Litigation Support Project Management
Certificate Program
Syllabus
The Organization of Legal Professionals' (OLP) Litigation Support Project Management
Certificate Program is a seven course, 3 month/12-week series focused on the creation of a
professional that understands today's Litigation Support and management needs in a law firm
or corporate law department setting.
Litigation Support Management professionals must have a solid knowledge base of both legal
and technology practices combined with strong leadership and management skills. Courses
focus on the legal process, technology, ethics, leadership, project management, and common
practices utilized by Litigation Support Management professionals. Typically, Litigation Support
specialists have either a strong understanding of the legal process or litigation technology.
OLP's program allows you to choose an initial approach to fill in knowledge gaps. The program
will also include an additional overview of some of the most current platforms used in Litigation
Support.
Program Highlights:
Designed, developed and delivered by a group of leading Litigation Support experts,
consultants, law professors, senior paralegals, paralegal managers and other top industry
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professionals, OLP’s Litigation Support Project Management Certificate program instructs you
specifically in the areas you are most likely to be assigned.
Taking this course program does not give students an automatic certificate. You must take and
pass a Final Exam in order to get the certificate. A certificate program differs from a
certification exam. A certification exam indicates mastery/competency, hands-on experience
and is typically administered by a 3rd party standard-setting organization set through a
defensible, industry-wide process. A certificate program does not constitute certification. It
indicates completion of a course. You cannot be certified by taking a course. You must take the
aforementioned certification exam.
How You Will Benefit:

Learn the life cycle of a case in order to better control your projects

Anticipate problems and solve them as they arise

Manage time while juggling multiple projects with knowledge of what's coming up next

Gain the ability to exert influence without authorities
Overview:
The program shows you:

Analysis of relevant knowledge that those working in Litigation Support Management should
know regarding the legal process; case law; and law firm, corporate legal department, and
service provider functions; with a focus on personnel management and leadership, project
management, technology, and must-have best practices.

A comprehensive study of technologies commonly used to help support litigation, including
those used for Processing Data, Document Review, and the Presentation of Evidence.

The study of ethics and ethical considerations during the litigation process.

Key practices in litigation support such as working with various data types (both paper and
electronic), developing and managing project plans, working with service providers, and
common approaches to Litigation Support Department structures.

Courses meet twice per week for 90 minutes – two hours each session.
Litigation Support Management Courses of Study
(Select an initial legal or technological course of study (1 A or 1 B) to be reviewed via recording
prior to the start of the course) to gain a solid understanding of each discipline within Litigation
Support Management)
1. A - The Legal Process for Litigation Support Professionals:
Civil Litigation for Geeks Labs and hand-on assignments Recorded sessions
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Take on the challenges associated with Litigation Support - and get the job done right. Now,
you can get the civil litigation process skills that spell project success - understanding the legal
process from the court system to filing a complaint through settlement or trial.
As a Litigation Support Professional learn how to conquer the life cycle of the litigation process
and gain the confidence you need to take a project from conception to completion.
How You Will Benefit:

Learn the life cycle of a case in order to better control your projects

Anticipate problems and solve them as they arise

Manage time while juggling multiple projects with knowledge of what's coming up next

Gain the ability to exert influence without authority
What You Will Cover:

How the Federal Court system works (Structure of the Federal/State/Administrative court
system)

The Discovery Phase

Pleadings: Complaint, Summons and Service

Trial Preparation - Post-Discovery to Pretrial

Trial

Post-trial Procedures
Or take:
1. B – Fundamentals of Technology
Labs and hand-on assignments - 3 Recorded Sessions
How You Will Benefit:

You will learn the fundamentals of computer systems, network and infrastructure systems, and
today's most widely used computing platforms essential for Litigation Support Management
professionals.
What You Will Cover:

Review of the overall work flow in obtaining and processing data

Exploration of computer systems

Creation, storage and management of digital data for preservation, collection and searching of
electronically stored information (ESI)

Fundamental components of computers, computer devices, mobile devices and network and
Methods by which data can be extracted and protected from destruction and alterations
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
How computers create, store, and manage digital data that is fundamental to understanding the
preservation, collection, and searching of electronically stored information.

