James Cortopassi works as director of litigation support and eDiscovery coordination for New Jersey Legal (NJL). Since June 2009, Mr. Cortopassi has acted as project manager for eDiscovery projects, including forensic acquisitions, imaging, and hosted solutions. Electronic discovery, also referred to as e-discovery or eDiscovery, pertains to exchanging information in electronic format for civil litigation. Electronic information is different than paper information due to its intangible form and volume. Individuals who work in the eDiscovery field oftentimes call themselves litigation support specialists. Litigators refer to discovery as the beginning phase of proceedings where both parties provide each other with evidence as well as other relevant information. Also called electronically stored information (ESI), eDiscovery includes all electronic items, such as email, audio and video, spreadsheets, and word documents. Compiling all this information may be time-consuming, which is why many litigation specialists are proactive in managing information and records once they receive eDiscovery requests. Records management staff work closely with other legal staff and IT members to develop computer programs that can help in eDiscovery efforts. By working together, litigators and support specialists can ensure that everyone manages information properly disposes of all non-important information in compliance with regulations as well as that records management is consistent.

1. What Is Electronic
Discovery, and How
Does It Relate to
Litigation?

2. James Cortopassi works as director of litigation
support and eDiscovery coordination for New
Jersey Legal (NJL). Since June 2009, Mr.
Cortopassi has acted as project manager for
eDiscovery projects, including forensic
acquisitions, imaging, and hosted solutions.
Electronic discovery, also referred to as e-
discovery or eDiscovery, pertains to exchanging
information in electronic format for civil
litigation. Electronic information is different than
paper information due to its intangible form and
volume. Individuals who work in the eDiscovery
field oftentimes call themselves litigation support
specialists.

3. Litigators refer to discovery as the beginning
phase of proceedings where both parties
provide each other with evidence as well
as other relevant information. Also called
electronically stored information (ESI),
eDiscovery includes all electronic items,
such as email, audio and video,
spreadsheets, and word documents.

4. Compiling all this information may be time-
consuming, which is why many litigation
specialists are proactive in managing
information and records once they receive
eDiscovery requests. Records management
staff work closely with other legal staff and
IT members to develop computer programs
that can help in eDiscovery efforts. By
working together, litigators and support
specialists can ensure that everyone
manages information properly disposes of
all non-important information in compliance
with regulations as well as that records
management is consistent.