pause scheduled deletion.

Cross-functional teams close those gaps. They bring legal strategy, technical expertise, and records management insight into the same conversation. This is not only about preventing mistakes but also about strengthening the ability to respond quickly, reduce costs, and improve defensibility.

Skills That Shape Effective Teams

Strong discovery teams are built on more than subject matter knowledge. They succeed because professionals from different backgrounds can work together effectively. Some of the most important skills include:

Communication: Legal, eDiscovery, IT, and records professionals must be able to explain their needs and constraints clearly to colleagues outside their field.

Shared Vocabulary: Common training ensures that when someone refers to “preservation,” “metadata,” “processing,” or even technical concepts like load files or hash values, all parties interpret them consistently.

Practical Problem-Solving: Litigation rarely follows a straight line. Teams need to adapt quickly while still maintaining defensibility.

Commitment to Learning: Technology and regulations evolve rapidly. Ongoing professional development helps teams remain current and confident.

These skills are as much about people as they are about process. They require training and reinforcement in environments that value collaboration.

Training and Professional Development as Connective Tissue

One of the most effective ways to strengthen cross-functional teams is through shared training. When attorneys, eDiscovery specialists, IT staff, and records managers learn together, they not only gain knowledge but also build trust and develop a shared vocabulary.

Broad certifications such as the Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS) credential provide a foundation across law, technology, and project management. Specialized training in information governance adds depth in areas like data retention and defensible deletion. Targeted micro courses on emerging issues such as cybersecurity, breach response, or generative AI help professionals stay ahead of trends that increasingly affect discovery.

The value of these programs lies in their ability to unify teams. A legal hold notice drafted by an attorney is far more effective when eDiscovery and IT staff understand precisely how to implement it. A retention policy makes sense across the organization when legal and records professionals have trained on the same principles. Micro courses help security teams appreciate why breach response has implications for downstream litigation.

Training in this context becomes the connective tissue that links professionals across disciplines.

Creating a Culture of Collaboration

Training lays the foundation, but culture sustains it. For multidisciplinary teams to thrive, organizations must foster collaboration and respect across roles.

Some firms and corporations establish cross-functional working groups to oversee discovery readiness. Others integrate eDiscovery training into broader compliance or risk initiatives. The most successful efforts are those where professional development is seen as an investment in organizational strength rather than an optional extra for individuals.

Leaders play a crucial role. Managing partners and general counsel can set the tone by making cross-functional readiness a priority, encouraging participation in training, and recognizing the value of professionals who blend legal and technical skills. When leadership demonstrates commitment, collaboration becomes part of the culture rather than a reactive measure.

Looking Ahead

The need for multidisciplinary discovery teams is on the rise, and it’s an exciting time. Innovative technologies like cloud data, collaboration platforms, and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing litigation and investigations. With the increasing frequency of cybersecurity incidents, the importance of discovery is more crucial than ever. At the same time, navigating privacy regulations presents opportunities to balance data retention for litigation with compliance. It’s a thrilling challenge.

These challenges demand teams that are not only technically skilled but also aligned in their understanding of risk, compliance, and strategy. Holistic training equips them to meet those demands. More importantly, it highlights the human side of discovery. Technology may power the tools, but it is people (attorneys, eDiscovery professionals, IT staff, records managers, and security specialists) who ensure discovery is defensible, efficient, and strategic.

For firms and legal departments, investing in people is not optional. It is the surest path to building teams that can deliver under pressure, meet client expectations, and protect reputations.

Holistic training and professional development are not theoretical. They are practical strategies for creating multidisciplinary teams that blend legal and technical expertise. Just as important, they prepare organizations for the future—where cloud platforms, artificial intelligence, and evolving privacy regulations will continue to reshape discovery.

By actively sharpening their skills today, firms and legal departments equip themselves to tackle future challenges with assurance. This proactive mindset transforms discovery from a mere burden into a powerful, unified asset, fostering lasting resilience and paving the way for great success ahead.