The fundamental components of computers, computer devices, mobile devices, and network
and storage architecture.

Analyzing methods by which systems store electronic data as well as the methods by which the
data can be extracted and protected from destruction and alterations.

Operating systems and the basic differences between each – Windows, Linux, Unix, MAC, and
some lesser known operating systems

Devices that store data that aren't typically thought of as computers, such as gaming systems,
voice mail systems, surveillance systems, and peripheral devices.
2. Technology and Concepts (Advanced Practices)
(Labs and hand-on assignments) - 5 Sessions
Session I: Data Security Practices
Do you frequently see case evidence sitting on desks for days and months at a time? Are there
stacks of CDs and DVDs sitting around in the open? Is the case evidence that you are working
with subject to government regulations, such as healthcare and finance? This session will help
you implement must have procedures for chain-of-custody, physical security, data
dispositions, data encryption.
What You Will Learn:

Physical and digital security practices

Digital and paper security practices

Data regulated by government regulations and compliance

Chain-of-Custody procedures

Data maintenance – backups, restorations, preservation of original data

Sun setting data – destruction, return to source, archiving, and client authorization

Accessibility to data – internal and external parties (firm employees, client(s), co-counsel,
experts, remote access)
Session II: e-Discovery Collections & Forensics
Do you find yourself having to determine what evidence is eDiscovery and what is computer
forensics?
Would you like a road map that will guide you through the maze of determining factors? This
session will help you to develop an overview of what you can collect and when to call in a
computer forensics experts.
What You Will Learn:

The difference between eDiscovery and forensics
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
When are you recovering too much e-Mail and ESI?

Using keyword searching to find relevant emails

Online review

What exists and how did it get there

What can be collected

Steps to refining and culling data

Filtering relevant data

Categorizing data

Cloud and Social Media collections
Session III: Data Types, Loading Data, Exporting & Producing Data
What You Will Learn:

Working with common data types

Working with native files, image based files, proprietary and legacy file types

Understanding load files, types of load files, and editing load files

Loading and producing/exporting data with and without load files

Foreign language and exotic data types

Unicode
Session IV: The Cloud – What Is It?, Pros & Cons, and Best Practices
What You Will Learn:

What is The Cloud? Cloud Storage vs. Cloud Computing. Public Cloud vs. Private Cloud

Addressing security concerns

Judicial opinions on use of The Cloud

In-house data management issues compared to The Cloud

Choosing the right Cloud provider

Negotiating a fair and understandable Cloud contract

Best Practices
Session V: Predictive Coding & Big Data
What You Will Learn:

What Predictive Coding is and isn't

Understanding the various approaches of Predictive Coding
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
The differences between Predictive Coding, Technology Assisted Review, Computer Assisted
Review, Intelligent Review, Clustering, etc.

How PC is implemented

Defensibility of Predictive Coding

Predictive Coding best practices

What is Big Data

How to understand and manage Big Data

Big Data impacts on litigation and discovery
3. Software Overview, Usage, Troubleshooting & Maintenance
( Labs and hand-on assignments) - 1 Session

Review Platform (local), Review Platform (hosted), Processing Platform, and Presentation
Platform

Local Platforms
Suggestions – CaseLogistix, Summation, Concordance

Cloud Based Platforms
Suggestions – Relativity, Kroll, Recommind, InControl, Clearwell

Processing Platforms
Suggestions – Law, IPro

Presentation Platforms
Suggestions – Trial Director, Sanction
4. Project Management
(Labs and hand-on assignments) - 6 Sessions
Not only is it crucial for organizations to manage projects effectively and strategically, poor
planning and execution can lead organizations to spend money and time unnecessarily, leading
to dissatisfied clients.
Proper project management can be a competitive advantage and lead to project efficiencies, the
mitigation of risks, and to more successful projects.
Learn the project management techniques and how to apply them to litigation projects that will
help ensure you and you projects are successful
Session I: Introduction to Legal Project Management, Introduction of Project Management
Hypothetical, And Introduction to Resources for Learning Project Management
The Changing Legal Marketplace and the reasons why Legal Project Management (“LPM”) is the
fastest growing, most in demand, legal discipline in this decade.
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
Legal Systems Engineering, Legal Value Engineering, Legal Process Analysis and other newly
emerging, previously non-existent legal disciplines

Introduction of LPM course Hypothetical – Dixon v. Providential Life Ins. Co. (Licensed from
the National Institute for Trial Advocacy – “NITA”)
Introduction to Resources for Learning Project Management
Session II: Project Management Planning, Scoping

What is Project Management?
• SMART Planning
• Practical things you can do now to start managing projects
• How to conduct litigation project design meetings with attorneys, paralegals, clients, and
vendors
• Differing project management methodologies (“Waterfall,” “Agile,” etc.)

• Introduction to a simple LPM Life Cycle

• Getting and setting clear goals and objectives
• Determining client Issues, Interests, assumptions and requirements for a legal matter
• Building a Project Statement of Work & Project Charter
• Developing a Project Plan
• Determining legal project scope, requirements and deliverables
• Determining Stakeholders and Persons Interested in the legal matter
• Building a Stakeholder Register
Session III: Tasking, Scheduling and Resourcing Projects

The “Scope-Schedule-Cost-Quality” Equilibrium

Project scope planning and verification

Converting requirements into assignment specifications

Building a Work Breakdown Structure (“WBS”) for a legal project

Ordering, sequencing and prioritizing tasks

Scheduling tasks and constraints

“Critical Path,” “Critical Chain” & Project Float

Types of project resources (labor, materials, costs)

Using Generic Resources to determine conceptual budget estimates|
Session IV: Project Cost Estimate and Budgeting

Estimating Project Budgets and Costs

“Top Down” vs. “Bottom Up” planning techniques

“Conceptual” versus “Parametric” budget estimates

Selecting the legal team and assigning resources
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
Understanding pricing models for each type of service Resource scenario planning
Session V: Project Risk Management And Performance Monitoring

Assessing and managing project risks

Identifying project risks

Creating a Project Risk Register

Conducting “Qualitative” & “Quantitative” risk analysis

Identification and management of data to be considered responsive and ways to preserve,
collect, process, and review the data

Tracking and monitoring of the project work

Managing changes orders to the project scope, schedule, cost & work

Project scope control and change management

Preventive actions, corrective actions and integrated change management

Project performance reporting

Key performance indicators and forecasting methods

Documentation – Lessons learned, guarding against future disputes, transparency

Project closure
Session VI: Managing Stakeholder Communications And Expectations; Reporting, After
ActionReports/Knowledge Management



Developing a communications plan for a project
Using RASCI Charts (“Responsible-Accountable-Support-Consulted-Informed”)
Communication planning and communication levels to various stakeholders

Project tracking and communications

Project performance reporting

Keyperformance indicators and forecasting methods

Conducting After Action Reports

Building a Knowledge Management Database for future projects
5.Leadership and Skills for Legal Management Professionals
(Labs and hand-on assignments) - 4 Sessions/2 Parts
This two-part course examines the responsibilities and challenges of legal professionals who
occupy leadership roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. You'll learn how to:
Part I – Personnel Management and Leadership (2 sessions)

Hire, manage, develop, coach, evaluate, discipline, and terminate employees

Manage organizational change

Develop the styles and characteristics of effective leadership

Improve judgment and decision making

Build motivation and commitment in organizations
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
Exercise power effectively in communication

Manage conflict and crisis

Deal with difficult personalities

Manage local, remote, and outsourced/contract personnel

Conduct onboarding/orientation, new hire training, ongoing training and development

Work with cross departmental & cross organizational personnel (IT, Litigation, Management,
Leadership, Service Providers/Vendors, Co-counsel, Experts)
Part II - Business Management (2 sessions)

Understand common Litigation Support Department Structures (value added, profit center,
break-even)

Manage workflow and projects (Intake, Vendors, Review, Q.C.)

Establish and maintain successful client relationships

Identify and deal with office politics

Manage forecasting, budgeting, and financial controls for anticipated needs

Track metrics, such as billable hours, write-offs, hours and task levels, and utilization of inhouse and outsourced services.

Understand the legal market, trends, and compliance & regulations in the industry

Understand RFPs & RFIs (writing sending/creating and receiving/responding)

Track time, task keeping, cost codes

Understand cost recovery mechanisms

Market in-house services and capabilities

Providing matter consultation regarding discovery process
6. Practical Legal Ethics
(Labs and hand-on assignments must be built into course) - 1 Session
Understanding ethics and ethical considerations, specifically "legal ethics", and the Model Rules
of Professional Conduct is extremely important to lawyers. But, did you know that these ethical
obligations also apply to non-lawyers who work with lawyers? In a society with low trust in
leaders and institutions, learn and incorporate ethics into your everyday leadership
responsibilities.
Ethics - Confidentiality
An interactive webinar explaining what you can and cannot say to anyone about any case,
matter or client. The class will give examples, explain the code, and how legal professionals are
expected to abide by the same ethics requirements as attorneys.
Ethics – Conflict of Interest
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You cannot simply go by a software program to let you know when there is a conflict of
interest. Moving to a new position, tackling a new matter or even working on two past clients
can cause a conflict of interest. This workshop shows you how to check for a conflict, what
constitutes a conflict and how to go about protecting yourself and your firm.
Ethics – Unauthorized Practice of Law
The unauthorized practice of law is a very simple "mess" that legal professionals and service
providers sometimes walk into unknowingly. This webinar explores how what you say and what
you do can be construed as unauthorized practice of law - even if your intent was something
else entirely. It demonstrates when you cross the line and what your boundaries are.
Ethics – Transparency
Transparency is key for the merits of a case to be judged. No legal professional should Game
the System, use technology or the e-Discovery process as a weapon, or attempt to withhold
information about potential discovery, searches, search results, and not documenting processes
and procedures. This session will demonstrate ways to be transparent and areas where
transparency is a must.
7. Advanced Legal Practices
(Labs and hand-on assignments)-2 Sessions
Knowing advanced legal practices will help you help your clients, attorneys, and the matters you
are working on. Learn about the legal practices that attorneys and legal professionals need to
know NOW to better manage their matters, the discovery process, avoid messy "Gotchas", and
way to manage costs of discovery.
Session I: Cross Border Litigation and Discovery

Common Law vs. Civil Code

Navigating non-U.S. privacy and data laws

Cultural and language differences

Issues arising from not following procedures of foreign laws

Getting assistance from local resources

e-Discovery Landmines

Malpractice

Spoliation

Failure to produce responsive documents

Failure to issue legal holds in writing and with follow-up

Misleading court about costs

Sanctions
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
Failure to be transparent
Session II: Cost-Shifting and Taxation of Costs

Explanation of cost-shifting

Justifications for cost shifting, .e.g. Not Reasonably Accessible, Out of Scope

Cases/opinions on cost-shifting

Explanation of taxation of costs

Justifications for taxation of costs, e.g. allowable costs as course of action to the prevailing
party

Cases/opinions on taxation of costs

Records needed to justify/request/reject cost-shifting and taxation of cost
Bonuses:

Graduates of the program may return anytime to audit any LitSupport certificate courses at
no charge - a lifetime bonus.

Graduates of the program receive significant discounts on OLP courses, eDiscovery
certification exam and prep course.
To Register:
www.TheOlp.Org
info@TheOlp.Org
760.610.5462
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